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Vancouver, White Rock, Canada

Why does everybody prune off the leaf that grows where the pumpkin grows? So far, I've kept mine on as it provides some natural shade, and I'm a little short on nice leaves before the fruit. Is it so that the leaf stalk doesn't scratch the fruit when it gets older? What's the deal?

8/2/2004 1:13:36 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

That's the deal. The fruit will get scratched in no time what with the growth rates these things experience. Leave for the office at 7AM with 6 inches to spare & even a little brezze will leave permanent scars before you get home. The real threat isn't the scars. It's the security breach that the rot causing pathogens are looking for 24-7 in our fruits skin.

8/2/2004 1:51:27 PM

Eugene, OR

I'm new at this game and have already had leaves scratch up the pumpkins when they were young but they scarred over just fine. With the winds we have up here, I remove the leaves from the main close to the pumpkin to keep the wind from tweaking the main and possibly the stem when it's blowing outside. As the main vine gets higher and higher off the ground, I remove a leaf or two again for the same reason. Gotta keep that main vine and stem happy!

8/2/2004 2:16:05 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Brian is right removing the leaves from the vine in close proximity to the fruit helps to lighten the vine & reduce the stress.

8/2/2004 7:20:50 PM

Vancouver, White Rock, Canada

Done. Thanks.

8/3/2004 12:36:44 AM