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United States

I left no slack around my first flower, so my pumpkin ended up ripping off the vine last week. I've let another female flower grow, and it should bloom in the next few days for round two.

If the fertilization is successful, would it be better to cut the vine right after the flower, or let the vine continue growing without letting it root?

The vine covers about 1300 square feet right now.

8/22/2023 7:40:01 PM

United States

I'm aware that having to restart this late, my pumpkin will be small by the standards of this forum. I'll be happy with anything over 200lbs.

8/22/2023 8:08:48 PM

Syracuse, NY

What I've been doing this year has been to, before the fruit has hit the ground, to already have a piece of ANYthing under it with the intention of being able to move it without it ever getting a 'dimple' under it into the soil that causes it to
already have a mind of its own as far as if I can move it however I want to.
This amounts to, if pumpkins only got to 80 pounds,
a lunch tray from a cafeteria under it!
Bigger, please...

In other words, to be preemptive.

Additionally, I have been merely pulling the small fruits back away from the vine a little bit, 1/2 - 1 inch each day or two, until I cannot, since that vine has already probably rooted and what this does is create a little 'channel' by the fruit being moved across the soil - no longer a dimple. This allows me to tip the fruit forward or backward to keep it level and with the material under it, if accomplished in time, by the time I need to adjust the fruit's angle to the vine, its angle to its stem or otherwise or anything, I am better-prepared.
This is MY edition of the S Curve.

I also recommend that anyone remove the 'protector leaf' (CAN be later), attached at the intended fruit, the tendril, root and the next vine-to-be at that junction.
The sooner these are done the sooner they will have healed.

= Vine, whether running through or 'termed', the fruit and that is it.
A head start on your Chosen One's Place in the Sun.

This my not answer your question but it may help you in particular and
I am full of energy for once and the night is young, lol---eric g

8/22/2023 10:24:58 PM

Grittyville, WA

Plant needs to grow you a pumpkin already! Show it whose boss!

8/22/2023 11:51:13 PM

Grittyville, WA

"who's" i think lol

8/22/2023 11:51:56 PM

Syracuse, NY

"may not answer" i think lol

8/23/2023 2:02:35 AM

Syracuse, NY

Okay. I've thought about it and I would keep the vine, remove any pending secondary/tertiary vine possibilities and flowers to the end and NOT allow any vine rooting at nor from the pumpkin either weigh until a third rooting point and beyond, as you don't want the same situation as last time. When it gets to beachball size, I would pinch off the vine to assist in keeping the plant's efforts more focused on that fruit, but not before.
That should be all, from me, lol---Good Luck. eg

8/23/2023 2:22:58 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Yes, learn from the first pumpkin and alway give, leave, or make slackness in the main vine. Yes, terminate the vine past the fruit, it will be easier to maintain and not cause issues later.

8/23/2023 9:13:36 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

I'll second NSB and terminating the vine at the pumpkin. It's the end of August and at this point you just need something set.

July 10th used to be the latest to get a fruit by, but many including myself shoot for mid to late June. A lot of that depends on weather. Good luck.

8/24/2023 8:07:21 AM

United States

Could terminating the vine right after the pumpkin cause the plant to decide that vine is not longer viable, and reduce the flow of nutrients/energy it sends to the pumpkin?

8/24/2023 8:26:11 PM

New Castle, Indiana

I made the same mistake although my vine is still holding on because I made some adjustments that helped. In the future we both need to route the vine in the opposite direction of the fruit side about 90 degrees for about five or feet once the pollination has taken. This makes it easier to manage and should prevent the fruit from pulling on and abutting the vine on the distal side.

8/25/2023 9:24:51 AM

Grittyville, WA

Andrej, I have not seen that effect...

8/25/2023 12:02:15 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Andrej, watch this video and follow Moby Mike, a great source of reliable detailed facts and information.

https://youtu.be/nVTsHcHAtTE?si=9Krmn-H2y0s-vVQC

8/27/2023 3:15:05 PM