2 weeks ago you guys assisted me in impregnating my Giant Pumpkin. For some reason, it just did not want to get pregnant. Anyway, I followed your instruction and bascially helped the plant have sex with itself (yes, I felt dirty afterwards) and am happy to report that I am now the expectant father of a baby Giant Pumpkin!
In ten days it has grown to the size of my fist, and I'm already planning to build a little hammock so as to keep it off the wet ground.
So yeah, thank you all for your help. I'd be barren without you!
But I have another question: The vine itself is now very long; about 20 feet. I have trained it to keep it inside my raised box, and it has come full circle, literally. I noticed that it tries, and mostly succeeds, at putting down roots at every node. The older part of the vine looks all dead and withered, and the leaves have all dropped off there. The newer growth is still healthy and robust, though. So, my query: May I cut out and discard the older part of the vine? It appears that the plant no longer gets sustenance from that part, and since there are roots everywhere else I figure it is recieving the nutrients it requires from those (which are WAY closer to the budding site).
It's not of uber-importance, but I am running out of room in the bed, and I want to plant some peppers I have in Solo party cups. Also, I got a wild hair and decided to try to propagate some Spaghetti Squash seeds I got out of a store-bought squash, and I was a little TOO successful: I have almost 20 seedlings that I'd like to plant, also in Solo party cups. They are growing like weeds and need a permanent home very soon.
Any room on the roof?
I wouldn't, but I can't give you a good reason - it sounds like you actually COULD. Can you tuck the other squash in around it and trellis them?
Congradulations.
Geeze wish I knew some of the stuff I am learning here back in the day when I had the physical agiliy and time to Garden.
But it sure is good knowledge when talking to folks around here off screen about their adventures in gardening.
I would not destroy the main pumpkin plant. There is a tremendous root system that the offshoots probably don't have. Better safe than sorry. If the dead-looking part gives you room to plant right there next to it, you could give it a try, but I wouldn't plant anything that is going to get huge and interfere with the root system of the pumpkin. Good luck!
Congratulantions on your pumpkin baby.
First off you have to promise it that you will respect it in the morning, then you must lie back and smoke a cigarette.