From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Antwerp, Belgium

Hi, do some of you, once fruit is set, cut the male flowers which keep "emerging"? I would think the plant's energy als o goes to the male ones.

I have one plant with one pumpkin growing fine but also with about 30 male flowers...

Thanks for any reaction!

7/20/2015 1:19:35 AM

Citrus Heights, CA

I only let the male flowers grow on the first two side vines. I cut off all others when pruning. In ten years of growing I have never used a flower past half way down the second side vine.

7/20/2015 1:36:17 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

I grow male flowers on only the first 3 or 4 secondaries on each side and take off all others as I trim off the tendril and tertiary vines. The only reason I let males grow on 3 or 4 secondaries and not just 2 like the grower above me, is just in case one of the other boys has a late pollination and does not have male flowers of their own....we gotta be able to help each other out at pollination time.

7/20/2015 2:01:06 AM

Bloomington, IN USA

This is the first I have heard of pruning the tendrils .
I haven't been doing this.
I have thought that they are kind of a nuisance although I know they serve a purpose for plants that are growing wild & not having the luxury of having the vines buried.
Are most growers pruning tendrils also?

7/21/2015 7:04:23 AM

Ireland

I wouldnt prune tendrils or male flowers but thats just my humble opinion.
Micheál

7/25/2015 12:14:20 PM