From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Massachusettts

How long do you let your secondaries go? Also, how long do you let the main grow past the set fruit? Thanks.

6/23/2016 4:48:35 PM

aurora, IL

It will depend on how large your patch is. For me my patch is about 18'x 30', so my secondaries will be let to grow out to 9' on both sides. I might let the main grow out to 20'-30', but you can cut the main after good fruit set.

6/23/2016 5:04:21 PM

Central NY

Mine go 12-14'... I try to keep the main going after the fruit when I can... It usally slows down after the pumpkin starts thumpin...

6/23/2016 6:08:03 PM

Zurich Ont Canada

Some of these questions could only be answered if you had 2 kins side by side with same dna and did a test plot. Pretty much impossible. So the answer to this are theorys. I have a question that I am going to add to yours Craig. Why do we do a Christmas tree pattern. The first leaves to die off are closest to the stump, So why have so many of them? Maaybe we should use an upside down Christmas tree pattern so our longest secondaries will feed the kin to the bitter end. Hows that for a theory, Lol

6/23/2016 10:09:20 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I let the secondaries closer to the stump grow longer. I run them to the edge of the plot, then train them to run parallel to the main.

6/23/2016 10:51:11 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

BFFF to me it's only called Christmas tree due to the way the plant grows. Naturally the secondary vines closest to be stump are longer than the next pair and so on, but only during active growth stage. Once the secondaries are terminated the plant gradually becomes square to blob shaped depending on available room and other influences.

6/24/2016 7:02:58 AM

Zurich Ont Canada

Ya I was just kidding. My raised patch is 25 x 25. And that is pretty much what I end up with, a 25 x 25 plant with a kin in the middle.

6/26/2016 7:48:56 PM