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Salem, OR

I have six plants growing and I am noticing that the first pumpkin on the main is always the largest, yet I hear folks say that they select the pumpkin furthest down the main to keep. I've been taking 10 day measurements and the differences are pretty extreme. I have one plant where the first set is at 21" on day 10 at about 8 ft out, the second pumpkin is at 9" (or up to 17" on some plants) on day 10 at 10+ ft out. Other plants vary but the difference in size is pretty significant. I had quite a few pumpkins on the secondaries, but have culled all of those in hopes of improving the measurements on the pumpkins on the main. Is the first pumpkin taking energy from the other down the main? I am having a hard time culling these good growers for what MIGHT be a decent grower furthe down. Any advice?

7/19/2007 8:04:04 PM

[email protected]

Yes, the first pumpkin is taking energy from the second, the later pollinated one. But sometimes the one further down the line, the later set, will be larger. I've had this happen more than once. My biggest from last season was this way, it was the seocnd set(12 feet), but was bigger at 10 days than the first set(10 feet) on that plant. Why it was bigger I'm not sure. Could've been distance out, the bigger stem it had, difference in shape maybe. I think you have to take everything into consideration, location, shape, flaws and then its still a guess. I wouldn't give up 21 inches for 9 but I'd also wait a little longer before culling which ever one you choose to cull.

7/19/2007 9:26:38 PM

Denver, CO

There is a bit more to consider then just distance and it will all directly affect the size of the pumpkins. First off, 10 day meauserments have been know to be dramatically off and probably are not a good indication of which pumpkin to keep. Instead, keep them both for a while, and watch and see which pumpkin seems to grow the most on a day to day basis. After 20 days you will have to decide but if the smaller starts to catch the bigger, you can be fairly certian it will blow right past it later on . This is ture, even though the 10 day stats say otherwise.

7/19/2007 9:52:06 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

IMO any pumpkin that is 9" on day ten is going in the compost pile no matter what else is on the plant.

7/20/2007 12:23:23 PM