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South of Buffalo

Hi, Having pulled 2 females off my largest plant and knowing that your first set should be about 10 feet from the stump, minimum, how much plant should you have before the fruit. That is should you wait for all your secondaries prior to the fruit to fill in or pollinate based on distance from the stump and the sec and tert growth will fill in as the season goes on? thanks jeff

6/8/2011 3:14:22 PM

Buffalo, New York

sometimes you cant wait for the 2ndarys to fill in due do some plants grow slow 2ndarys.

I would start pollinating at 10' out, I am shooting for no less than 12' out this year.

I always say dont pull off a female at 10' because you never know if another will appear further down the main.

1 of my plants is throwing nice 2ndarys and the other is not.

No matter what I will start pollinating when the plants main gains its length.

6/8/2011 4:42:03 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Jeff, I saw this picture today in the diaries of a plant with a newish pumpkin growing on it. Hard to tell from the picture how large the plant is, but is not near full size yet. Maybe Don could tell us.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=158544

6/8/2011 5:27:38 PM

Buffalo, New York

Jeff, I just looked at your pictures and I would say it is too early to pollinate for an October Weighoff unless you are growing a fair plant for earlier.

I would let those 2ndarys grow a couple more weeks before pollinating on the main. Maybe you can pollinate about 15' out on the main at that time.

I am no pro here, just my opinion.

6/8/2011 7:01:04 PM

Pataskala,OH

Looks good for an August weigh off.

6/8/2011 7:08:40 PM

Pataskala,OH

Nevermind I thought that link was to a picture of Jeffp's plant

6/8/2011 7:09:47 PM

South of Buffalo

Thanks for the input guys, I know its way too early too pollinate for oct. The females I pulled off were at about 4 feet. I think my concern is whether to pollinate in late june or hold off till 1-2nd week of july based on the secondary growth. thanks

6/8/2011 9:45:51 PM

a couple things to consider
warm nights when fruit starts to pack on lbs
10 foot out is old saying and we follow it some what but misleading if side vines arent long also you need a plant to push the pumpkin
i cant say its to early for fall weighoffs if plant health
can be kept to as perfect conditions as can be
ive had 103 day pumpkins still gaining and also had pumpkins harvested in august stay solid to following march
some were somehow we got room for new limits new goals new heights and new ideas not all plans make a step forward but some will im sure in another 10 years what will we be doing differnt

6/9/2011 6:33:18 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Don, how far out on the main is the one in this photo and if you do have fruit at 10 foot out...how long do you let secondaries grow?

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=158544

Thanks/Glenn

6/10/2011 12:49:18 AM