RE: Flower Pruning??

So Kevin,

If the Gibberelic Acid is a product of the plant "mothering", are you saying
we should leave the flowers on?  If we allow the plant to produce more
flowers, will it speed up the pumpkin growth?  Of course, taking this the
other way, if we cut off all the growth tips, will the plant cease (or
significantly reduce) it's production of Auxin and switch to this Gibberelic
acid?  This seems to be what most of us do shortly after the pumpkin is set.

I think this is a very good topic for the list!  If not, I would be happy to
have the conversation with you privately.

-Gus

-----Original Message-----
From: Pumpkinpirate1@aol.com [P*@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2003 9:52 PM
To: pumpkins@hort.net
Subject: Re: Flower Pruning??

   Thomas
 Now this brings me back to Horticulture Science class and I will make it
simple BUT you will have to follow me !!! When a plant is growing there is a
Chemical Called AUXIN that builds up in the plant and focusses itself in the
growing points OR Maristims. which are the root tips and vine tips. it makes
the
vines grow in singular columns. Pumpkin plants have a good amount of Auxin
keeping the main vine longer then the secondaries. as Pumpkins and Male
flowers
form there is a Chemical change in the plant. it is like a Teeter totter.
Once
the flowers form a chemical called Gibberelic acid forms and the pendulum
swings
from Auxin to Gibberelic Acid that is the point that the plant goes into
MOTHER MODE. the MORE flowers the MORE Gibberelic acid. People have said
that they
saw a slowdown in plant growth when the pumpkins really started putting on
weight well this is in large part that the pumpkins Chemistry is blocking
the
growth of the plant and not that the plant is not getting enough JUICE !!
   One way to prove this is with Cuttings of plants that you are trying to
root. Auxin is the controlling factor for root development so a cutting with
flowers WILL NOT ROOT but pull off the flowers and it works great !!!
   YES I have experimented with pulling off the flowers Male and Female and
YES it makes a GIANT difference !! As it goes for your Question let any and
all
pumpkins and flowers set and Cull any you don't want when they get in the
way
!!!
   OK Sorry list I know this is a Pumpkin List but we don't usually talk
about stuff like this but I thought it would shed light on some things !!!
Take
care all and have a great Season !!

   Kevin Smith
  Pumpkin Pirate !!!!

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