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Dillsburg, PA

I am a little late getting started by a few weeks but finally I have a female ready to open. Only problem is that it is just over six feet on main vine. Also have one on same vine that is much smaller about 11ft out. Should I cut the closer one and go at 11 ft or should I leave them both on? If I leave the one at 6ft on will the one at 11ft still develop? Is six feet to close? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Jeff

7/10/2003 11:30:23 AM

Alex, IN

It is really your choice Tom Beachy told me that the 1167 handy was grown four feet out and othe over 1100 poundes were grown 25 feet out. I would just pic which one grows fastest with the best shape.

Good Luck,
Mikkal

7/10/2003 11:42:26 AM

Edmonton, Canada

6 feet may be a bit too close, but you might as well pollinate it to practice. There have been some biggies grown withing 10 fee of the stump, but quite often, as they get bigger, they will actually start to pull on the stump. You'll just have to watch and see what happens. If you leave it on, the one at 11 feet will still develop. A pumpkin plant can handle several fruit at the same time. However, if you want to get a biggie, you have to cull it down to 1 or 2.

7/10/2003 11:43:35 AM

Ypsilanti Michigan

I would play it safe and keep her. You may have trouble down the road, you could cull it if you get another female later on. If you pull it now, you would be taking a risk? What if the smaller one gets broken off? I kept my second one and Im glad I did. She's big as a basketball and still trucking . I ask the same question and this is the answer I recieved. I was pulling all my females off and someone warned me to stop! Good luck in making the dicision.

7/10/2003 3:24:23 PM

Chico, Ca

I have pollinated 35 or so females on just two plants in the last three weeks. I polllinate them all then cull down to the best one. Stuff does happen and you can slow down on the ferts for an early set if you have to, but if you wait for "the one" and miss out you are in a world of hurt trying to catch up.


You cant cull what you dont set....

Good luck, Robert

7/11/2003 9:14:43 AM

Cologne / Germany

Did anyone experience a decrease of female qualitiy after 15-18 ft? For the 2nd season I find them smaller & slower this year than the earlier ones.

7/11/2003 9:59:35 AM

Dillsburg, PA

Well guys thanks for the input. I did pollinate the one at 6ft this morning by hand. Did not see any bees so I got nervous and hand pollinated it by 10:00.I wonder where all the bees are at, last year I had a ton of them. If this one does not take it is okay because I have two more females on the main one at 11ft and another at 13ft. I would think they wil be ready in two weeks or less. Thanks again, Jeff

7/11/2003 12:05:43 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

way less Jeff!!! That first one seems to take forever! After that you start wondering if you'll everget to stay in bed in the morning again...grow em big! chuck

7/11/2003 2:26:00 PM