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Denver, CO

Since I am battling insomnia for the 4th night in a row, I figured I might as well do something useful with my time . LOL!

Common information posted here on BigPumpkins.com tells us that there are two very important physical factors when it comes to correctly pollinating pumpkins. The first controlling factor is the distance out from the main vine that the pollination occurs at. The second controlling factor is the date on which the pollination takes place. If you want to grow a monster pumpkin, it has been said many times that pollinations should be at least 10 feet out and that they should take place by the 4th of July. I thought it would be fun to take a closer examination of these factors to see if what we have traditionally thought is really true.

Using the information available on the AGGC website I was able to compile data regarding pollination distances and pollination dates. Additionally, I looked at lobe data as well. I only looked at pumpkins grown 1200 pounds or greater, as I consider these to be the most successful of all pumpkins ever grown and can be classified as monster pumpkins.

FIRST- HOW FAR OUT ON THE MAIN VINE SHOULD I POLLINATE MY PUMPKIN?
There are 232 pumpkins listed on the AGGC website that weighed 1200 pounds or greater

For all 232 of these 1200 or greater pumpkins, the distance on the main vine ranged from a low of just 8 feet out on the vine, to a whopping high of 24 feet out on the vine. 121 of the 232 , or 52%, 1200 pound or greater pumpkins were a 5-lobe pumpkin. 98 of the 232, 1200 pound or greater pumpkins were a 4 lobe pumpkin. (42%) The remaining 6% of the pumpkins were (5) six-lobed pumpkins and (8) for which there was no lobe data given.
Here is a breakdown of these 232 pumpkins by pollination distance.

Please note if I say “From 9 feet out to 10 feet out I am including all of 10 feet as well right up to just before were 11 feet would start. This is true for all 7 of the length divisions below

6/7/2009 2:06:12 AM

Denver, CO

No pumpkins 1200 pounds or greater resulted from a 4-lobed pumpkin when pollinated at less than 10 feet out. By comparison 8 pumpkins that were 5-lobed grew to 1200 pounds or greater when pollinated at less then 10 feet out. Thus, it is safe to say that a person should not pollinate a 4-lobe pumpkin at less then 10 feet out.

Pollinations occurring from 10 feet out to 11 feet out account for 18 pumpkins or 8% of the 232 total pumpkins. 7 pumpkins were 4-lobed pumpkins and 9 pumpkins were 5-lobed.

Pollinations occurring from 12 feet out to 13 feet out account for 63 pumpkins or 27% of the 232 total pumpkins. 32 pumpkins were 4-lobed pumpkins and 31 were 5-lobed pumpkins.

Pollinations occurring from 14 feet out to 15 feet out account for 64 pumpkins or 27% of the 232 total pumpkins. 25 pumpkins were 4-lobed and 39 were 5-lobed pumpkins.

Pollinations occurring from 16 feet out to 17 feet out account for 38 pumpkins or 16% of the 232 total pumpkins. 19 pumpkins were 4-lobed pumpkins and 17 were 5-lobed pumpkins.

Pollinations occurring from 18 feet out to 19 feet out account for 15 pumpkins or 6% of the 232 total pumpkins. 7 pumpkins were 4-lobed pumpkins and 8 were 5-lobed pumpkins.
Pollinations occurring from 20 feet out to the maximum distance found of 24 feet out, account for 10 pumpkins or 4% of the 232 total pumpkins. 5 pumpkins were 4-lobed pumpkins and 5 were 5-lobed pumpkins.

What’s clear is that a 1200 pound or greater pumpkin can be successfully grown at any distance from 8 feet out to as high as 24 feet out. But, the great majority of the 1200 pound or greater pumpkins were grown when pollinated between 12 to 17 feet out. This is a 5 foot “target” zone that one should strive to set their pumpkin within to have the maximum chance at growing a monster. A full 71% of 1200 pounders were pollinated within the 12 to 17 foot target zone.

6/7/2009 2:07:08 AM

Denver, CO

Even more narrow is the super-optimum zone of 13 to 15 feet in which houses 43% of pollinations resulting in a 1200 pound or greater pumpkin, but is only 3 total feet in length!

2ND- WHAT IS THE OPTIMAL DATE I SHOULD STRIVE TO SET MY PUMPKIN ON?

Pollination dates are literally spread all over the calendar. I only considered United States and Canadian pumpkins when looking at this data as trying to sync up seasonal variances of other countries was more then my brain can do!

