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Location

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Date Posted

Wood River, Nebraska

Wished this were my problem.......A new grower I gave seeds to has a fruit set that was polinated June 7th. Is a hundred plus days unreasonable to keep a fruit viable on the vine? I've encouraged him to continue to polinate others. A later set fruit could become bigger and certainly stay sound longer. How long after polination will a fruit continue to grow. I know alot of people who strive to set fruit by the first week of July that would be 90 days from an Oct 1 weigh-off.
dave

6/22/2005 4:45:38 PM

Grants Pass, Oregon

I wouldnt keep anything that is set before at least the end of June. The pumpkin wont last until Oct 1st it will ripen too early.

6/22/2005 5:52:50 PM

Puyallup, WA

It is a fact of pumpkin life that if you want to take a pumpkin to the October 1st weigh-off, then pollinated it during the first week in July. That statement is true 80% of the time.....I'll take those odds in the Lottery anytime!

6/22/2005 8:02:33 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Early fruit will also be more prone to split. The cool weather nights and warm days of late August and September can play havoc with a fruit that has been on the vine too long. Any growth beyond the the 60 day point is a bonus. At this point you would be in the 100+ day range for an Oct. 1st weigh-off. Shoot for 85 to 99 days on the vine is plenty to get you the monster you desire.

6/23/2005 8:36:15 AM

Circleville Ohio USA

A healthy plant can keep a fruit growing until heavy frost.

6/24/2005 10:09:31 AM

Springfield, MO

May be challenge to keep the fruit solid, but in southern Missouri it is better to definititely have a fruit set than not when July comes around. At least down here, it is very hard to get a fruit to set in early July unless there is a cool spell or a little rainy weather for a couple days. -- Chris

6/27/2005 7:29:08 PM