From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Upstate S.C.

Hey guys, here is my question, the mains of my plants are reaching the point in my patch that either I need to terminate the main or turn it. The set pumpkins I have are about 15 feet out and growing. The mains are about 20 to 25 feet. What do I do with the main, terminate it and bury it or turn it up and keep it going. Everyone weigh in please.

7/17/2009 8:48:54 PM

Medford OR.

I also have mine at about 25 FT. with 2 plants in the small area I have I have turned them back towards each other.I wasn't sure how I was going to do it,but when I checked on them this evening my (we'll call it plant #2) apparently got run over by something and had been kind of crunched.That made my mind up that it was being cut dosed with pumpkin pro and buried.The other has a bit more room now and will grow to about 28 FT. and then it will get the same treatment.I would probably turn it and let it grow a bit longer if you have the room.

7/18/2009 1:39:10 AM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

If you have a good one set terminate and bury.

7/18/2009 1:58:22 AM

Ohio

Alot of growers like Quinn and other heavy hitters let there main vine continue to grow, they never terminate it. I myself, let mine grow Mace.

7/18/2009 5:07:24 AM

Rhode Island

there come a time when you stop growing salad and start growing fruit.
part of the reason a lot of new growers need to keep growing salad is because they pollinate on such small plants.
the key has always been to have a good sized plant fully dead ended before the fruit, by around this time of the season on the east coast.
then, it does not matter what you grow after the fruit. the pumpkin will take what it wants and send the rest down to grow additional main and plant if thats what you desire.
personally if you have a agressive plant before the fruit? you dont need a whole lot after it.

7/18/2009 7:52:34 AM

Upstate S.C.

Thanks so much for the help everyone.

7/18/2009 7:59:30 AM

Washington

Because our growing season is usually cooler our plants are not as big early on as many back east. We try to set our pumpkins at around 14 feet, terminate side vines at about 10 feet but we also will continue to let the main vine grow and wrap it around the plant if necessary. We also will 'spider' (curve around) the 2 or 3 vines immediately behind the pumpkin (between the pumpkin and stump). These will be terminated when they reach the end of their growing site. Sherry

7/20/2009 11:11:40 AM

Cduross1@rochester.rr.com

Thanks for the input. I've been struggling with this one myself.

7/22/2009 1:56:56 PM