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Minnesota

Hello,

First post for me. Some background, I started growing big pumpkins about 15 years ago. Basically fooled around and was happy with a 144 pound on to take the kids christmas pictures with in 1995, a personal best 168 pounds in early 2000's, got more serious last year and had a 125 pound pumpkin on July 25th that got ate into by the deer (it weighed 125 without the few pounds the deer ate which killed it).

I did a lot more reading and research and got more serious this year, bought some seeds from Don Langevin (I think that is right), started them in a greenhouse in the basement, had a mini-greenhouse in the garden to start. Buried my vines, trimmed and did all that kind of stuff. Was disappointed when I couldn't get pumpkins to set until the blossoms on the 18th of July this year (hand pollinated it and it finally took).

I have two plants in my garden, accidentally left two pumpkings on one of them (one on a side vine and one on the main). The other vine just has one pumpkin on the main vine about 15 feet out. That one is the one I can't believe the growth on. I am using the 2005 estimated weight charts and have the following estimated weights. 15 days - 50 lbs. 20 days 115 lbs, 26 days (today), 270 lbs.

I am extremely happy, already a personal best for me, I was only hoping to reach 300 pounds this year, now I wonder how big it can get. Here is the question, I did a bunch of searching for these comparative growth charts and can only find them talked about and can't find any links to them. I would like to compare something to see how my growth compares to other pumpkins, can someone point me to a link.

I did some google searchs with things like benchmark size: site www.bigpumpkings.com and alits growth, landry growth and other such things and have no luck.

Thanks in advance for the help.

8/12/2008 9:27:59 PM

Minnesota

Check this out: http://greatpumpkincommonwealth.com/resources.php
Where are you located in Minnesota?

8/12/2008 9:55:41 PM

Minnesota

Perfect, that was what I was looking for, thanks for the link. I am in Chanhassen, how about you?

8/12/2008 10:17:39 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Mitch,
You're pumpkin is on a nice pace. It averaged about an estimated 26 lbs. the last 6 days. My 1041 lber. last year was an est. 215 lbs. at day 25. It was pollinated in very early July, and ended about 10% heavier than the estimate. Best of luck!

8/12/2008 10:37:44 PM

Minnesota

Hi Mitch K. I'm in burnsville, 2nd year grower.

8/12/2008 11:05:41 PM

Minnesota

Glad I could help. Central mn, willmar area

8/13/2008 7:57:00 PM

Deer Park, WI

Hi Mitch-

Welcome. If you are looking for a weighoff in your area to throw somethign on the scale or just to get to know your fellow fanatics, the St. Croix Grower's Organization hosts their GPC-sanctioned event on Sept. 27 in Lowell Park, Stillwater.

If you'd like to be added to our update email list, send a message to [email protected]

Good luck!

8/13/2008 8:29:01 PM

Rochester, MN

Mitch,
Nice pace..anything over 300lbs on day 30 has great potential.

Also a good formula to calculate what your pumpkin size will be come weighoff time is this formula from Al Eaton:
(realize just an estimate!) However, in MN has been pretty good if normal things occur.

Current size + (4 day avg/2 * number of days till Sept 20th)

We(SE MN pumpkin growers) also have a weighoff on Sept 27th in Austin, MN...but with the move of the the GPC Stillwater to the last Saturday in Sept also...probably going to hurt us ;-)..but I understand why it was done.

Good luck in finishing the year.
David Bhaskaran
Rochester, MN

8/14/2008 12:52:52 AM

Minnesota

Thanks everyone who responded, I did sign up for news about the weigh off in Stillwater, and will make an effort to attend, maybe even bring my pumpkin if it doesn't blow up first.

8/17/2008 4:50:09 PM