That's what I'm wondering my my gourds. If I cut them off will the shorter vines start producing gourds earlier?Maybe I'll just cut some off and see what happens as I have alot this year and they are growing all over the garden!

Pinching the vine back when it reaches 8 to 10 ft is really a good idea. It promotes lateral growth and that is where the femail flowers are. good luck. Gene

This year I'm trying this on my gourds, I pinched back the vines after they reached about 10 feet, removed the first 4 laterals on each vine( I read the first 4 aren't very good producers)and pinched back the laterals after they have 5 leaves. So far so good.
Kate