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Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

I read that Don Langevin has a formula for estimating pumpkin weight. He says multiply OTT measurement by 1.9.
When I do that I am getting a much heavier weight estimate than I do with the current (2005) Stellpflug tables used by most everyone else. Has the one Langevin was using been updated and the 2005 is more accurate?

7/26/2007 10:21:10 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Hmmm... don't know where you got that formula, that is, I doubt it should be attributable to Don.

That's a linear formula. There is just no way that the estimation can be summed up with such a formula. In other words, the additional weight in going from an OTT of 40 to an OTT of 41, versus going from 400 to 401, that formula would call those the same weight gain. But in reality, it just isn't so.

The equations that I have seen for OTT estimation are complex, like 3rd order equations.

On a side note, I've often thought that these equations could be further developed into piecewise equations, so that the new numbers for 1400 and above don't skew the calculations for the smaller numbers. Hey, let the computer solve the equation! OK...

7/26/2007 1:59:34 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Mark,
Is Don referring to estimating the final OTT of the pumpkin, by multiplying the OTT measurement, at a certain age of the pumpkin, by 1.9? If so, what at what age is this done? Or is it something to this effect?

7/26/2007 2:09:37 PM

Western NY

it was in the first book, and 1.9 only worked for a pumpkin about 600 pounds if i remember correctly.

the 2005 update of the tables is the most current, and should serve well for a few more years.

7/26/2007 2:11:32 PM

Netherlands

I have a squash at 600 lbs now and the 1.9 is fairly accurate.

7/26/2007 2:31:27 PM

Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

The link below is where I found the info. It is covered under step #10.

http://www.backyardgardener.com/wcgp/tips/10steps/10steps.html

7/26/2007 2:37:32 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Oh, now I know what you're talking about... this has to do with the FINAL weight of the pumpkin, not the weight on that particular date. You take the weight when the pumpkin is a certain age, and then you can guesstimate the final weight. I don't remember the particulars.

7/26/2007 3:17:33 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

How to grow Giant Pumpkins III provides a few elaborate formulas to forcast the final weight of a pumpkin based on day 30, day 40 measurements etc. I think they are rediculous. Too many things can go wrong. The pumpkin weighs what the scale says the day you weigh it, period.

7/26/2007 3:41:56 PM

Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

Thats sort of what I was thinking Orangeneck. Like, a fish is going to eat when he is hungry...not when a calender says he should.

7/26/2007 3:56:09 PM

Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

Unless of course he happened to be hungry on that date.

7/26/2007 3:56:32 PM

Lombard, IL

My husband and I were just talking about this last night! In World Class Pumpkins I, it gives that same formula and doesn't make it clear that it would be useful for the FINAL weigh off. I couldn't figure out why it wasn't working for me either until my husband started babbling about math and pies and squares and told me it would only work on a large pumpkin.

7/26/2007 9:54:08 PM