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Middle TN

Is there a way to discourage growth? I know that sounds silly but Im afraid my pumpkin (Mable) will grow too fast. Until now she'll have a slow day of 12-15 lbs then a good day of 20-22 lbs but today she gained 27 lbs! Im terrified she'll split and I still have 5 weeks til the fair! I know big time growers shoot for 25 lbs a day but this my first AG and perfectly happy with 15! lol
Tammy

6/19/2010 10:08:35 PM

Pataskala,OH

35 + lbs a day is when you worry about splits. I think you are fine.

6/19/2010 10:10:27 PM

lol tammy you are doing a great job, stick with ole mable she is growing to make you proud of all your hard work.

6/19/2010 10:26:50 PM

El Paso TX.

Could also be the way the chart is and the rounding in the measurements that make the daily growth fluctuate (figure as she gets bigger each inch added becomes more pounds) and since you are rounding your measurements to the nearest inch on each of the 3 measurements it could be rounded up on a particular day by a couple inches which would make a 8-10 Lb rounding adjustment. I'd be more apt to look at the weekly growth rate to determine how she is growing.

6/19/2010 10:30:34 PM

Bloomington, IN

Ditto JD, might help to try and measure only once a week. Less stressfull. :) Keep up the good work.

6/20/2010 1:19:11 AM

Middle TN

Thanks Nic, I thought I read somewhere that anything over 25 lbs was nearing splitsville so I got a little worried.

JD what you said makes sense and I hadnt thought of it that way. Its oddly shaped too which makes it difficult to measure, an inch either way could very easily be just a slip of the tape.

Cholo, measuring once a week sounds good and may save me some grey hair! LOL

Adam, Mable's gonna give me a friggin' nervous break down! LOL

6/20/2010 10:12:48 AM

Cincinnati,OH

Sounds like you got a good one going, dont try to slow it down. What day since pollination is it ?

6/21/2010 8:48:32 PM

Middle TN

today is day 27 :) it wont break any records but if it holds it'll surprise a few people at our county fair lol

6/21/2010 9:08:44 PM

Pataskala,OH

What is the est weight ?

6/21/2010 9:28:55 PM

Middle TN

273 lbs (OTT)

6/21/2010 11:32:59 PM

Smithville, Tn

What fair are you taking it to?? Would like to come see it in July.

6/21/2010 11:39:46 PM

Middle TN

Smith County Fair July 26th
Smithville is very close to me Mousey, do you grow AG's?

6/22/2010 12:44:05 AM

Pataskala,OH

That is very good for day 28-29. These pumpkins can grow 80-100 days sometimes.

6/22/2010 12:41:49 PM

El Paso TX.

Tammy - the hard part is going to be making that decision on whether to cut her off the vine to take to the fair or leave her and see just how big she'll get !! but looks like she should be a good size by then either way.

Mine is just a little over a week behind Mable and growing a bit slower (we've been in the 100's every day but she is still gaining fairly rapidly) She was supposed to be a practice pollination on a side vine of my 851 Fowler plant but after she started taking off my 10 year old niece wouldn't let me cull her (and since she was the one that got me started in this hobby - wanting something bigger than the field pumpkins we grew last year - I gave in pretty quickly)

Here's a pic of her weekly growth so far after 3 weeks (pollinated 06/01) - http://www.bigpumpkins.com/displayphoto.asp?pid=6667&gid=1
and a pic of the 851 plant she is growing on - http://www.bigpumpkins.com/displayphoto.asp?pid=6668&gid=1

On day 21 she was at an OTT of 175 (circ 80, EE 47, SS 48) so about 124 - 155 lbs depending on the chart you use (Ott or circumference)- which I'm real happy with since the goal for the year was just to get one over 100 ! It is amazing seeing these things grow.

6/23/2010 11:41:59 AM

Middle TN

I agree JD it is AMAZING to watch these things grow! Looks like you got a good one on the vine, Uncle pushover! haha Its so sweet that you kept it for her and I cant say that I blame your niece one bit for wanting to keep it, it literally pains me to cull one! Yours looks like its growing well and has a nice color too. Im still hoping Mable gets some color, shes a bit pale haha

If Mable can hang on til fair time she'll be 62 days old, I couldnt possibly hope for more than that. My goal was 100 lbs also and shes knocked that outta the park. Her OTT today was 247 or 315 lbs. Im beyond thrilled!

6/24/2010 12:26:22 AM

El Paso TX.

LOL - actually I'm glad I kept it also since it is doing pretty well and I've lost the last 3 females on the main due to the 100+ heat we've had the last several weeks (they've shriveled up before even getting close to opening - quess I should have used some shade cloth or something over them to give the vine ends some shade (at least I know for next year !) - still have some time though so might still get a main vine pollination going. (this year has really been a learning experience and have made alot of mistakes but overall have found the plants recover pretty well even with a newbie at the helm - and should have plenty of seeds to experiment with next year !!)

6/26/2010 11:38:43 AM