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Location

Message

Date Posted

Ontario

I have a pumpkin set and was wondering when i should prune the leaves and secondaries near it to give it room to grow?

6/26/2015 12:30:26 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I generally wait until I know the pollination is good before removing the secondary at the pumpkin. Generally when they hit beach ball size they won't abort. You should be able to train other secondaries away without removing them if you have a good curve in the main vine. I only remove leaves when they threaten to scratch up the pumpkin. I prefer to keep the shade as long as possible.

6/26/2015 1:07:57 PM

Central Minnesota

I personally leave it all on there and don't prune.

6/26/2015 2:02:10 PM

Lexington, Ky

Agree with MN...if it not in the way, leave them. If in the way, follow Iowegian's advice.

6/26/2015 3:20:01 PM

Ontario

Ok i will make room as it grows, thanks for the help

6/26/2015 4:00:43 PM

Torrance, Ca.

I was taught to leave it.

I need all the juice I can get in my small area!

6/26/2015 5:25:43 PM

Goodwood, Ontario, Canada

I cut off the growth tip on the main vine just past the next pumpkin that is forming after the pumpkin I have pollinated. I cut off all flowers and the growth tips on every second vine on each side of the main vine.

6/27/2015 6:50:00 AM

East Jordan, MI

the secondaries closest to the pumpkin -- especially before it -- may be the most important vines on the plant.

We train them around the pumpkin and let them grow unless we just cant make it work, but we do it before they get rooted. So if you are getting some rooting, very carefully loosen the soil under the leaf nodes and adjust them out of the way.

You need to get some slack in the main vine too, generally reffered to as making the S curve.

here is a good reference thread if you haven't already done this
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=511882

6/27/2015 10:23:44 AM

Ontario

Female was pollinated on the 24th it is about the size of a softball today and i have the S curve in main vine i started it when i saw female developing at 12 ft i thank you all for your help much appreciated

6/30/2015 5:29:34 PM