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Midwest

My Pukos-Beachy has a short primary and 8 secondaries over 15ft. There's one tertiary off the 'back main' that's has alot of guts (16+ft) and a fruit (7days old). Well, for the past 10 days, it's produced 16+ females. This happened in a matter of days. Now, there's 11 pumpkins growing. The oldest is 13days, the youngest 1day. The oldest is the fastest grower and it's at the end of a terminated secondary. All the others are between 12 and 16ft. This is my second year at this but last year my plant produced one pumpkin in mid-August. I have two questions: should I terminate the secondaries (some have 3 pollinated females) and, is this a good / bad thing for growing a big pumpkin?
I'd appreciate any thoughts or comments.
Greg

8/10/2005 2:01:04 PM

Cincinnati,OH

It sounds like you have plenty of plant and its time to start making pumpkin. I would start terminating the secondaries but not all at once. I would cut off a few every day so that you don't blow up that pumpkin set. I would let 3 pumpkins start growing and pick the best 1 or 2 to keep growing after about 2 weeks. I would say you need 60 days after pollination to get most of your weight potential. Definitely keep the 13 day old one, the season is getting short.
Ron

8/10/2005 6:37:10 PM

Cincinnati,OH

I want to clarify. I would "terminate" (not cut off) a few secondaries every day so that you don't blow up that pumpkin set.

8/10/2005 6:42:04 PM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

Good advice Ron.
On those three or so vines you keep pumpkins on, I wouldn't terminate them. I'd leave them growing to eventually treat as the main. If you decide to only keep one pumpkin, I'd gradually terminate the secondaries, eventually only leaving the vine with the pumpkin growing, throughout the season, to concentrate the "juice" to that vine and pumpkin.
I have a similar situation, that had about 8 sets on it as of yesterday; all under 10 days old. I'm hoping to eek out a 300 lber. off it. Best wishes to you Greg!

Doug

8/10/2005 7:11:07 PM

Midwest

Ron and Doug thank you. Great advise but I know it will fill me with apprehension since every vine has 2-3 pumpkins. I will do it no matter what happens; good, bad or ugly. I'm going to do 2 tomorrow AM and wait a couple of days for the next 4, then wait and do the rest. Should I do anything to these secondaries after I terminate? Do people bury them?
Greg

8/11/2005 11:43:31 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

I treat terminated vine ends with captan (fungicide powder), allow to dry for a day or two and then bury them. Peace Wayne

8/12/2005 8:33:42 AM