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Ohio

Here is a tuff decision I ran into this morning after pollinating a 4 lobe female on my 1068 Wallace. The 4 lobber I just pollinated is roughly 16 feet out on the main vine. But just 3 days ago I pollinated a 5 lobber on the same plant that is 11 feet out on the main vine. Both females are sitting perfect on the vine but I have to make a 50/50 decision on which one to keep.
Lets say both these females end up growing exactly at the same rate, would you keep the 5 lobber thats closer to the stump or keep the one further out with more plant behind it?
They say a 5 lobber has the potential of being bigger then a 4 lobber because of the sections it has and I agree with this, but, I have seen on the aggc that many 4 lobbers off the 1068 Wallace has grown over 1000lbs.
I have also seen that most pumpkins over 1000 lbs listed through out the Aggc have been mostly grown from a female that had 5 lobes verses the 4 lobbers that where over 1000 lbs. So,,,, which one would you keep? Tough huh?

6/21/2007 9:53:21 AM

southwest MO

Good question Brooks, Im struggling with the same one... I have some early pollinations (one on the 763 as a matter of fact) on main vines but am still pollinating. The first ones about 4 days ago seem to have taken (softball size already) but only about 12' out. Now as I wait for the other females to open the early pollinations are getting burried deeper and deeper in the plant. I havent committed to them yet so now I have 4 feet of plant surrounding them with no vine position, sand or anything to grow on. Hope Im adding to your post rather than hijacking it but when do you commit?? Our weather is heating up here to so pollinations will be further out but will be riskier at 90+ degrees.

6/21/2007 10:23:00 AM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

If I had to choose one based only on position I would take the 4 lobe. A 5 lobe may have larger potential to grow, but being 11' from stump means less food factory to produce a monster. I suppose both would be nearly equivalent.

Let them both grow for a week and see which is better. It will always be a crapshoot.

6/21/2007 10:34:19 AM

Aloha, Oregon

Let them grow for about a week the the one growing the fastest if you think it can support the rapid growth.

Thanks!

Jordan

6/21/2007 12:22:02 PM

Utah

I don't believe more lobes means more growing potential. After looking at lots of pumpkins on the AGGC I think the data supports this. Also from obeservations of mine and others pumpkins I don't think the number of lobes affects the number of seeds either. I think lobes are just a conduit that the pollen travels through to carry out fertilization. so with that said as you can guess with all other things being equal I'd go with the later set.
I hope which ever one you choose goes big for you !

6/21/2007 12:30:34 PM

Waquoit Mass

the odds of both growing at the same rate are a long shot .the pumpkins will tell ya which to keep . if the second gos by the first the first goes. d

6/21/2007 2:02:24 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

4 x 16 = 64....5 x 11 = 55. I would go with the 5 lober, just cause of the math!!! Peace, Wayne

6/21/2007 9:21:50 PM

No Place Special

Further out 4 lober is the keeper in my opinion.

6/21/2007 10:38:07 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

LOL Wayne!
Brooks, hopefully the growth rates will soon make it easy for ya.

6/21/2007 10:43:10 PM