Pumpkin plant gone wild

11 years ago

The pumpkin plant is growing wildly in different directions. It's just too much plant. There are already many pumpkins on the vine, enough to make me happy. If I clip the ends of the out-of-control vines, will the existing pumpkins still develop well?

(One vine just about to go out into the street, another crossing the driveway. I have redirected them as much as I can.)

Featured Answer

mav72

11 years ago

Don't mind the rambling. I do it myself sometimes.

I remember there was a house in a beach community that had pumpkins growing. I'd park close to it and noticed people would always comment on the pumpkins to each other, when walking by.

If planted early, a July harvest is fine.. I've done the same with hubbard squash. You can plant more, depending on the variety and your growing area, or something else..

I'm a little confused on what is considered a pumpkin and not a winter squash... I always thought that pumpkins were all orange but my friends wife calls kabocha squash pumpkins also.. I've even read a scientific article that had me even more confused with no "drawn line"...

All I know is, don't loose your pumpkis/squash in the headges... I've done that a couple of times.. lol They were good sized fruits also...

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Comments (6)

mav72
11 years ago
Since it has pumpkins already, it's hard to say because you need the leaves to gather energy for developing the fruit... In my experience, when I already have fruit, the old leaves die off while the new growth continues to support fruit develpoement. I usually turn the runners around when long enough with no fruit yet. You probably can turn the one on the driveway with a little help. You may have to unwrap tendrils on the other one. They will look unbalanced at first but will return to normal.
socks
Original Author
11 years ago
I'll try to work with them. Do the runners ever "run out of gas?" I guess what is bothering me is that this is May. What's this going to be like in July? Thanks for the thoughts, mav72.
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mav72
11 years ago
The runners DO "run out of gas" but then start to put out side shoots. I have some squash runners headed for my young corn plants. I might just guide and let them run over my shallots, since my shallots seem to be able to tolerate a little shade...
socks
Original Author
11 years ago
It will be a good experiment to see how the squash and shallots work together. My zucchini is taking off but it has space for its travels.

One pumpkin vine has left the garden and is continuing down the alley behind the house. The vines have at least 15 pumpkins, not including the tiny ones. I plant pumpkins for fun and the enjoyment of local walkers. I want kids to know that pumpkins don't come from the grocery store. Last year the vine grew up through a hedge and there was a pumpkin on top of the hedge.

I harvested the pumpkins in July 2014 because the vine was an unsightly mess. One pumpkin was placed on an upside down pot in the garden. It has lasted 10 months and had to be chopped up this morning (a critter was starting to eat it). No wonder the pilgrims liked them, right?

Hope you don't mind my rambling. No one else here shares my enthusiasm for pumpkins!
StephanieHS
11 years ago
Socks, this is the perfect place for pumpkin rambling! Last year there were quite a few folks on here just showing off pics etc because all their friends and family were sick of hearing about pumpkins :) It was like a support group for the pumpkin-obsessed.

On your question, I have heard of people pinching off vine after a pumpkin to either prevent it from aborting or to focus the plants attention on it. But it seems counter-intuitive, doesn't it? I've never tried it. It sounds like you have a very healthy, very productive plant!

Honestly I'm a bit jealous of your predicament - my plants are so young, they haven't even started vining yet! I can't wait for my plants to get out of control and start fruiting :)