Contact Information

3413 Marion Drive
Tampa, FL 33637

Back when I first started gardening, I thought leaving a pumpkin vine to grow every which way was the only way to keep it alive and well. While it’s not absolutely necessary to trim the vines, doing so can encourage a more abundant harvest, and larger pumpkins. Additionally, by sacrificing some of the younger fruit, it allows the plant to put all its energy into developing the remaining pumpkins.

However, it is best to remove any tertiary runners as soon as you notice them, to avoid diverting nutrients from the main and secondary vines. Ideally, you should try to hold off until you’ve got two to five established fruits growing for larger varieties, or about 10-12 little gourds on smaller cultivars. Earlier this year when I was growing tomatoes, I noticed a leaf spot starting to develop on the lower leaves of the plant.

That way, water splashing up from infected soil won’t cause the fungus to reinfect new lower leaves. But my young pumpkin leaves soon developed a few small whitish spots on the edges, and I panicked yet again.

This time, without doing any additional research first, I trimmed a few leaves back when the stem was barely a foot long. But they’re growing more slowly than they probably would have if I hadn’t recklessly removed the leaves, disrupting their early growth.

Trim the main vine when it is 10-15 feet long when measured from the center of the plant. To trim the main vine, measure 10-15 feet from the center of the plant where it grows out of the ground.

Because they divert nutrients and energy from the main and secondary vines, it’s a good idea to trim tertiaries as soon as you see them. After you make a cut, bury the severed tip an inch or two deep in the soil and cover it with mulch.

This will help to prevent the plant from drying out, and it’ll also make it harder for pests to invade or disease to take hold. Plus, if you keep the soil moist, it should develop a secondary root system where it was cut, resulting in more nutrition for your growing gourds. By keeping the plant trimmed and neat, you’ll encourage it to grow strong, healthy squash.

A close up of the growing vines of a pumpkin plant growing in the garden and in need of pruning. To the top and bottom of the frame is green and white text.
A close up of the growing vines of a pumpkin plant growing in the garden and in need of pruning. To the top and bottom of the frame is green and white text.
A close up of the growing vines of a pumpkin plant growing in the garden and in need of pruning. To the top and bottom of the frame is green and white text.
A close up of the growing vines of a pumpkin plant growing in the garden and in need of pruning. To the top and bottom of the frame is green and white text.
A close up of the base of a young pumpkin plant growing out of the ground, on a soft focus background.
A close up of the base of a young pumpkin plant growing out of the ground, on a soft focus background.
A close up picture showing the secondary runners growing off the main stem on a pumpkin plant, pictured on a soft focus background.
A close up picture showing the secondary runners growing off the main stem on a pumpkin plant, pictured on a soft focus background.
A close up of a pumpkin vine with a young fruit developing, with soil in soft focus in the background.
A close up of a pumpkin vine with a young fruit developing, with soil in soft focus in the background.
A top down picture of a long pumpkin vine growing across a grassy lawn.
A top down picture of a long pumpkin vine growing across a grassy lawn.
A close up of three pumpkin leaves trimmed from a young plant and placed on the soil of a raised garden bed. To the left of the frame is a pair of scissors with rubber handles.
A close up of three pumpkin leaves trimmed from a young plant and placed on the soil of a raised garden bed. To the left of the frame is a pair of scissors with rubber handles.
A close up of a large pumpkin patch with long trailing vines, large green leaves and small orange flowers, and developing fruits.
A close up of a large pumpkin patch with long trailing vines, large green leaves and small orange flowers, and developing fruits.
A close up of a large, orange winter squash developing in the garden, covered with droplets of water, with soil in the background.
A close up of a large, orange winter squash developing in the garden, covered with droplets of water, with soil in the background.
A close up of young fruit developing on a pumpkin plant with soil in the background in soft focus.
A close up of young fruit developing on a pumpkin plant with soil in the background in soft focus.
A field of pumpkin plants with large green leaves, yellow flowers, and small developing fruits, with trees and a mountain in soft focus in the background.
A field of pumpkin plants with large green leaves, yellow flowers, and small developing fruits, with trees and a mountain in soft focus in the background.

Tags

Laundry Room Ideas to Boss Your Dirty Washing

Costway 3 Tier Metal Heavy Modern for Multiple Plant Display Stand