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Location

Message

Date Posted

Lebanon

The tip of my main vine was roasted a few weeks ago, and the sole pollination I had in it aborted, so I'm going to have to pollinate a side vine. They are all pretty strong looking vines, and the advice has been pollinate everything and then pick.

So I pollinated one on Monday, two on Tuesday, three today, and I've got 5, FIVE!, set to open tomorrow. Should I really have 11 pollinations on a plant at a time? And how do I ultimately pick which one to go with? I've got a hunch about one I pollinated this morning, just based on good symmetry, but other than that, I have no idea....

I've got a lot of plant in pretty good shape right now, so I feel like I could carry a back up for a while, but this is about to get out of hand.

7/2/2021 11:46:59 AM

Grittyville, WA

They make stir fry at DAP 3 but most growers use pesticides.

7/2/2021 1:25:49 PM

Grittyville, WA

Use in kitchen like a zucchini or summer squash. Just sayin.

7/2/2021 1:28:20 PM

Bethlehem CT

Lots of options is a good thing, in my opinion. Growers have had some big time success with training the secondary vine(with the pumpkin on it) as a "new" main vine after the fruit set.

7/2/2021 1:43:51 PM

Lebanon

Eating won't be an option for me, these things practically glow from all the chemicals.

I've heard that about 'training' a new main vine, but I don't really understand what that means? Like you run it in the same direction and let tertiaries develop as if they were secondaries? All my secondaries are pretty well going in the direction a person would expect, and I don't really have the forward room in my patch anyway.

I had planned on terminating every vine except the one my final fruit is on, and just letting that continue on as far as it wants to go, is that the same as being the 'new main'?

Thanks for the quick input! Gotta start making some decisions before tomorrow!

7/2/2021 2:13:09 PM

Lebanon

And do I really pollinate all of them? I feel like 11 on a plant should get my hand slapped or something!

7/2/2021 2:14:13 PM

Mission Viejo, CA

"Like you run it in the same direction and let tertiaries develop as if they were secondaries?"

Exactly. You can also terminate your new main after the fruit is established and use the space for your new secondaries.

7/2/2021 3:04:30 PM

Lebanon

So I really don't have much more room to work with, I did try and get the secondary closest to the tip to take over, but it's about the weakest secondary I have. Instead it's like the last 8 secondaries all decided to try and take over ( maybe that's why you establish a new main...). I posted a new pic in my diary, red x is the end of the main, orange dots are pollinations or open tomorrow

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=325594

I guess I just need to pick one and go with it. If I don't start terminating vines soon they're going to be in the road...

7/2/2021 3:55:57 PM

Bethlehem CT

I would go with the one that has good shape and is a fast grower also weighing heavily into the equation is this.. I would choose one that will be easy to set up with mill fabric etc. The less plant you have to move or cut off, the better.

7/2/2021 5:54:34 PM

Bethlehem CT

I just saw your picture. That is a heck of a nice looking plant. You should do well this year. I would go with the one that is farthest out on the plant.

7/2/2021 5:57:03 PM

Lebanon

Thanks! It's definitely my best at the moment, I just want to make sure I put all that salad to use and get something set! I've got a hunch on which one, I'm going to start trimming stuff and narrowing down by choices once the kids go to bed

7/2/2021 6:08:00 PM

Grittyville, WA

It looks like a rebellious plant. If its like the females I know... you might want to stay six feet away from those babies and let her make her own decisions.

7/3/2021 4:14:47 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

Showme, I saw your recent post about old leaves. That is completely normal in the 11 years I’ve been growing. You will see people be able to have better leaves on the main until August, but they are typically up north and don’t get as intense of sunlight as you do. Also, definitely don’t compare anything to greenhouse guys, they have their own set of issues, but you have uncontrolled heat, humidity, southern sun, and storms. Just my 2 cents!

7/9/2021 10:43:01 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

I’m getting a bad hail storm right now a minute after I wrote this

7/9/2021 10:45:11 PM