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Elk Grove,Ca USA

I have the opportunity to grow pumpkins for a retail store. They buy 150 cardboard containers (4'X 4'X 4') for the season; Howden Biggie to Baby Boo. How much does a carton hold. Understanding the different varieties and weight. Out here 30 ton/ acre in normal production. Can any field pumpkin growers tell me how many acres I would need. Thinking 3 would do it though it doesn't seem right? Great bottom ground. Thanks for the help
Turkeyman
Ken Mitchell

2/15/2005 2:54:04 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

...I would recommend "The Pumpkin Production Guide" on sale at Johnny's Select Seeds. Good Luck Shannon

2/15/2005 5:57:46 AM

Ontario, Canada

I get about 3000 pumpkins on about 1.5 acres

2/15/2005 6:48:57 AM

Utah

Ken,

Just a BIG approximation/guess here on my part. I'm not sure how big Howed or baby boo's pumpkins are or how much the typically weigh.

each 4 x 4 x 4 container is 64 cu ft.
if each pumpkin takes up about 1 x 1 x 1 space,(1 cu ft)
then 64 will fit on container.
but then a bunch of smaller pumkins will fit in spaces between these ...
if you ad 36 more then that make a nice round number of 100 per container.
if the average weight was 10 lbs., then that would be
1,000 lb per container or 1/2 ton

150 containers would be 75 tons.
At 30 tons/acre 2.5 acres would yeild that.

if the containters held more pumpkins or the average pumpkin weighed more - then maybe a containter would hold 1,500 lb to 2,000 lb.

if it was 1,500 lbs - then 150 containers would hold 112.5 tons and you would need 3.75 acers at 30ton/acre.

if it was 2,000 lbs - then 150 containers would hold 150 tons and you would need 5 acers at 30ton/acre.

My numbers are all just guesses ... but at least it is a starting place for you. Can you tell I'm an engineer?

You have probably done all that ... and just want the answer to you question - how much does a container hold !
sorry I don't know that. lol !

good luck with it
gordon

2/15/2005 10:13:02 AM

Long Island,New York

Get a couple bee hives Ken....cheap enough and very effective at increasing yield

2/15/2005 3:27:18 PM

[email protected]

I asked one of my customers about those 4'x4'x4' pallet-boxes of pumpkins today. He gets his delivered this way the past few years.

If the box contains 6-8 pounders it weighs about 1100 lbs.
If the box contains 10-14 pounders it weighs about 800 lbs.

2/15/2005 6:41:32 PM

Elk Grove,Ca USA

thank you guys still crunching the #'s. up to 180,000 # potentially sold of the 292,000# of the 7.3 acres will yield.

2/16/2005 12:34:50 AM