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Chesterfield, MO

Maybe someone can help me out with this...I have females several places on my vines right now. What pruning if any do growers do around the developing pumpkin and when do they do it? Do you cut off the closest leaf, tendril, or secondary to get better position with the stem? Thanks!

6/29/2003 1:23:18 PM

Brillion Wisconsin

MastaGardener, I assume you plan on growing one pumpkin per plant. This is what I do, when I decide to go with a certain pumpkin I will cut the leaves and stems that touch the pumpkin and any close enough that touch when the wind blows. If you do not the stems of the leaves will put little cuts in the pumkins skin when moved by the wind. I also remove any that interfere with my maintence of the fruit(keeping it dry, applying fungicide etc...There are other variables to consider also, like current plant size(number of leaves) and growing area. I would not get too crazy with prunning yet. Good luck Dean o

6/29/2003 2:42:25 PM

Deer Park WA

Hi, I spot a prime candidate for fruit set and the first thing I do is start to s-curve the vine so the fruit will be on the outside of the vine, remove the tendril, and any secondary growth that is beside the pumpkin, I leave the leafe at the axil so the little bugger has some shade until it is pollinated and under a shade cover. all the pruning and prep should take place when the pumpkin first unfurls away from the vine tip! Good luck, just my two cents worth....

6/30/2003 1:33:56 AM