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Whidbey Island

I know there is a lot of controversy about how important the vine distal to (beyond) the pumpkin is. We have all heard stories of pumpkins doing fine with the vine terminated just beyond the fruit. However, I would like to read some reasoned discussion about this topic. Specific issues would include 1) What is the best length of vine beyond the fruit? 2) Should one bury any of the distal vine? 3) Is there any scientific info about the flow of nutrients from beyond the fruit back to it, or is it all from the proximal side? Thanks.

6/30/2006 12:51:03 AM

Salmon Arm, BC

Hi Whidbey,,,Tom sent a few of us a thread on this very topic of sinks distal to fruit. Mail coming your way. Deb:)

6/30/2006 6:28:21 AM

Salmon Arm, BC

arghhhhh! seems my daughter has been messing with the computer again. Try asking Mr. Tom Lish for the thread...it is quite lengthy but well worth the read.. Good luck..Deb:)

6/30/2006 6:40:23 AM

Windsor Maine

HeYyA Whidbey! Deb's Right, it is verra Lengthy but iS verra well worth the read!- LOts of BrAin-food-fer'-thought in this one... was started way back Nov 04' by Dan C. Subject: Plant before the fruit verses after. That is the ?

Here is the Link addy: http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=96111

ThAnks fer starting this threAd- as, it is a very appropriate timeframe for it, and will be good to see the
latest new ideas and thoughts on the subject.
TLISH

6/30/2006 9:48:56 AM

Danville, CA ([email protected])

Okay so post read and that said, why then do we strive for small plants in the current thinking?

Has anyone terminated the vine immediately after the fruit? Wouldn't that reduce the chance of a stem or vine split since only one side would be attached and the plant could be positioned to be attached side down or whatever is best? Just throwing spaghetti at the wall.

6/30/2006 12:38:52 PM

Whidbey Island

You are right, a good thread. I just must have put in the wrong words in the search engine. Thanks.

Another similar topic. Last year I had a lot of leaf loss near the stump and I felt that I was losing photosynthesis area. I allowed 2 stump suckers to grow a little bit (gasp, yes, tis true!) and fill in the open area. Didn't seem to hurt and the 'kin continued to grow. Why wouldn't a well controlled sucker not function like a secondary, so long as its growth didn't pull too much from the fruit?

6/30/2006 11:13:17 PM