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Nova Scotia

I just came across an order where the grower posed the question of the greatest weight of fruit off one plant. I believe this subject has been discussed before and Kirk Mombert once grew 2 1,000 lb. specimens off one plant. Would appreciate any comments and feedback from growers. Just how much total weight can one plant produce?
Thanks, Danny

2/1/2007 9:54:19 AM

Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

Steve Daletas grew the 1016 and 1230 on the same plant....2246 lb on one plant.
I bet 2500# is possible with the right pruning.

2/1/2007 10:00:30 AM

Antigonish,Nova Scotia,Canada

Danny I believe Pierre ????? of La Tuque Quebec grew two very large pumpkins off of John MacKinnon's 1082 plant.

2/1/2007 10:04:39 AM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

In 2005 I had one plant that wouldn't set fruit until way too late for competition, so I let it go wild. I ended up with 12 pumpkins that averaged over 200# each. It was a huge plant, way over 1000 sq ft. It was from my 633 McWilliams04, which was 804 Carlson X 700-900 Dill seed.

2/1/2007 10:21:40 AM

Rhode Island

Howard and all

Not sure of the total weight but many years ago our good friend and retired grower john castellucci of smithfield ri grew four ag pumpkins on one plant.

All weighed between 6 and 700 pounds if memory serves me right.

Personally, i believe for those newer growers who are more interested in hedging there bets for the season ending weigh off rather than competing against the heavy hitters would be better served to grow two or three on the same plant. Just do not set fruit on the same vine.

Example

Suggest first one on main minimum 12 ft down from stump. Second one on side after main pumpkin and third on side vine farther down the line and opposite sided of main from second pumpkin.

If you allow a back main to grow you can set on two main vines, which may be your best bet.

Just remember, if you grow a back main you basicly have two christmas trees plants and will need double the space.

also, a good plan if you have a rare seed and you would like to get the max from it.

Even though the back main would share the same base it actually would grow pretty close to the way a single christmas tree plant would.

pap

2/1/2007 11:10:56 AM

Nova Scotia

In 2001, Mombert grew a 1097 and 1064 on same plant. Total weight 2161 lbs. Grown from 723 Bobier.
Danny

2/1/2007 12:14:43 PM

Hampshire, UK

See http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=59855

2/1/2007 12:20:47 PM

Antigonish,Nova Scotia,Canada

Thanks, Malcolm, I couldn't remember Pierre Slusarek's last name nor where I had seen Pierre's photo with the two pumpkins in question.....NOT funny getting old???? is it?????....LOL
That photo you posted is one of the reasons why I'm growing the 1082 MacKinnon this season.

2/1/2007 12:32:10 PM

Roanoke Il

I'd think if the plant was started early enough and you let the plant get 2,000 sq feet 6-7000 lbs of pumpkins. Pumpkins ranging from 200-600 lbs 12-15 pumpkins wouldn't be out of the question...mark

2/1/2007 12:33:52 PM

Ca

check out this page from Vince Zunino, >2900 from about 800 square feet. http://home.pacbell.net/diana_do/butterball.htm

2/1/2007 1:15:57 PM

SF Bay Area, California

In 2003 I grew a total of 17 pumpkins on one 800 square foot plant. The total combined weight was estimated at 2,970 pounds. Most were harvested at between 100 and 350 pounds and were sound fruit. This does not include at least a dozen culls of smaller pumpkins.

The seed was a 831 Zunino which is a 846 Calai offspring. Many of them were grown on the blossom end to see what kind of shapes I could get out of them.

For some pictures of this crop go to:

http://home.pacbell.net/diana_do/butterball.htm

If someone really wanted to go for total poundage, two tons could easily be beat... vince

2/1/2007 1:17:03 PM

southwest MO

There was a thread on hear a year or two back about growth before or after the pumpkin started by Carlson. In it I think Nic Welty mentioned a monsterous amount he had grown on one plant. Couldnt find the tread...

2/1/2007 1:40:55 PM

Massillon, Ohio

Vince,
Your Butterball Family is the greatest!!
....Glenna

2/1/2007 3:33:30 PM

Napa Valley, CA

Here in Napa I have seen three 800 pounders on one plant.

2/1/2007 5:12:22 PM

Southern Sweden

Go to the following link, to see how I grew 1600 kg / 3524 lbs pumpkins on one plant, in 2001:
http://www.skurupsborren.se/1600kg-pumpor.html

2/1/2007 5:29:08 PM

Indiana

Never made an attempt specifically, but we have had well over 3000 pounds on some plants before. I would have to dig for the actual numbers, but I think that someone could easilly get 3 tons if they made it their goal of max fruit on one plant.

2/1/2007 11:57:56 PM

Indiana

In fact...in a southern climate that doesnt freeze, I think that the cap is limitless

2/1/2007 11:59:02 PM

So. Maine

Do I see a new contest looming in the near future ?

2/2/2007 1:28:08 AM

Elk Grove,Ca USA

going way back
1997n Lyle Richart(deceased) gre 4 fruit on the 725.6 Barlett that totaled 3028#. That was really something back then

2/2/2007 2:42:33 AM

Massachusettts

Tom -

Maybe YOU could get 6,000 lbs of fruit from 1 plant but I don't know if it could be done 'easily'.

2/2/2007 10:33:36 AM

That State Up North

I grew over 5,000 pounds of fruit on one plant back in 1998. It was from the 833.5 Mombert plant.

2/2/2007 7:37:36 PM

Indiana

Craig,
I dont think it would be hard if it was actually your goal. I reached over 3000 lbs on a 1200 sq ft plant. If total weight was a goal, we could let the plant get huge with 4 or 5 main vines, get the plant up to 5000 sq ft or more, and give it a go with 20 different fruit. That would only be 300 pounds average per pumpkin. It might sound crazy, but I think it would be fairly easy. Any time you actually manage a plant, there is work involved but I dont think anything special. I mean Welty just said he did 5000 lbs back 9 years ago.

Tom

2/3/2007 8:59:46 AM

That State Up North

Yes, it was a 5,000 sq ft plant, I had two main vines, each was 50 feet long, so the entire plant was 100 feet long. The largest fruit from the plant was my 728, which was split in early august (quite large that time of the year back then). Just start your plant early, keep it healthy, vines burried, and set fruit on all your secondaries.

2/3/2007 10:49:45 AM

SF Bay Area, California

Ok, One ton on a plant is easy, two tons takes a little effort and three tons is possible if you really want to work at it....

2/3/2007 1:06:18 PM

[email protected]

Hmmm...new award at the weigh-off maybe?

2/3/2007 4:25:58 PM

Pumpkintown, SC

No records to record here but just a couple more examples:

In 2004, when the main broke on my 597 Webster '00(991 Hunt x 827 Holland), I decided to grow for multiple fruit. That plant put out 9 400 pound fruit that all looked identical(3600lbs).
This past year(2006) when I was lucky enough to get an 827 Holland '92 seed to germ, I decided to grow and make many crosses with it. After the dust had settled, that 827 had also put out 3600lbs of fruit with the largest being the new SC record.
Both these examples were supported by plants well over 2000 square feet. BF

2/5/2007 12:07:25 PM

Montoursville, PA

I've forgotten who but I was told by a grower at an event that he had planted my 710 with good intensions. He got sick and did nothing. The result was one 500 one 400 and a bunch of others for an estimated total of 2000 lbs. of fruit. He had no reason to be blowing smoke. His buddy confirmed and we all had a great laugh.

2/5/2007 3:24:17 PM