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Ironton, ohio

Seems we are starting earlier and earlier, what is the new average dap at the scale? Has 120 days become normal? What should we advise new growers to shoot for? Is it genetics or growing techniques that get us to healthier “old” fruits?

5/7/2023 9:47:48 AM

Bethlehem CT

Interesting thoughts. It takes a lot of skill to keep a fruit on the vine for that long. Mine are usually half that. But from what I can tell that is the secret. Staying calm and riding it to the end.

5/7/2023 10:08:00 AM

Grittyville, WA

Its a combo? I had one on the vine 156 days and I attribute it to both good genetics and favorable growing conditions. For the last few weeks it probably wasnt growing, however. I finally picked it mid-November.

5/7/2023 12:17:35 PM

Lodi, California

It feels weird having plants that will easily set keepers by June 1, and still being behind a lot of people who are posting diary entries. I really don't see the point in it, I didn't expect my plants to grow this fast, I started a week later than last year, April 6, yet I find myself with plants the same size at the same date, and my plants last year weren't slouches. Main vines are currently 3-5 feet with good secondary development. I'm looking at having 130 day old fruit, which will probably make it difficult to keep them going without suffering complications involved with old age

5/7/2023 12:31:47 PM

Grittyville, WA

This one was pollinated June 15th but I did speculate that it could have made it to the second week of November. I guess I remembered wrong maybe it was only 146 days old or so.

Anyhow, it was this pumpkin which taught me that more time on the vine = a bigger result.

5/7/2023 12:45:33 PM

Grittyville, WA

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=299567

5/7/2023 12:46:03 PM

Ontario

See, I'm not so sure that DAP at weighing matters so much as DAP on the summer solstice. When you have the most sun, you have the most growth. If you can have a fruit starting to ramp up growth during the longest days of the year, it should be able to peak at a much higher growth rate, thus providing a larger end result. Of course, im not positive as I've never pollinated before the last week of June, this is just my speculation on it

5/7/2023 1:27:52 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Like Big Moon said,,,,, this is only for the very best growers. Anything 100 to 120 days and still putting up ok numbers is a tough task.
We did a new growers seminar yesterday and like we all tell the newer grower, planting now or even a bit later is perfect. You can still get a 1000 1200 pound fruit starting later and even pollinating in late July.

I have notice this myself with the growers consistently growing 2000 plus pound fruit. The starting and pollinating day has really moved up over the past 10 years. July 4th or the weekend after was always the day to shoot for. Some of theses guys are pollinating a month before this now!
I can tell you one thing, there's nothing worse then having a fruit over 1500 to 1700 pounds in August sitting in the patch and done growing for one reason or another. There's so many things to worry about, from rot, mice, rats,, the list goes on.
I think its a bit of both genetics, growing techniques and a bit of luck splashed in to have a fruit still gaining weight over 100, 110 days.

With as many plants as Andy Wolf plants I'm sure he has a good answer for this.

5/7/2023 2:48:08 PM

Colorado

Dont forget temperature degree days.These fruit ripen according to this environmental factor.You cant get the fruit to grow longer just by a earlier pollination.How Ruben M. gets his fruit to gain weight for over a 100days in Spain with 100degree weather is fascinating.Theres some really great growers out there.

5/7/2023 3:16:37 PM

Lodi, California

You can still get a 1000-1200 lb fruit pollinating in July Chris? I know people who have grown over 2000 who might have something to say about that. I believe Doug started his plants in May and he grew 2195.5 last year

5/7/2023 4:13:57 PM

Partlow,Va

NVD I think you have a great point. Get the fruit set timed so the plant, young fruit and the earth are at maximum go.
But then you need to make it to the weigh off!

5/7/2023 6:58:13 PM

Diamond, Ohio

I didn’t start in May. But the plant that grew my 2195.5 didn’t go in the ground outside till May 11th, 12 days after my other plants. My 2030 in ‘21 was a July pollination, it was 98Dap. My 2003 that year was 88Dap. And last year 2195.5 was 115Dap.

5/7/2023 7:37:12 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Yes pg3(Ashton) Chris is very correct (again!!) there are many growers (including me) that grow pumpkins every year over 1000 lbs while pollinating in July. Yup, we sure would like to get earlier pollination and larger earlier plants, but with our cooler weather here in British Columbia and my lack of an indoor growing area (greenhouse) I’m afraid that late June and early July pollinations are just a regular thing for our area.

5/8/2023 11:04:38 AM

Torrance, Ca.

Easy,:)

5/8/2023 10:51:04 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Perfect example Dibble.

My 1740 was done growing in July due to bad disease. It sat there for 2 months before I got a weight leaking fluid. If these things want to get into the 50's and 60's a day and stay there for a few weeks, you can get some big numbers fast.

I'm speaking to new growers, this is what we do our seminars for,,,, to teach the new growers. I don't want a new grower starting in March or early April like some of the guys I know. They need a couple years of learning first.:)

5/8/2023 11:04:58 PM

Wisconsin

110-120 seems to be the sweet spot, its not that you can't gain past that.....but it starts to become harder to get that time growing outside.

5/9/2023 8:51:24 AM

Kutztown, PA

I put mine outside on April 22nd, which is ten days later than last year. The pumpkin I took to the scale last year (1,102) wasn't pollinated until July 4th. I'm shooting for a third week of June pollination, but I'm going to stagger pollinations this year.

5/10/2023 9:12:10 AM

Torrance, Ca.

And don't think I'm not jealous ( Rick too ) of your amazing soil that doesn't have the disease Rick and I deal with Mike.

That just blows my mind to see your plants late season and how great they still look with a 2500 pound fruit at the end of them!!:)

5/10/2023 12:16:55 PM