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Location

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Date Posted

Ohio

I terminated the main, once, before going on vacation, and the fruit stopped growing. Of course, this was probably because there was a SVB at the node just before the fruit. (; Has anyone grown a pumpkin over 1200# terminating the main, this way?

2/9/2008 4:23:43 PM

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

I believe Andy Wolf grew his 1407 this way!

2/9/2008 4:54:11 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Dr. Bob Liggett and Ken Speakman do. I will this year.

2/9/2008 5:00:30 PM

Ohio

But just remember,if all other vines are also terminated (secondiares). Then you may run into trouble. The pumpkin may take up to much to fast and split.

Any one else think this may be true?

I know some growers may not have a choice,ie broken main vine,diease. One well known grower told me, let the plant tell you what it wants to do. So this year thats what iam doing, being one with the plant. lol

2/9/2008 5:18:00 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

I overfed my plants last year and would have done just as Danny said......split all my pumpkins had I terminated the main. This year, all nutrients will be in the ground at planting time with only maintenace regimens afterward.

Trying to find that balance of maximum growth rate for longer periods and maintaining plant vigor up until cutting time.

2/9/2008 6:49:46 PM

Georgia

Had no problems her had to do that too two pumpkins..I believe sometime it actually relieves stem stress...As long as the pumpkins were set far enough plenty of plant to still feed it.

2/9/2008 6:58:53 PM

Somers, CT

Most energy comes from the stump side but that is up for discussion. Just don't want to waste energy on growing greens when the energy can go to the fruit.

2/9/2008 9:20:53 PM

Western NY

not my 1407 (that one was traditional pattern), but i've done it on a LOT of other plants. 916 was the heaviest that just happened to be grown where growth was stopped at the pumpkin, but i know it can do better than that.

2/9/2008 10:23:33 PM

Rhode Island

we like the plant growth after the pumpkin for seceral reasons but one big one is insurance

if you should loose any or most of the base and main during the season that growth after the pumpkin will feed it.
also helps i believe because newer growth is beneficial for the late season growth

a lot of growers like to terminate the main after fruit because they are running out of room

2/10/2008 6:42:34 AM

Dorval,Quebec

Grower diary Brooks Bosworth 06,entry 88,89.

2/10/2008 8:44:00 AM

porterville, calif.

I terminate the growth after the fruit on 3 of my vines last year and everything stopped.Everything was going good till I did this How far from the fruit do you do this. I was about 6ft. away. Was this to close? I sure did mess things up.

2/10/2008 1:29:45 PM

Mt Vernon Ky

I lost my stump in aug on my 977 wallace and all it had was the vine after the pumpkin and it got to around 450 I didn't weigh it but I wish I did it was thickest pumpkin I had with very little care after I lost the vine behind the pumpkin so I believe in the vine after the pumpkin

2/10/2008 2:55:25 PM

C N Y

maybe the new way will be to grow the plant as long as possible until pollination is mandatory and then, as long as all the 'past-the-fruit' secondaries are buried and
taken-care-of, and the plant and pumpkin are growing well, the plant can be removed from the pumpkin up TO the stem of the fruit. nowwwww the fruit is BEFORE the plant!
okay, VOLUNTEERS??? ha ha---what if it worked......

2/16/2008 10:25:26 PM