From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Auburn California

I guess this is something that every pumpkin grower has to deal with and seems like I toil with it alot. How many of you try sending the secondary back to the other side of the vine and who is eliminating it. If you do do you pinch it early when it is small or wait til the pu.pkin is a confirmed keeper. When trying to pollinate as many as three pumpkins on the same vine I have done the S pattern til things get over complicated. Thanx in advance for your responses, Randy

6/20/2023 10:39:43 AM

Auburn California

Secondary

6/20/2023 10:40:20 AM

Syracuse, NY

What I do know is that I experimented in 2020 on my 2003 Haist to get as many as I could
before season's end to make cross-only fruits on one vine as a side (vine) project;
The first two aborted and the third and final ended up being my
'Seed Y'/51 Gerry '20 (2003 Haist X 20 Gerry (Prizewinner X 689.5 Sandercock)).
It had the biggest leaves of any of my plants ever last year and I am anxious to see the
end results this year. The point is that I, myself will now avoid any additional pollinations on a same (side) vine unless some circumstance dictates that I do otherwise and have higher hopes for the later set(s)
or else make them all the exact same cross to avoid ambiguity or further decision-making.
Good luck with other answers - eg

6/20/2023 12:35:28 PM

Auburn California

Thanks eg but what do you do with the secondary that comes off right at the pumpkin you are pollinating? It's hypothetically gonna get in the way of the growing pumpkin. Do you cut off the secondary or try sending it over to the opposite side of the main? Thanx again in advance, Randy

6/20/2023 12:57:55 PM

Benson, MN

I curl mine back toward the stump and run it between the first and second before the pumpkin.

6/20/2023 1:08:40 PM

Auburn California

Thank you

6/20/2023 1:10:07 PM

Syracuse, NY

Didn't wanna sway you, swinging, lol, so I didn't say that I actually
cut cleanly the tendrils, extra vine/flowers and even the leaf stalk if it will become too angled toward the fruit at a proposed pumpkin, plus any extra vegetation in order to alleviate any complications later-on, usually right when I'm about to or do pollinate said fruit;
I have always WANTED to do other things I've seen others do, but maybe once I get into the
1500-2K range, lol.
***For clarity, the vine that HAS the fruit on it I keep intact ('in' vine, fruit, 'out' vine);***
For now, it might as well be a screw-in light bulb = nothin' fancy.
Here's an example of what I strive for in another's diary -
***Careful - that pic referenced in the post might end the vine AT the fruit(!);***
I'm wingin' it 'cause I'm on a different computer and cannot open it:
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=6&p=731864

No big reason other than simplicity for MYself.

***TooTall's method sounds perfect, otherwise!***

Will try someday.
Good Luck
eg

6/20/2023 2:53:25 PM

Grittyville, WA

I just do whatever needs to be done. Kinda like Jeff Goldblums line in Juraasic park, the pumpkin vine version of "when you gotta go, you gotta go"?
Although perhaps ideally they could be left on. In hot weather they can take some abuse, maybe even bend them 90 degrees without breaking, they could be run back up the main to fill in there as those leaves age... Thats what gets my vote.

6/20/2023 4:21:13 PM

Western NY

I've tried to keep them before but they usually get in the way so I just chop them off when little.

6/20/2023 9:33:44 PM

Auburn California

A few success stories keeping them but maybe pinched off when tiny seems like the best end result. Thank you all that have responded, Randy

6/21/2023 12:00:05 AM

Torrance, Ca.

Andy had the best answer with just a few words. I do the same.

When the fruit gets big it just seems to get in the way.

Good luck this year crane!;)

6/21/2023 9:47:25 AM