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Trumbull, CT 06611, USA

After pollinating a few pumpkins over the past few days I had 4, 5 and 6 lobed pumpkins. So I began to wonder if that means anything in terms of weight and +or- % heavy.

Based on data from the AGGC, the top 100 pumpkins were taken into consideration. I did not count the pumpkins with no lobe or % heavy numbers in the system. Not sure if the analysis means anything, but it is interesting. Don't cull a 4 lober.

There were 29, 4 lobed pumpkin with an average weight of 1244 lbs and weighed in at an average of +2.60 % heavy.

There were 66, 5 lobed pumpkin with an average weight of 1255 lbs and weighed in at an average of +1.89 % heavy.

There were 5, 6 lobed pumpkin with an average weight of 1225 lbs and weighed in at an average of +4.97 % heavy.

To get a better estimate, one needs to use more data, but I thought I take the top 100 for a quick study....Good luck everyone.

7/8/2006 9:12:57 AM

Berlin,mi.([email protected])

very interesting ray. thanks for the insight. i pollinated a real nice 4 lobe pumpkin on the 500 northrup this morning. it will be interesting to see what it does against the 5 lobe ones.

7/8/2006 9:42:40 AM

Rhode Island

lobes as we know account for the seed cavities in the final product. four lobes = four seed cavities, etc.

personally i think the final weight is related more to the care and feeding of the pumpkin during its life cycle rather that whether it a 4-5 or 6 segment.

we have won and lost with all.

interesting review ray. good read

pap

7/9/2006 7:30:59 AM

[email protected]

Perhaps this analysis reflects the bulk density of seeds versus pulp. I once took a 281 lb fruit apart that was spot on the OTT chart & had over 800 seeds in it. It's flower had 5 segments.

In theory more segments (lobes) should mean more seeds. But this isn't always the case.

If seeds weigh more (higher bulk density) than flesh (don't know) then having more seeds should be desirable if the trade-off isn't larger cavity space.

Maybe someone who grows a lot for fruit for seed (Tom Beachy) can shed more light on this?

7/9/2006 10:45:13 AM

San Luis Obispo, Ca.

Good work! I have one of each 4, 5, and 6. We will see what happens?

7/9/2006 12:40:24 PM

Ontario

I'm thinking that a 4 lobe pumpkin is the most common. But only 29 made it to the top 100. A 5 lobe is less common but 66 made it to the top 100. As for the 6 lobe which is rare 5 made it to the top 100. Each segment reflects a segment of the pumpkin. So with a 4 lober their larger and deeper ribs on a big pumpkin' more chance of splitting. So I would take a 5 lober over a 4 lober anyday. Saying that Bryans 1327 pumpkin last year was a four lober. A five lober has smaller segments so the ribs don't get as deep. You can look at a 1000 pounder and tell how many lobes she was by counting the deep ribs.

drew

7/9/2006 9:58:13 PM

[email protected]

Drew brings up a good point. 4 lobers are so much more common they almost HAVE to rank high on Ray's list. If 4, 5 & 6 segmented flowers all ocurred with equal frequency, it seems logical that the 4 lobers performance would suffer. Doesn't it?

7/9/2006 11:33:08 PM

Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

I don't know about anyone else, but I see way more 5 loberss than 4, and way more 4 than 6 lobers. I'd say the numbers in Ray's study are probably directly correlated to the percentage of occurance of 4, 5 & 6 lobes...
Frank

7/10/2006 6:55:52 AM

Minnesota([email protected])

I agree with you Frank.

7/10/2006 9:51:03 AM

Long Island,New York

way more 5 lobers on mains than 4's here

7/10/2006 9:27:08 PM

Denver, CO

If number of lobes made no differenc, we would all set 3 lobers and not even blink. But we know in reality that a 3 lober has much less of a chance then a 6 lober of being a large pumpkin. Imagine a 10 lober, what would the odds be of such a pumpkin being anything but large. Just food for thought. :)

7/10/2006 9:54:49 PM