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Location

Message

Date Posted

Brighton, Mi.

My main vines just keep growing this year, I have one just over 40' long. The pumpkins growth has not stopped the vines growth much. I used to terminate mains 10' past the pumpkin, but read this year you should keep the growing. At what point to you terminate? Only the main vine is still going, I have terminated all other 2nds and any new 2nds.

8/14/2006 10:55:05 PM

San Jose [email protected]

Chop that bad boy

8/15/2006 9:14:39 PM

Montoursville, PA

Ditto.........time to go. Anything now expanding in the patch will take something away from the fruit.

8/16/2006 2:09:19 PM

I quote Sherry Larue "Jack and I never,,ever,,terminate a main vine" your choice,,seems another area that everyone has a different idea.

8/16/2006 3:56:23 PM

Abbotsford, B.C

40 feet does seem kind of long to me; at this point, I would venture to guess that the main vine past the pumpkin is doing little besides keeping itself growing longer. I would be in favour of cutting the end of it so as to direct energy into the pumpkin. If your main vine is 40 feet long, you have plenty enough foliage to support the pumpkin at this point!

Cameron

8/16/2006 5:12:55 PM

Further thougts on this,,I guess that the main vine termination falls to stressing the plant and telling it to ripen. (same as topping and root pruning tomatoes)

IF you live in a climate where early frost shortens your season anyway,,or cool/cold nights inhibit growth,,then I would think terminating the main may get the added pounds you seek before the weather slows or stops the season. I am trying both methods here on selected plants to see for myself the end result.

8/16/2006 6:56:38 PM