Turks Turban

[rogesse]

This is probably a silly question, but how many laterals should you let a Turks Turban have?

I'm growing 2 plants up a sturdy pergola about 4 1/2 ft apart and each seems to have produced 5 laterals plus the main and I'm sure they'll produce more! A couple on each plant could be trained to the pergola but should I cut the rest out for the sake of a better crop (& the nearby herb bed)? Also, should I restrict the number of fruits per plant as with larger pumpkins?

I just don't have the knack with pumpkins and squashes so I'm amazed that these two want to grow.....and grow and grow so I'd hate to cut out too much but will force myself if I have to!

[Alison]

I never restrict my squashes except if they are crowding out something else, I think I mentioned the other day that I prefer lots of smaller fruits and you don't really grow Turks Turban for the size. Other people might prefer to restrict but I've never found it necessary.

[Flummery]

Nor me. I let them do their own thing. I was twining them around pea and bean wigwams last year to keep them out of the way! Massive squashes never get eaten up. Several smaller ones, as long as they ripen well enough to store, are much better for us.

[rogesse]

Thanks for that - I don't have to mutilate them

[wellie]

I agree with Alison and Flummery, I've currently got four Turks Turbans growing up the sides of an old rusty Arbour, each with two Ferline tomatoes either side, along with a Dahlia, a Verbena bonariensis, a fistful of Sweet Peas, Candytufts, a white Lavatera and a couple of Lavenders, oh, and Penstemons, obviously!

To be perfectly honest, the Turks Turbans have developed very broad shoulders in terms of the 'get out of my way children' mode, and are now ROMPING up skywards, in all directions. And personally, I wouldn't dream of stopping them, because they've got 7 yr old farmyard manure at their feet, and I haven't.

[rogesse]

Thank you again, oh wise ones - the main 'stems' are now up and over the pergola and the side shoots coming from everywhere! There are even 4, 3'' diameter fruits after I...ahem...interfered with their sex life.