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Eugene,OR

I'd be interested to hear peoples thoughts about pollinations made after the first two weeks of July. Is it too late? What about pollinating "shock absorbers?" What about pollinating that last fruit that is a few feet further out? Is it worth it, or is it just slowing down the growth of fruit that it already set?

7/15/2004 10:47:12 AM

Cologne / Germany

I couldn´t pollinate any earlier than mid July this year so I have no choice, and there are 1-2 more females yet to come.
Heard in the chat there had been 1000+ fruits pollinated in early August. Might not be the best time frame any more but a nice set should still be possible.

7/15/2004 11:25:56 AM

Canada

I had 2 females pollinated on July 12th, On July 14th my patch was attacked by some animal which eat off both of my pollinated pumpkings along with every single flower on both of my plants, Ive got 2 more females just showing but it will be another 2 weeks before they are open and ready for pollination, so dont worry i'm off to a late start as well.

Dave

7/15/2004 2:05:04 PM

South Hill, Virginia

I'm thinking that Dave Stelts' world record (1140) was pollinated on something like 7/24. You may want to fact check that claim.

7/15/2004 2:31:55 PM

South Hill, Virginia

Let me make myself clear on this...I was saying fact check my claim (to know the recorded date). I'm sure whatever date Stelts says he pollinated is the correct one.

7/15/2004 2:33:29 PM

[email protected]

A very interesting exercise. Of the 60 pumpkins listed at AGGC that weighed 1100 lbs. or more, only 7 were pollinated after July 10th with the majority being set in the first week of July. A handful were set in the final days of June.

1132 Eaton 7-17
1133.4 Demers 7-12
1140 Stelts 7-19
1178 Rivard 7-13
1215 Hebb 7-11
1236 Eaton 7-16
1252 McKinnon 7-14

So the window is closing fast.

7/15/2004 3:52:19 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Note the location of those growers.....Canada eh? (for the most part)

Grower skill & regional climate play a significant role.

Vineman
You can still get a nice sized fruit by Oct.
Genetics won't be a limiting factor in your patch.

7/15/2004 8:12:09 PM

[email protected]

I am very surprised how few big ones were started in June. I worked down from 1458 to 990. There weren't many. We have one taping at 160" that was pollinated June 24th. It's going to be some feat to keep that one alive until October.

7/15/2004 9:23:29 PM

Eugene,OR

You are all missing my point...I'm asking the greedy question of should we set fruit a couple of feet further out in the next week or two, even though we probably already have our keepers? Is there value in this or will it just rob food and energy from the ones that will probably be our keepers anyway?

7/15/2004 9:51:26 PM

Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

I'd go ahead and pollinate anything on the main up to Aug 1. (Others may disagree on that late date.) If a late fruit set grows rapidly you may choose to take it, knowing you have more plant to push it along, especially if you usually have warm Sept weather. Also, it may take the edge off rapidly growing fruit futher in on your main (avoid splits) - AND if your early set has problems, you have a backup in position. But if the late pollinates are slow to grow, and your 'chosen one' seems to be slowing, cull the shock absorbers...
Frank

7/15/2004 10:32:29 PM

Leicester, NY

Russ,
It depends on what your goals are. Continuing to set fruit down the main would more or less guarantee that you end up with something come October. Most likely, size would be compromised, but you would have a pumpkin or two at the end of the season. To maximize growth, one would not want multiple sets on the same vine, I do believe that would rob from your keeper.

7/16/2004 6:45:10 AM

Sequim, WA

I will conclude pollinating fruit on the plants today. I have one main vine that is still waiting for a keeper and it will be ready today. If that fruit doesn't make it, there are plenty on the secondaries to make a choice from. It also helps to have 10 plants in the patch, I could probably cull a couple entire plants and still have enough pumpkins to bring something to all the northwest weighoffs.

7/16/2004 12:43:54 PM

Kennebunk Maine

978.6 Berard
7/19

7/16/2004 1:28:49 PM

Cincinnati,OH

Last year I set 3 fruit in the 2nd week of August and still made 200 to 250 lbs each. Plenty of time for a genetic cross. My 600 lber was set July 3rd.

7/16/2004 6:32:21 PM