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Ohio

How many of you guys leave the secondary vine that comes out directly accross the stem end of the pumpkin?
I dont hear to much talk about this and I have seen many pictures where this vine is cut off,probably because of stress on the stem. As far as the HH go, mostly every picture I see this secondary is left on.

This is just a theory I come up with and their probably isnt a way to prove any of it but I really do "think" the secondary right directly across from the stem is like a direct feeding tube that could possably play a huge part in weights and how your pumpkin is supplied its nutrients.Only way I can compare it is like going to the doctor and he gives you a shot instead of taking a pill, the shot will get into your system alot faster.
The other secondaries are also important, dont get me wrong, but these secondaries has a longer trip for the nutrients to travel to the pumpkin (sink) that could possably have to stop along the way to supply other parts of the plant its nutrients before it gets to the pumpkin.

What do you think about this theory? Do you think Im way off course on this?

Brooks

2/1/2006 7:18:15 AM

Rhode Island

brooks
we cut that secondary directly across from the stem. it just gets in the way and also could create more stem stress to deal with( especially if you get a tall girl )
the pumpkin will take its nutrients from every area of the plant anyway.in our opinion one less secondary is not a concern.
besides it one less thing to trip over lol
pap

2/1/2006 8:44:48 AM

Roselle, IL [email protected]

That secondary always seems very vigorous. Because of stem stress I cut it away. I think in Jack Larue's spider method of pruning, It is trained to back feed the pumpkin.
I am going to try this method on one of my plants this year

2/1/2006 8:47:58 AM

Saegertown Pa.

I leave it on, not sure it helps any and it is a pain to deal with.

2/1/2006 9:06:12 AM

Utah

Brooks,
I have had the sames thoughts that you mention. I've left some on and cut some off... depending on the geometery of the plant and fruit. In my opinion it doesn't seem to matter one way or the other.

2/1/2006 9:40:39 AM

Minnesota([email protected])

Interesting observation Brooks.

2/1/2006 12:01:09 PM

Ohio

George, maybe this will help me also to run the vine back when I try it again. Last year I left the secondary right off the stem attached to my biggest pumpkin up untill it was about 400lbs, it did what Dick said, stem stress,At the time I wasnt to worried about stem stress because every thing looked fine, secondary was lose, but when these things grow 80 lbs in two days that tightens up the vine pretty quick.

I Have run mostly every plant I have ever grown in that spider like pattern, my first 3 or 4 secondaries I always run back behind the stump. This really helps if you have a small area to get more plant on the ground,You wouldnt think it would give you more room in a 15 by 15 area but I think it gives you 3 or 4 secondaries extra running the first 3 or 4 secondaries back behinf the stump 5 or 6 feet and then run the rest of the secondaries foward.

Sketch out on a sheet of paper a 15 by 15 area and run all your vines foward on one sheet.
On another sheet run the first 3 or 4 secondaries back behind the stump and the rest foward.

Do you think it gives you more room for more plant? It does for me. Just wondering what you guys thought on this and if it gives you more room like it does me. Would this be the spider pattern Jack does?

Brooks

2/1/2006 12:45:12 PM

huntsburg,ohio

Ileave it on for a while when it starts to give me problems i chop it.Jerry

2/1/2006 1:42:57 PM

Eau Claire, WI

Here is my guess. If you could magically see underground and see the root system that has developed off this "back main" vine, you wouldn't cut it off unless it was causing some real problems.

2/1/2006 4:03:26 PM

Eau Claire, WI

I misunderstood. I thought you were asking about the back main at the stump. Sorry.

2/1/2006 4:06:52 PM

Joliet, IL

i leave it on until i am certain the pumpkin is the one...the keeper for that plant. no sense chopping it off only to have the pumpkin abort or have another one down the line growing at a faster rate. when i decide which is the keeper, i then cut that secondary off to get it out of the way and to eliminate stem stress. i guess if i was to try to leave it on, i would train it to go over the main in the opposite direction and maybe whack a secondary on the other side of the plant to make room for it. never though about it brooks, but it does make sense.

2/1/2006 4:45:21 PM

Utah

Here is a picture of one I left on last year.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=39523

2/1/2006 5:11:16 PM

Ohio

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=39523

2/1/2006 7:15:25 PM

Ohio

I think I need to put that in my browswer to work,lol

2/1/2006 7:16:32 PM

Ohio

Gordon, Id be affraid to try that on a a good plant. You have to have guts and confindence doing that bend, I just couldnt do it knowing that it could be the end of my main vine lol.
I can do the steltz 90 on my crappy plants for practice but I never grown a pumpkin out with that kind of bend. Do you think that relieves stem stress alot or is it about 50 50 when you bend the vine at the pumpkin?

2/1/2006 7:31:14 PM

No Place Special

I usually leave it on unless its causing too much trouble.

2/1/2006 8:00:58 PM

Western NY

i've always chopped mine right off. normally before it's even 2 inches long. I figure if the female aborts, that's just a little more room to let the secondaries in that area breathe anyway.

2/1/2006 8:02:22 PM

Syracuse, NY

uhhh, i would have to say chop that puppy off;
the young vine that protrudes from the stem of the pumpkin is nothing but trouble.

2/2/2006 1:33:17 AM

Rhode Island

we also cut that leaf and stem off that wants to grow right at the same spot the fruit will develope in. just gets in the way.

2/2/2006 7:16:06 AM

Midwest

With one pumpkin, I left the vine and the leaf on and the leaf stem rotted and took the stem/pumpkin with it. Second case, July 16th or 17th was that hot weekend, remember 100? One leaf node before the tip was a female that was getting ready and the Sun burned off the tip that day. That female looked fine, was pollinated and grew 20 days then died. Since the tip was gone, I let that vine run as a replacement. I don't know if it helped that particular pumpkin. I agree with Shazzy. Can't you slowly flip it over the main to the other side?

2/3/2006 1:05:55 AM