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Vancouver, WA

I know this has been debated some, but as a new grower I was curious what everyone thought. Would it be better to pollinate 7 ft out with 5 side vines on each side in the next couple days or wait and pollinate the next pumpkin at 10 ft. The one at 10 ft, will not be ready until around the 6-12 of July.

6/23/2008 9:07:08 AM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

Pap says bigger is better, What do u think pap?

6/23/2008 9:55:59 AM

Wisconsin

10 feet out is better

6/23/2008 9:58:49 AM

southwest MO

I think your weather plays a role in the anserw. If you live in a cool climate you may have to settle for 7 ft. You may have to start earlier in a big fancy enclosure if your springs are that cool. If you can expect a warm september you may could polinate later. I would polinate both if those look to be the only game in town.
Maybe you will get some warm weather and that 10 footer will be here quicker than you think!

6/23/2008 11:56:57 AM

Ohio

I'd pollinate everything on the main, as you can always cull the pumpkins later. A pollination might not take or a squirrel might attack.

6/23/2008 12:14:59 PM

Rhode Island

it all depends on your goals.
if just concerned about getting a pumpkin on the hook and no aspirations of growing a competition pumpkin ? then by all means pollinate at 7 ft and out.

if you intend on competing somewhere? a minimum of ten ft is a must. even ten ft is kinda close. id rather idealy be 12 to 14 ft out with ten or twelve sets of sides ahead of the fruit on an ideal plant

6/23/2008 8:42:33 PM

San Jose [email protected]

I would pollinate at 7' and 10' and 12' i know as a new grower I pollinated everything, and kept 2 going all year, i could not think of not having ANY at the end of the year. so if it were me pollinate then you can cull later. it is pretty safe to say the pumpkin will survive if it reaches the size of a beach ball, so get a couple going that size and then choose the winner.

6/23/2008 11:41:32 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

I know a grower who culled a female on a 1370 Rose plant(I think at 10'), hoping to pollinate one farther out. None of the later ones took. So Gary's suggestion sounds good. If the 7' female ends up the keeper, maybe you can train the secondaries before it, so they can grow longer....then you'll have more plant before the fruit.

6/24/2008 12:40:32 AM

Colorado Springs.Co

If my secondaries don't pick it up a little I will need 30ft of vine behind Ye olde fruit

6/24/2008 12:55:53 AM

Vancouver, WA

Thanks all I pollinated this morning and I hope the one at ten feet is ready sooner than later. What is the biggest pumpkin grown at 7 feet?

6/24/2008 8:19:49 AM