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ordinary,VA

when reading some old newsletters from the
PGPGA came across a article written by Larry Checkon.the article was talking about a article written in a 2001 newsletter in the PGPGA .titled "pumpkin prognostication" the article went back twenty years and averaged the weight of the world record pumpkins for each year and determined that the weights increasing by about 4.5%per year.

Predicted weight actual weight
2002=1318 1337 Charlie Houghton
2003=1378 1385 Steve Daletas
2004=1440 1446 Al Eaton
2005=1505 1469 Larry Checkon
2006=1572 1502 Ron Wallace
2007=1643 1689 Joe Jutras
2008=1717 ????
2009=1795 ????
2010=1875 ????
2011=1959 ????
2012=2047 ????

very good read Larry!

for all the newbies that want to learn about growing giant pumpkins.
join a club-get involved-be part of a team with the worlds best growers.this time of year Giant Pumpkin clubs will be offering membership to growers.take advantage of the information these clubs have to offer.many Clubs offer seeds,newsletters and access to the worlds best growers.
take part in the winter auctions.help the clubs help you!
and maybe we will see a 2000lb pumpkin before 2012!

10/17/2007 11:39:15 PM

Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

2009 Robinette in the year 2009. Sounds good to me. Can I get a seed out of that one Ed?

10/18/2007 2:04:25 AM

ordinary,VA

N/P Mark. the cross 694Fowler x 2011Fowler

10/18/2007 4:14:26 AM

Rhode Island

i do not believe 2,000 will ever happen. the season/life cycle of the fruit is not long enough and the pumpkins will never be able to gain that much weight per day during peak growth period.

10/18/2007 10:45:37 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

I'm thinking along the lines of pap. If it does happen, I'm guessing it will be many years down the road.

10/19/2007 1:52:24 AM

Elk Grove,Ca USA

raising these things is alot like turkeys and livestock. Yes we will get bigger, but gain will decrese towards infinete 0. Fruit will have to be perfect to withstand wt vs height and we will have to battle against genetic mutations as well as inherit diseases in the future. Highier mortality rates ie bigger heartaches.lol

10/19/2007 2:12:35 AM

Key West, FL

We'll just have to move to year round, heated greenhouses covering the entire plant and artificial lighting. No big deal. lol

10/19/2007 10:18:34 AM

Rhode Island

yes ben but theres still that dam life cycle.

immagine me in a closed greenhouse ,sipping a beer with a garden hose in one hand and a beer in the other.
hot dogs cooking on the charcoal grill, the temp inside is a balmy 78 degrees and its the middle of march.

problem is? no matter how you grow it after a certain period of time has passed say 80 to 95 days, your done growing

10/19/2007 7:37:20 PM

Western NY

some of the bigger pumpkins maxed out at about 60 pounds per day this year. i know of at least one that split doing 70 a day. the numbers are already there to make the math work, and if you check the diary of the guy from Sweden, you'll see a pumpkin that was still growing at day 120, though slow at that point.

I think with an early pollination on a plant that decides to really push the weight gain pace, combined with perfect weather, should have no problem hitting 2000 pounds. the question becomes how long do we wait to see it.

10/19/2007 9:01:39 PM

Pumpkintown, SC

Same thought here too Andy. 2000 pound pace numbers have already been realized. The perfect storm hasn't...yet. With the genetic combinations we are making the "rules" are almost changing yearly. The perfect storm won't even be needed. BF
...and just wait till a cross that one of us genetic junkies has been working on, shows some true Hybrid Vigor. Hmm

10/19/2007 11:37:23 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Good points Andy....I was surprised at the over 120 day growth in Sweden. I don't know if that's a regional thing, or the norm. I'm thinking that the prime pollination zone maybe could be pushed back a little(mid-late June) if it's the norm. Another good point on those over 60 lb. growth days.
Improved genetics is another thing to consider...as Snake oil pointed out(good to see you back posting Snake oil).
The next few years should tell us quite a bit, as to how heavy these things can get.

10/20/2007 1:41:24 AM

Bemidji Minnesota

Looking at the math, if the Jutras 1689 would have grown for 6 more days, at 50 pounds a day, it would be there already.

10/20/2007 12:39:07 PM

Pumpkintown, SC

Thanks Doug. Been in the field most all the summer. I thought it was time to come up for air, BF

10/22/2007 11:19:08 PM