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Amherst, WI

I'm thinking there are three options w/ the main vine. 1) Never terminate it and let it grow. 2) Let it grow a certain distance past the fruit then terminate it. 3) Terminate right at the pumpkin. Is there a preferred method or are all three methods used w/ no real "best way" to do it? Thank you.

5/19/2026 12:09:12 AM

Bethlehem CT

This is a good question. I terminate at the pumpkin,because it is very easy to do and there are very few hassles. The big risk is that the pumpkin could abort.

5/19/2026 8:38:46 AM

Grittyville, WA

I have tried both ways. It may be helpful and in some cases give the pumpkin a better start, but the only thing I can say with certainty is that it does limit pollination options. One time I was out of town the day the chosen "terminal flower" opened. The poor pollination kinda ruined that plant. Another time I terminated the main but had 3 flowers in close proximity to choose from. The first 2 had issues but thankfully the 3rd grew well. It grew my personal best.

5/19/2026 11:29:06 AM

Grittyville, WA

There is a theoretical 4th option where you dont terminate the main, but you heavily shade it or remove leaves from it to get rid of its apical dominance. This could give a temporary "terminus boost" to the pumpkin, (where the plant now considers the pumpkin itself to be the new main) yet later on you'll say "oh hey btw... actually you do have a main vine still".

If someone could figure out and explain the exact timing of when to fiddle with the auxins I think it would become a mainstream practice. I have always wondered if a grower like Steve Daletas who shades his vine tips might, by happy coincidence, be slightly reducing the auxins coming from the vine tip and hence get a bigger pumpkin. But, I dont think most growers are thinking about this and taking this seriously.

In theory it could give better results. There may be other ways to alter the hormones favorably. I dont think there's any downside to taking the plant hormones seriously. Its knowledge that could be helpful, but I think the top growers are too busy with daily chores to be testing theories.

[Last edit: 05/19/26 11:55:51 AM]

5/19/2026 11:53:46 AM

Grittyville, WA

In the scenario above, apical dominance of the main vine might not return. After suffering apical demotion, it might behave more like a seconday and no longer behave like a main. Sorry for the triple post, non-answers, theories.... just trying to think this through. Good luck! Grow big!

5/19/2026 12:02:10 PM

Amherst, WI

Ketchup, thanks for your opinion, I appreciate it. All of these options must work since none apparently have been eliminated from practice. I agree w/ big moon about terminating at the pumpkin being easy yet very risky. I may try one this year just to see how it goes.

5/19/2026 12:42:34 PM

Grittyville, WA

I respect the opinion of the top growers who think it makes no sense to terminate the main. But aside from arguing over how to grow a WR it does come down to trying it both ways yourself and seeing what works best in your own patch. I'm not fully committed to one way or the other. In terms of growing myself a porch pumpkin, I'd just do whatever is easiest and gives the best result and for this in my experience, terminating the main has some merits.

[Last edit: 05/19/26 12:54:22 PM]

5/19/2026 12:50:50 PM

New England

This is an interesting topic. I'm only go by my own research and this is my first year but what I have discovered is that the auxin hormone is primarily found in the growing tip, signalling the plant to grow towards the food source ie sun. Higher concentrations are found at the what Ketchup referred to as the apical bud or what I'm thinking on a pumpkin plant is the grow tip. But as the main stem gets longer the concentrations of auxin hormone reduce the closer you get to the original planting hole and this allows for branch growth. Most trees grow in a Christmas tree pattern(longer branches towards the ground) for this reason. If you terminate the main stem and the apical bud, new auxin sources are established when new lateral vines grow. If you terminate the main I believe this forces the plant to focus on flower and fruit production while establishing new auxin sources in the lateral vines. Soooo I think terminating main can produce more secondaries and better fruit?

5/19/2026 2:18:26 PM

Grittyville, WA

I know that stripping all the dominant apical growth out of a fruit tree works. But like with tomatoes occasionally a little bit of vines past the fruit seems to be good. Some auxin might be good. The auxins can both help and hinder. It might be an issue of balance.

5/19/2026 3:05:54 PM