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Northern Ohio

I have pruned a lot of vines in my patch. It seems to me that the fewer vines you have the better chance the pumpkins you have will grow. Right?
The patch doesn't look pretty, neither is my pumpkin that is 13 days old however she is beautiful to me and the only one that has a chance to grow alittle. I did polinate yesterday for the last time. How long does it take a pumpkin to be mature?
I would like some feed back on how much to prune and when. I think I started to late and therefore had to prune a lot at a time. Is that bad too?
Also. because I am really planning for nest year, I am less afraid of trying things. The main stump split a long time ago and then it seemed to stay wet and looked like two bad open sores so I washed it with a 15%-20% solution of clorox and then cut the bad spots out and then put captan on it. It looks alright but I don't know if the plant is getting enough nourishment.
Another question. When you have fruit on a secondary vine, as I do, when you fertilize the stump and the main vine to the place where the vine makes the secondary and you fertilize the secondary, is that all you need to do and why?
Thanks all, still hanging in there. Mrrr

8/4/2002 1:39:57 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Hey Mary ..I'll try to answer some..Mature depends on waht ya mean...little pumpkins have seeds and are mature meaning there seeds are viable next year...if you mean mature mean how long can they grow depends on where ya live...florida may be 50-55 days from pollenation whereas I hear talk that up north they go 100-115 days...quite a difference you'll have to check withthe boys in your neck of the woods but you can be sure it's over at first frost...That a trip! big vine today completely flat in the morning.!! Again these are my interpetations of what Ive heard and read. It's best to stay on top of the pruning and not have to lop off half the plant all at once...shock is one thing but spurt of growth towards a pumpkin could cause it to split. Never cull all your pumpkins at one time slowly remove them a little each day and fertilizing the whole plant is still the thing to do. Since everyone makes alot about leaf count I can only surmise that the whole plant sends it's sugars towards the storage bins if there is only one storage bin then the plant sends it there. Rookie educated guesses at best but hope it helps. Grow IT BIG! Chuck

8/4/2002 3:00:23 PM

Northern Ohio

Thanks ,Chuck, for your help. To clarify, where are the storage bins, the leaves? Mary

8/5/2002 9:15:34 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

your pumpkin is the storage bin!

8/5/2002 5:27:33 PM

Northern Ohio

THanks Chuck,
You have been a BIG help. I am trying to learn the "plant lingo" too. :) Mary

8/6/2002 9:14:51 PM