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Re: Pinching

I share your skepticism about this piece of pumpkin lore.  As someone in
the sciences, I am aware of how often bits of advice like this do not
pan out under careful study.  I wonder if anyone has done any sort of
controlled study to see if this is really helpful in growing a bigger
fruit.

As I have one plant with two pumpkins on different vines that are bigger
than anything on my other plant, I am also wondering whether culling one
of these larger fruit is truly going to result in more pounds for the
other, provided other things remain equal.  Can anyone (even
anecdotally) report a surge in the growth rate of a pumpkin on a
SEPARATE vine on the same plant ocurring with such a cull? I am well
aware that all the world's largest pumpkins have been one per plant --
but the end does not necessarily justify the means.

Regards,
Chris Wilbers
Sioux Falls, SD

--------------------------------

PKINBUMKIN@aol.com wrote:
> 
> Hi all.  Here is a question for the group:
> Has it been absolutely, scientifically proven that pinching actually
> increases pumpkin size? Correct me if i'm wrong,  but the theory behind
> pinching is that the energy that was being used for vine growth will now go
> to the growth of the fruit.  The reason why i question this is because i have
> noticed that when you do pinch a vine it seems to encourage the production of
> more side shoots to compensate for the vine that has been pinched.  When you
> plant a new tree and you "top it" what happens?  The tree produces more side
> branches and becomes fuller and topping also encourages root growth because
> the tree is trying to bounce back and compensate from the topping.  So i have
> a hard time in believing that pinching will direct energy to the pumpkin.  If
> anything, i think it will encourage more vine production and take energy away
> from the pumpkin.  This is my own personal observation.  Thanks,
> 
> Ethan,
> Wood River Jct,  RI
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