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maine USA

If you had say 3 fruit pollinated on the main. At 12 ft, 14 ft., and 16 ft, every thing is equal other than the obvious date of pollination is equal. All are equally good positioned, great shape, healthy, growing well, early pollinated, and etc.
Which would you choose as your keeper? The 12 ft fruit will have a few more days on the other two. But the 16 footer would have 4 feet more of energy machine behind it. I would seem to me that the 16 footer would make more sense but I have only been doing this for a few years. thanks Kathy

6/18/2008 10:12:40 AM

Cochecton, NY

I am a first year grower, but I would assume that the 12 footer would be the choice because there is less actual plant to absorb nutrients before they reach the fruit. I could be wrong. The right thing to do though, would to be let them all grow for a week or so and remove tha slackers after that. There is a formula I read somewhere that you measure the circumfrence paralell with the ground, then from ground to ground over the axis that is perpendicular to the stem and then do the same ground to ground measurement over the axis from blossom end to stem end. Add up those three numbers and multiply by 1.95 This is supposed to give you an estimated weight. Try that and let me know how you make out. Again remember!!!!! I am a first year rookie here, so if any of the pros could either validate or shoot down my hypothesis, it would not only help Kathy. It would educate me too!!!!

Nick

6/18/2008 10:40:24 AM

Southeast Texas

kathyt,i'm new at this but i had to make that call 2 times this year,ihad 4 on the main on one of my plants, what i did i measured each one every day for a week the one that grew the most for that week i keep.if you kept the one at 12ft you would have to pull up more roots to make the s in your vine.

6/18/2008 10:55:20 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Each pummpkin set will skew the numbers of the first set pumpkin. If it was growing at a good rate the additional pumpkin will slow it down cause you're feeding two now. etc....If all have great vine position...outside curve, 90 degree angle....and the last one is growing at the same rate as the first one on a simular post pollination date. I would say it is growing better because you are putting on like amounts with more then one pumpkin growing. The problem is you can't wait to long to go with which one you want. A third set, with perfect conditions would have to left up to the wallaces...LOL...I have a tough time getting one positioned perfectly....usually cull it myself trying to get the angle right. fun time of year but always a tough call.

6/18/2008 11:34:15 AM

Atlanta, Georgia

Just to add some numbers, the top 15 pumpkins with data at the aggc were grown from 10 to 22 feet out. The world record was grown at 17 feet and the average is at about 15 feet. This doesn't mean much considering all the other factors involved but 14 to 18 feet seems to produce the heaviest pumpkins on average.
Best regards,
Michel

6/18/2008 12:00:12 PM

Pataskala,OH

more plant behind the pumpkin would be better the pumpkin gets most of its energy from behind it, Thats what some growers have said, im a 2nd year grower so I really dont know.

6/18/2008 12:27:21 PM

Picton,ON ([email protected])

Alexsdad is correct, the first pumpkin will slow down the second etc. If the later pumpkins are keeping up the the earlier ones then they may have an advantage. I would not cull an earlier pollination until the chosen fruit is at least 12-14 days old. Also If you decide to cull an earlier pollination, be sure to cut it a little at a time over three days and hopefully not before a big rain. The sudden surge after removeing an early set pumpkin could split the latter. As a general rule you are early. Prime time for pollination is June 25th to July 5th and these are all early.

All things considered I would take the 16' set. I would also pollinate another one or two after that, just in case.

John

6/18/2008 1:49:54 PM

southwest MO

Kathyt, there are many variables to your question. If you actually have a pumpkin set at 16' in Maine right now I would say you are way ahead. Ask this question when you are in this situation to some growers in your area... They would be able to advise best.

6/18/2008 1:57:38 PM

southwest MO

John was posting at the same time I was again... Ditto what he said. wait until July 1st and re-examine then. Things are rarley that predictable or cut and dried in the AG world.

6/18/2008 2:20:24 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

After watching BiZ'Zs 757 last year......I listen to Paps.....Ill take the farthest one out every time now.....

6/18/2008 2:21:08 PM

Wi

I think the original question was with everything being EQUAL. In that case the easy answer as Wiz says is 16' every time.

6/18/2008 2:49:45 PM

Colorado Springs.Co

I saw many interpretations of the question, I saw what pumpkin too keep. Not if I keep all and Wiz WHASSUP!!!

6/18/2008 3:11:38 PM

Cincinnati,OH

This time of the year I would go with the 16' set.
If it was July 18 I would go with the 12' set.

6/18/2008 6:23:28 PM

southwest MO

lol!

6/19/2008 9:41:15 AM