From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Albert County, New Brunswick,CANADA

I have a female 14 feet out not yet opened and I already neatly trimmed a big leaf and a crazy tendril that would interfere if it were the chosen one. It leaks a bit. Is that ok? (to cut those). thanks ...pumkineater pete

7/9/2009 11:50:01 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Yes it is okay to trim what you need to. In order I will trim: tendril, leaf, secondary. I try to leave leaf until after pollenation, and secondary until I am sure it's not going to abort or I'm keeping it unless I need to trim earlier. Just use a resin lawn chair (cheap plastic moulded chair, usually white or dark green, white is preferable) as a shade if you have to take the leaf. Put a concrete block on the seat.

7/9/2009 12:45:02 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

If the leaf base is under the female or if it is rubbing the bulb at all, remove the leaf right away. If the rough leaf stalk marks the bulb at all, the scar will be there until harvest. If the leaf is not interfering with the female all, leave it until you are sure its the keeper. The same goes for the secondary and the tendril.

John

7/9/2009 2:49:29 PM

San Jose garysand@pacbell.net

i trim everything around the new pumper, there are hundreds of leaves, 3 or 4 or 5 leaves will not make a difference

7/9/2009 11:56:02 PM

Albert County, New Brunswick,CANADA

Thank you for all the replies! If any of you are still paying attention, apart from the teritary vines, should I also be trimming anything else like tendrils,perhaps...or after pollination, flowers and stems? or maybe a waste of time... I am doing all the general things ,burying vines etc

7/10/2009 8:05:52 AM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

I have found that by trimming the secondary, tendril and leaf as soon as they appear at the new female it allows the female to form a better angle to the vine in the beginning. I'm with Gary, a couple leaves are not going to make that big a difference.

7/10/2009 5:12:50 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Pete, lots of folks say to trim all males after final pollination, as they are bug attractors!!! Lots of work!!! Grow em BIG!!! Peace, Wayne
PS...I also trim leaf, tendril, and secondary (if it is in the way) prior to pollination!!!

7/14/2009 12:58:05 AM