Do you pinch the tip of watermelon after five leaves?

[Jungle Jane]

Hi does anyone know,do you pinch the tip after five leaves? It says to pinch the tip to create sideshoots,I feel like if I pinch the tip I’ll end this plants life,it’s sugar baby variety,the tip looks like the best bit? Do the melons only grow on the sideshoots but do the sideshoots always grow? I’ve grown emir melon before but it makes its own sideshoots without me doing anything.

[ameno]

Pinching out the tip won't kill it, but I do't think it's really necessary. I certainly didn't, and now my plants are spreading a metre or more in several different directions. Still no fruit, mind... There've been female flowers, but none have pollinated.

[Jungle Jane]

Thanks ameno I’ll leave it alone then,it’s still really small & slow growing