The earliest date was a pollination on June 2nd! There have been 8 pumpkins grown 1200 pounds or greater for which the date of pollination is from June 2nd to June 17th. These account for just 3% of the 232 total pumpkin pollinations.

Taking a look at the next 7 days on the calendar, from June 18th through June 25th, there have been 17 pumpkins grown to 1200 pounds or greater when pollinated on or in between these dates. These pollinations account for 7% of the 232 total pumpkin pollinations.

The next 3 days takes us from the 26th of June through the 29th of June. There have been 22 pumpkins grown to 1200 pounds or greater when pollinated on or in between these dates. These pollinations account for 9% of the 232 total pumpkin pollinations.

The next 4 days takes us from the 30th of June though the 3rd of July. There have been 101 pumpkins grown to 1200 pounds or greater when pollinated on or in between these dates. These pollinations account for 43% of the 232 total pumpkin pollinations.

The next 5 days takes from the 4th of July through the 8th of July. There have been 60 pumpkins grown to 1200 pounds or greater when pollinated on or in between these dates. These pollinations account for 25% of the 232 total pumpkin pollinations.

6/7/2009 2:08:31 AM

Denver, CO

The next 5 days take us from the 9th of July through the 13th of July. There have been 23 pumpkins grown to 1200 pounds or greater when pollinated on or in between these dates. These pollinations account for 9% of the 232 total pumpkin pollinations.

Just one pumpkin grown to 1200 pounds or greater was ever pollinated later then the 13th of July. It was pollinated on the 15th of July. Thus no pumpkin grown to 1200 pounds or greater has ever been pollinated later then the 15th of July. It’s clear that pumpkins must be set early on to make it to the big leagues.

How early you ask? The common wisdom of getting a plant pollinated by the 4th of July is well founded. A staggering 70% of all pumpkins grown over 1200 pounds were pollinated on or before the 4th of July. In fact, from the 30th of June to the 3rd of July accounts for 43% of all pollination dates of pumpkins grown to 1200 pounds or greater. An incredible number for just 4 days of the year!

However pollinating earlier then the 29th of June seems to be of little value as well. Only 20% of all 1200 pound or greater pumpkins were pollinated earlier then June 29th. This could be a misleading statistic. The earlier the pollination date is, the harder is becomes to have a vine at a distance acceptable to pollinate the pumpkin. Therefore, by natural forces of nature, pollinations before th the 29th of June are more rare. There is at least some food for thought here that earlier starting dates resulting in vines being at optimal pollination distance earlier in the year could lead to bigger pumpkins.

6/7/2009 2:09:36 AM

Denver, CO

CONCLUSIONS:

The above writing is just a bunch of silly numbers unless one can make use of it in some manner. I can not tell you exactly which of the two factors is most important. I think that each factor is of equal importance and the to achieve getting “a big one” the growth of the vine must be managed in such a way as to get it to the optimal distance in time to pollinate within the optimal dates. Therefore, early on you should monitor you plant, have these distances and dates in mind and make any adjustments to watering, fertilizing and care so that you can meet the criteria. Use the numbers to help guide the decisions you make and tell you what level of aggressiveness you need to engage in to get the right combination of distance and date.

We want a vine that is ready to be pollinated at 12 to 17 feet out, on or before the 4th of July. This has always been common knowledge and this research shows it to be true. If the vine distance is too long or too short, or the date is to late, it’s clear the odds are stacked against getting a 1200 pounder or greater. But should you have a pollinatable pumpkin, 13 feet out on the 1st of July, get ready to make a run that could end up with your name into the book of heavy hitters, world record breakers and beyond!

6/7/2009 2:10:20 AM

Denver, CO

Hope this can help in some way. At least it gave me somthing to do at night while I try to fall asleep!!!

[email protected]

6/7/2009 2:11:54 AM

Colorado Springs.Co

From one insomniac to another,thanks for doing that research. One of the best threads in awhile.

6/7/2009 3:40:40 AM

Oklahoma State Record Holder

Is there some way to break this down by USDA zones? I live in Z7 so my dates are about 2 weeks earlier than these that are posted.

