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New England

Good Morning all
I have a question for other growers. I have a kin that should be opening in the next handful of days on the 754 Schweigert. It is 8 feet out on the main and the plant itself is about 8 feet long and just starting to put secondaries on. It is the end of June. Do I cull this kind or pollinate it at 8 feet and see what happens?

6/23/2014 9:17:18 AM

Central Minnesota

Depends on your expectations for your plant. At 8ft without secondaries you run the risk of the pumpkin shutting down your plant once it is set. You are then stuck without enough plant to push your pumpkin. I pick those 8 footers off without thinking twice. The next one at 12 ft is the one you want. Plus, your plant will double in size in the next 8 days and have a big enough energy to push your pumpkin and still grow vine.

6/23/2014 9:36:27 AM

New England

thanks!

6/23/2014 10:01:47 AM

Lexington, Ky

I would set it first of all just for the practice. Second, I've had plants in the past that produced only 1 female on the main. You can always cull later....

6/23/2014 12:01:23 PM

New England

thanks! I think I should have a male flower on one of the other plants so maybe I will pollinate and then hope for the best? If it looks like the plant is taking a hit I can always chop it off while its still early?

6/23/2014 2:23:18 PM

Nottingham, UK

I had the same dilemma with a female at 9.5' and since I am 2 weeks ahead on last year I wondered if I should hold on until the next.

From what I read on here, people have trouble setting on the main once after the first one has taken and therefore if you are not committed to the one at 8' then it could affect the others down the line.

Last year I noticed that the plant shut down on one of my plants once the pumpkin kicked in. As I snapped my main I was planning to grow teritaries in a pitchfork pattern but the pumpkin growing stopped all growth and the tertiaries withered off.

6/24/2014 11:21:10 AM

New England

I removed all of the kins from the plants last night. Hoping for better luck in a week or so

6/25/2014 11:29:44 AM