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Eugene,OR

I have a nice 5 lobe pumpkin set at 11 feet (pollinated on 7/14) and thought it was my keeper. Two feet further out I pollinated a perfect 6 lobe female this morninsg (7/20). Which should I keep...the earlier fruit or todays fruit with the extra lobe and a couple more feet out?

7/20/2004 12:00:24 PM

Back of Beyond

Vineman,

I really shouldn't be cynical but I have lost 75% of my sets to aborts this year. It has just been too hot. I would grow everything on the main for 10 days or so before picking a keeper. Sure hope you have better luck than I have had.

7/20/2004 12:23:15 PM

Western Pa.

I also have lost all fruit set before the first of July. Make sure you have a "keeper" before you cull any others,only to find it abort afterward!

7/20/2004 1:51:45 PM

Eugene, OR

I'm having the same trouble Russ. No one can seem to tell me how to choose other than just go with the one that has a good stem angle, nice steady growth rate, nice shape, and whatever "feels" like the one to keep.

I've been told that day 20 is the time to make the decision but I'm still confused myself. I have one at day 13, one at day 5, and one at day 0 all on the same plant. The 5 day old pumpkin is 4 lobes and the other two have 5. If I cut the oldest in favor of a larger 10 day number further out on the main, who's to say the day 20 number will be as good as the older one I already cut off?

Sounds like a crap shoot to me!! With my luck, it'll be snake eyes for sure. Good luck!!

7/20/2004 2:10:31 PM