I sometimes have an intense dislike for some gardening tips/advise that are doled out with liberal regularity without any form of an explanation as to why this is good advise or what, if any, benefit will be achieved by following this tip/advise.
One of these tips is to pinch out the growing tips of trailing plants like pumpkin, watermelon, cucumbers and rock melons, etc. So as I was reading organic gardener's 'Getting started' essential guide I finally found out why this is good advise.
So here is the tip found on page 28. 'Pumpkin, zucchini, squash and cucumber plants thrive in soil heavily manured with sheep, cow, poultry or decomposted stable manure. The secret of good pumpkin yields is to initiate more female flowers by pinching out the growing tips of runners when about two meters long. (and here is the explanation as to why this is good advice) This forces out side shoots that bear more female flowers'.
How easy is that? Now I can rest easy and knowing why the bloody hell I pinch out the tips of my pumpkins.
Cherry-bye then till next time
Stewart