6/7/2009 6:27:50 AM

Rhode Island

good job. i enjoyed reading the results.

if i had to pick my ideal plant size /pollination dates i would want

1. set three fruit on the main starting at 15 ft out on
june 25th
2. have 400 sq ft of healthy plant before the fruit, three
quarters of the sides dead ended by 1st
pollination.have an additional 250 sq ft of plant after
the fruit
3. chosen fruit at 650 - 700 pounds by august 1st.
4. estimated weight of 1,400 by sept 1st
5. i suppose winning the lottery is out of the question BUT
lets throw this in as a target date of october 1st as
well.
THIS WOULD BE MY DREAM SEASON AND CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH A LITTLE HELP FOR LADY LUCK AND THE WEATHER GODS

our best to everyone

Pap

6/7/2009 6:36:05 AM

Joliet, IL

nice work indeed. 12' to 17' is the zone, and 14' is as good as it gets odds wise. the ideal pollination date range might come back a little with more people starting a bit earlier than they used to in the past. i do not want to hijack this thread, but it might be useful info if all growers on here posted their dates of pollination and how far out their personal best pumpkins were set at. this would include a wider range of info for all growers who haven quite reached the 1200 lb mark. my personal best at 1147 lbs was pollinated at 16' out on july 1st.

6/7/2009 6:46:23 AM

Salisbury, MA.

excellent data for those that look deep enough to figure out the little indicators, and the possibilities of tweaking them. Though 4 lobed pumpkins don't show up as often in the survey...probably because they are not as common as 5 lobers and the assumption that 5 lobers are better, I think I remember looking at the current world record at topsfield and remember counting four segments at the blossom. ( I could be mistaken) I do believe 4 lobers have a less chance of splitting, just my observation, and not written in stone.

6/7/2009 9:32:02 AM

Massillon, Ohio

Thanks for doing this interesting research.
And congratulations for presenting it in such an organized and easy to read and understand form.
3 cheers for insomnia!!

6/7/2009 11:02:54 AM

Oklahoma State Record Holder

I pollinated 2 females today, on was a 4 lobe and the other was 5 lode. But are at about 16-17 feet.

6/7/2009 11:15:50 AM

Santa Cruz, CA

Great research! Thanks for sharing it all with us. I'm printing it out and hoping to follow your lead.

6/7/2009 1:40:21 PM

Midway, UT

Greg -- could you use any caffeine? I think if we can keep this insomnia going we might have enough data for a book. Great job!

6/7/2009 8:35:33 PM

Great stuff thanks for sharing!

Martin

6/7/2009 8:38:06 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Go Pat Go, you're going to need it. :) I found my keepers last year were 13-17 feet out. I have one vine at 13', took a female off it already, and have two showing males, so my target date is coming up and looking good. Whole thing about how many lobes is getting a good dose of pollen so they all fill out well in the pumpkin!

6/7/2009 11:20:10 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Great Research Greg.....NICE!

6/8/2009 8:54:11 AM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

Great Stuff Greg. Thanks for sharing. Email me at [email protected] I think our computerless members might enjoy reading this bit of info in our next newsletter. We appreciate your consideration. Good luck this season & try to get some sleep.

Phil

6/8/2009 8:59:36 AM

Denver, CO

Thanks for all the positive comments. I am glad to know my nights of sleeplessness where not all in vain!

6/8/2009 11:49:35 AM

San Diego, Ca.

This is some great info. Thanks for sharing. One thing to consider is that is it possible that the 12-17 foot range appears to be the optimal distance because of cultural practices? Most growers are aiming for a set in that range therefore increasing the odds a +1200 pounder would grow there. It could be that if more growers were trying to set at 20 feet or more you would probably see an increase in the frequency of +1200 pounders out that far. Still I think that was some great research and is very relevant to todays cultural practices of growers.

6/8/2009 8:38:53 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Good point Gourdzilla. I've wondered how big of a pumpkin could be grown on a large plant behind a pumpkin set at 25-30 ft. on the main. I would think those that grow for early fairs could get a plant this big to pollinate around July 1. Maybe the fruit would be more prone to splits with that much plant feeding it....or maybe the early secondary leaves would be worn out by then.

6/8/2009 9:32:13 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

I had one last year I lost main and grew on secondary and had one waaay out... stump area leaves were going and I was having age strike in center part of plant as I was trying to grow. I think you would have serious problems trying to go WR and go out much past that butter zone of 12-17 feet.

6/9/2009 12:01:03 AM

Colorado

great info greg.Since you havent been sleeping well. Tonight please try to analyse which of the too variables is more crucial if one has to make a compromise. P.s hows the revier plant doing- sinc(sort of) joe s.

6/9/2009 12:41:52 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Thanks for the info., Mr Hopson...only one chance to try this this year...!!! will wait till 12-15 ft to pollinate!!! Peace, Wayne
PS...gotta try and get ridda dis hat!!!

6/9/2009 2:31:32 AM