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Ontario, Canada.

I am looking for the measurement demo for a few new growers.
Can some one please direct me to a link.

Thanks

Russ. L.

8/14/2008 8:34:45 PM

Columbus, OH

http://www.backyardgardener.com/weight.html

8/15/2008 1:07:01 AM

Wi

I'd like to see something written in stone by some GPC higher-ups. The link here on BP says CC doesn't have to be parallel, but should be close. So is CC perfectly parallel or the largest CC CLOSE to parallel?

Lots of arguing going on in the weigh-offs on how to properly measure.

8/15/2008 8:27:11 AM

Utah

anyone who has grown an odd shaped or stem up or stem down fruit knows that Circ. parallel to the ground doesn't work well.
for example this one on mine from 05.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=44255
I kept two different sets of circ measurement for this fruit from the end of July to the end of the season.

From that pumpkin I concluded that the circ. should be the largest all the way around measurement you can get in any plane. If you go with that then the question becomes if your circ is way off from parrallel then should you modify the side-side and front-back measurement angles to try keep the measuring geometery. If you do that then lots of questions and possible problems quickly arise.
Even thought it may not be the best way to measure every pumpkin, I think that largest circ anywhere and "normal" side-side and front-back is the simplest and easiest way to obtain most consistant & acurate numbers.

just my thoughts...

8/15/2008 2:20:15 PM

Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia

Does it really matter? as long as you do it the same everytime? After all it is only an estimate and used as an indicator to the grower. The scales are what matter I would have thought? or am I missing something here?

8/15/2008 3:55:35 PM

Denver, CO

I think it does matter. There is a lot of fun for me in knowing that my pumpkin gained 100 pounds last week or 40 pounds last night etc. I also want to know the effects of certian amounts of fertilizer and water on the pumpkin. I will admit, that in the end, the pumpkin weighs what it does, but I dont know a whole lot of growers who can wait the long.

And Gordon, thanks for your post, as you have answered a question I posted above before you responded to this post LOL. (Damn upside down and/or stem down pumpkin!)

8/15/2008 4:20:13 PM

Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia

Yep I agree totally, And as I said as long as you do it the same way everytime it won't make any difference. Perhaps you didn't understand the meaning of my post?

8/15/2008 4:24:07 PM

Western NY

to the meaning of your original post Phil -

yes, accuracy to a set standard does matter because when someone says their pumpkin was xxx% over the chart when it hits the scales, we want to believe an accurate measurement was made.

we're going to try to get a how-to video made, but in the meantime, we should be following the description on the actual charts. This is what the numbers are based on, which means we should be measuring exactly this way for the charts to have meaning:

"The Circumference measurement should be the LARGEST circumference taken approximately parallel to
the ground. At weigh-offs I have found some growers are not measuring the largest Circumference which
contributes to the variability. The OVER-TOP measurements from ground-to-ground in both directions must be
over the highest point of the fruit. These must be taken straight down from the edges of the fruit."

8/15/2008 5:27:27 PM

Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia

Andy
Great post and I understand what you are saying as far as the accuracey goes, my point was soley based on a grower monitoring their plant.

8/15/2008 6:02:35 PM

Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia

Oh and I forgot to say, I think the charts should only ever be used as an indicator to the grower of how his pumpkin is progressing. Rather than a way of selecting seed to grow. In other words, the light, heavy thing is doing no favours to anyone. As people will perhaps select a seed that went heavy as opposed to one that went light, when in reality there are many more factors involved.

8/15/2008 6:12:49 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

I think Phil is right here as far as a grower trying yo determine if the pumpkin is growing and what it's putting on every night..as long as the measurements are consistent you will get a good estimate as to growth rate....as far as making seed decisions based on OTT measurements the GPC at the weigh off site would have to take the Real measurements and certify both the VOLUME and WEIGHT to be considered heavy or light....otherwise your not a sport just an exhibition...IMHO GrowEmBig! Chuck

8/15/2008 7:30:16 PM

[email protected]

Like all good GPC events, our Penfield crew carefully tapes every entry. Its a lot easier to tape a pumpkin on a pallet than in the field but it's still a lot of work. The results speak for themselves. A skilled & conscientious team helps the growers & the sport by establishing credible results.

Percent +/- OTT....That's why it matters. Breeders know.

True enough that not all pumpkins cooperate. In which case we can only do our best.

We are working on an instructional video but like a hot actor/actress, the model might not pose as great a challenge as the real world.

8/15/2008 8:05:46 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Thanks for the info guys.

8/18/2008 6:50:49 AM