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Payson, Utah

My main vine has slowed down significantly. It is currently only 8ft 6in long. My side vines are growing well. What is your opinion on pollinating a pumpkin on a more aggressive side vine vs the main vine? Thanks in advance!

7/2/2019 10:42:08 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Main vine is always better, but a backup on a good secondary is always a good idea. After the plant fills up, you can cull down to one or keep both.

I think it’s a good idea for new growers to grow 2 pumpkins on a plant, just as insurance and also to avoid major disappointments if you lose one of them for one reason or another.

7/2/2019 11:38:15 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Is your main growing at all? Is there something visually wrong with it? If so, perhaps you should cut it and go with a secondary. Any vine you choose to pollinate on instead of the main, should become the new main. The primary vine tip is controlling all of the hormones of the entire plan and thus is influencing how the resources are allocated. It sounds like your plant is still too small to be pollinating, so focus on selecting and growing the strongest vines possible. Unless you are growing more than one pumpkin, I think you want it on the main vine, even if that means making a new main. Your plant is still young, so figure that part out first.

7/2/2019 11:38:27 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

I agree you should grow more than one pumpkin on the plant as a new grower. Unless you have a lot of plants. So a main and a secondary pollination is ideal.

7/2/2019 11:39:59 AM

Grittyville, WA

I think strong side vines are nearly as good as the main. What is affecting your main? It might end up affecting the sides too.

7/2/2019 11:44:32 AM

Colorado

pollinate a few you can always cull later-nice to have a choice

7/2/2019 1:24:10 PM

Payson, Utah

Thanks for all of the advice and input! It appears that my main vine is growing, just slow compared to some of the secondaries. As far as I can tell the main vine is healthy and not diseased. It was kind of a gnarly looking plant from the very beginning. The main vine had some weird curves to it from the get go. Maybe it is a genetic issue. I will try to let the main vine grow out and keep a pumpkin on it and my secondary for a back up.

I do have a backup plant that is a month behind. If all else fails I will keep rolling with the backup. It is a 1864 Wallace. It was a slow starter but seems to grow more typical to most of the plants on this website. The main vine seems much more aggressive. I guess we shall see how it goes.

Thanks again!!

7/2/2019 1:52:15 PM