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Eugene,OR

This summer I am planning to grow 18 plants, all of which I think have pretty great potential. Last year I grew 12 plants and cared them all like I was expecting each of them to break the world right until the very end. Since my wife would like me to have something resembling a "normal life this summer, and since I can't take 18 different pumpkins to the four weigh-offs that are within reasonable driving distance, I was wondering: At what point in the development of a pumpkin can a grower make the decision of wether or not to continue giving a particular plant the "full-on" treatment without giving up on a potiential monster too soon? 30 Days after pollination? 45 Days? 60 Days? Is there a certain benchmark of size at day "x" which tells you you have a really good one going? Are there some genetic lines which are "late developers"? These are my questions, and my wife would greatly appreciate it if you could help me develop some sense of when to pull the plug on plants which aren't going to be my weighoff pumpkins. Thanks for your input!

2/3/2005 9:11:10 PM

Eugene,OR

In the firist line it should sau "cared FOR them", not "cared them." But, hey I grew up near Wichita. I'm lucky I can spell my own name, let alone write a coherent sentence.

2/3/2005 9:13:12 PM

Eugene,OR

Oh yeah... the World Record would make more sende in the second line as well.

2/3/2005 9:14:14 PM

[email protected]

Somewhere between "I'm going to live with my mother" & "you'll be hearing from my lawyer".

2/3/2005 10:15:17 PM

Clinton, Iowa

Hey Vine man..I can tell you this.....our 1432 was a no brainer from day 10 on.....there was no way you did not know it looked like it was something special.....I have also had fruits that never ever really showed anything in particular that said..Hey this one is going to be your biggest this year....In fact our first ever 800 plus pounder never gained more then 110 pounds in any given 7 day period..BUT it never stopped growing either..ended up th ebiggest in 2001 from our patch....
we also had a very very slow grower that ended up second best in 2003...it was pathetic and I had actually given up on it..UNTIL it also "kept growing..also making it over the 800 marc....second best in 2003 for us...
ALL that said..I now have a sure fire way...(hopefully) of predicting....if a particular fruit is going to be a decent fruit...OR "something special" I don't get excited about early growth..I don't get bummed out at slow early growers..BUT when a fruit reaches 500 Pounds on the OTT chart.....I pay close attention to the next 7 days of growth..I don;t care if that is day 30 or 37 or 45..when it reaches that 500 est .....I have found if that fruit puts on atleast 150 or more....then you have a shot at somethign in the 4 digits...every fruit of ours that has made it to that marc has put on atleast that 150 or more pounds....All 3 from last year ..did and our 1028 from 2004 did also....it was the first one to actually put on that much....up until that year my best to date 500 est fruit managed only 110 to 120..they ednded up in the 800 range..still big fruits for Iowa but not that special..Here is what I have seen
1028 7 days after 500est it gained 150#
1016 " " " " gained 160#
1086 est " " " " gained 175#
1432 " " " " Gained 265# or more
Anyways.. I hope this helps....But this is only something that I have noticed in my particular patch.

2/3/2005 10:17:05 PM

Indiana

day 30 take the best half. If they are all doing good, and you think they all have a shot at 1000, then take care of all of them...

:-)

Tom

2/3/2005 10:57:04 PM

Deer Park, WI

I have a spreadsheet of growth rates for many weight classes of fruit at various time points. You can use this as benchmarks for potential. I have even developed a "pumpkin tracker" that allows you to chart your progress relative to the 1000lb mark.

Send me an email if you are intersted.

2/4/2005 8:42:46 AM