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Utah

Now that we are into the fruit weighing season, I need to bring something to your attention.

There are at 3 different equations and tables to estimate your pumpkins weigh from an OTT measurement.
2001- Stellpflug/Martin equation. The one I used in my spread sheet that many of us are using.
2003- Stellpflug/Martin table. That is available on Big Pumpkins
2003- Marcellus equation. The one that was put out on the Mallorn/Hort Net discussion group. Bob says that this his is good for high end fruit. I take that to mean fruit over 1000-1100 lbs.

All 3 of these methods give different results as shown in the following table.

OTT_____01-Stellpflug_____03-Stellpflug_____03-Marcellus
240_________286 lb___________290 lb__________316 lb
260_________360 lb___________365 lb__________395 lb
280_________446 lb___________454 lb__________486 lb
300_________545 lb___________556 lb__________590 lb
320_________658 lb___________672 lb__________706 lb
340_________787 lb___________805 lb__________836 lb
360_________931 lb___________954 lb__________981 lb
380________1093 lb__________1121 lb_________1141 lb
400________1272 lb__________1307 lb_________1317 lb

I would have put the 03 Stellpflug/Martin equation into my spread sheet last spring but I didn’t get the equation. An equation is required for the excel calculation. I’ll I had was a table. I tried to reverse engineer it but that didn’t work.

I’m sorry if I will confuse (or have confused) people by putting out my spreadsheet this year with the old equation. I hope this clarifies things.

Anyway, Since 3 different methods could lead to confusion and errors in calculation how heavy or light your fruit is as compared to the “charts”.

I suggest that we all use the 2003- Stellpflug/Martin table as the standard for this year.

Just my thoughts and opinion.
Gordon

8/23/2004 12:09:26 PM

Central Connecticut

I like the 03-Marcellus table...it makes my pumpkin weigh more :)

8/23/2004 12:31:08 PM

[email protected]

Nothing but confusion here. I fed the tables to the plants & the fruit still isn't 1300 lbs.

I like the program just the same. Personally I'm less concerned with what the fruit weighs than just tracking its growth & observing the effects of what I or Mother have done to impact that growth.

8/23/2004 2:17:11 PM

Utah

Wacker-
it's a two edged sword... it is Estimated "bigger" now - while it is on the vine... but it is what it is... Potentially leading to dissappointment at the weigh-off ...

after the weigh off.... it will be lighter to the charts than if you used the other equation or table.

8/23/2004 2:19:28 PM

Central Connecticut

lol...just kidding, the tale of the tape comes when it hits the scale. I guess I should follow the lower weight...then I can say it 8% heavy! Fun with stats.

Maybe it should be that you use the 03-Marcellus etimate if it's never going to hit a scale and the 01-Stellpflug if it will ;) lol

8/23/2004 2:41:36 PM

I'm with Gordon... GO UTES!

It would be nice to adopt a standard. If not, then saying,
"Gee, this fruit weighed 10% over the chart!" would be
meaningless unless we all used the same chart.......

8/23/2004 4:09:06 PM

South Hill, Virginia

The chart potentially changes each year (as new data is considered) so a seed that "goes heavy" one year may "go light" when he tables are adjusted. The tables follow the pumpkins, not the other way around.

8/23/2004 6:36:50 PM

Agree with cliffrwarren's comment. And because svrichb is right about tables being adjusted frequently, I would suggest that instead of saying "10% over-the-charts" that we would begin to say, "10% over 03-Marcellus chart" or "10% over 01-Stellpflug chart" or whichever one is being used at the time the claim is being made.

Perhaps it would be simpler, though, to always give the final OTT measurement along with the weight, and let people make their own comparisons. Clearly, what we all want is the heaviest pumpkin possible for whatever the measurements actually were.

8/23/2004 7:34:16 PM

[email protected]

I'd say Brent & DrNevus both have good ideas here.

8/23/2004 9:25:01 PM

Rexburg, Idaho

I've only had one pumpkin that went "over the charts" most have been under and several by a significant amount. I've been using the 2001, and 2003 Stellpflug charts. Becasue of this I will continue to use the charts that give me the lighter weights. That way come the end of the season I won't be real disappointed. My pumpkin will only be 100# under the charts instead of 150# under that charts. LOL. But seriously I will continue to use the older versions of the formula on my personal spread sheet, and the most recent data for official "under or over" calculations.

8/24/2004 12:39:30 AM

Vancouver, White Rock, Canada

I agree, sounds like there should be one standard chart to use. I've been using the 2003 Stellpflug for my miniscule pumpkin.

8/24/2004 12:57:58 AM

Hamilton, MT

What is the calculation so I can incorporate it into my spreadsheet?

8/24/2004 1:41:51 PM