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Connecticut

I am new to most the methods of giant pumpkin growing. I think I understand pinching off a vine, but is this really just taking a knife to the vine or are we really using something to pinch the vine? Everyone talks about it, but no one really elaborates on the exact method and tools. Could someone educate me!?

7/2/2007 9:33:12 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Dusty, I pinch tendrils, flowers, and tertiaries, on a daily basis. Tendrils, and young females and young tertiaries if "pinched" early can be done by hand. Just a pinch tween the thumb and first finger and they are gone. I also carry a small bottle of "Captan" fungicide with me and give each pinched spot a quick poof of Captan. I also carry a set of small pruning shears(like you would use to cut flowers with)....to cut the bigger ones that I have missed...they also get a shot of Captan. Hope this helps.
Peace, Wayne

7/2/2007 10:05:10 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Great screen name DustyDoodle. Welcome to BigPumpkins.

If tendrils (or other parts) get too big, pinching might not work so well & the skin could tear.

A sharp knife is also very helpful. As the patch fills in, it is also cool to have a sharp knife taped onto an old broken broom handle (or similar) to reach into the tight spots.

We'll be discussing summer patch tour plans soon. Let us know if you're interested.

Steve Jepsen
CT Giant Squash & Pumpkin Growers Assoc. President

www.ctpumpkin.org

7/2/2007 10:11:12 PM

Connecticut

A pumpkin patch tour sounds good!

I can't find any captan around here at all. Any suggestions where to get it?

7/3/2007 8:18:30 AM

Pinedale, WY

Thank you Tremor, this finally cleared it up. I knew my plant looked weird, but I wasn't sure if I was supposed to get rid of some of the vines. If I go to our garden center and I tell them I need "fungicide" will whatever they give me be good, or do I need to be more specific? Also I have quite a few vines to prune off, can I do it all at once, or do I need to do a few every day?

7/4/2007 10:33:13 AM

Cornell, Wi

Don Langevins books how to grow world class giant pumpkins II, & III are a must for any new grower.

7/4/2007 7:18:56 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Depends where in CT you are. We (Valley Green) have Professional supply centers all over Mass, 1 each in RI & NY & 2 in CT. Norwalk or Plainville both have Eagle which is what I would recommend as the best general purpose foliar applied fungicide.

Captan for splits & such can be had in small 2 oz jars from Bonide at most independent garden centers. Treelands in Bridgeport stocks it but I'm sure others do too. I haven't seen Captan or any other Bonide product at any of the national centers like Lowe's or Depot.

7/4/2007 11:48:01 PM

I pinch with my fingers, garden scissors if the plant part is a little bigger. Sometimes to terminate the secondaries I hack the end with the shovel edge that I'm using to bury the ends with (usually I'm using a garden trowel to bury though, in which case the scissors are used to cut the vine).
Personally, the damage to the plant is so small, that I don't find it necessary to break out the chemicals. The open ends dry and heal quickly. I prefer not to expose myself if its unnecessary. I save the chemicals for bigger problems like powdery mildew and stem splits in the fruit.

7/5/2007 1:56:26 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Ditto the ends of secondaries. The shovel blade is fine. I get nervous when it's a gnarly tendril on the main right near a prime female. Knives can't be too sharp when this is the case.

7/5/2007 8:14:06 PM