Yes, you can prune the main stems of the vine when they are 8 - 10 feet long, and you can prune the lateral vines, usually at around 6 feet. The ornamental gourds will be growing on the lateral vines, and you'll get a very nice crop by keeping your vines trimmed.

Jan

I've hacked and prunned my gourds to no end, no mercy, and so yes, they can be prunned. Tamed? Never. The thought makes me laugh. My gourds grew so fast and every direction we were pulling bushels of vines out of trees 20 feet tall. Now, I'm sure my crop was smaller than if I had let the vines take over 1/2 the town. But I still have few beauties out there. I don't personally understand the whole lateral vine concept. Mine were growing 360 degrees, up, down, upsidedown...I couldn't begin to tell you which was a lateral vine. All I know is my husband went out there with a machetee one afternoon and managed to control them for a few days before the took off again. Ugh. Will NOT plant these things again. Love 'em but it's gotten to the point where I'm afraid to go into the patch. I'm convinced some rabid critter has moved in.