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Subject: Would YOU do it?

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WiZZy

Little-TON - Colorado

NIce lil long pumpkin on the 1810.5. Much longer than the one set seven dayZ ago that iZ now softball siZe.

We see the long mutant fruit growing in LONGMONT with the reverse geneticZ.....and we need to look it straight in the eye and say.......

I am NOT AFRAID......However comma

the question of today iZ....do we take the second longer fruit, and cut the first one off.....?

What say you? And why?

7/6/2011 1:40:57 PM

5150

ipswich, ma usa

1 -- how far out is it and how many more square feet of plant will you gain by going with it?

2 -- Is it growing faster at this stage to ovetake theother one?

3 -- I would do it! Make sure our ballz arent all froze up and go for it!

7/6/2011 2:13:39 PM

WiZZy

Little-TON - Colorado

Three more side vineZ would be added behind the pumpkin. This would add about 100 sf in front of the pumpkin.

Just set today so we will see.......

I checked....they are not froZe....no BallZ no Blue chipZ....

7/6/2011 2:24:47 PM

Jason

Preston CT

Keep it on and see how it grows...I had barrel shaped ones on my 1610 and now they are perfectly round. I am shocked...

7/6/2011 2:28:51 PM

WiZZy

Little-TON - Colorado

Interesting.....as the first one was a bit longer too but not as long as this one.... the first one now is a perfect round one.....like yourZ

7/6/2011 2:42:44 PM

cojoe

Colorado

Id keep the first one wiz-I dont think were going to have a long summer

7/6/2011 3:18:36 PM

Nana Rea

Massillon, Ohio

Keep the first one. Here's why.....did you ever hear of a girl named Christy? I remember her saying, "I've got a pumpkin growing like crazy....but I'm going to cut it off and keep the next one out, because the first one is too close!" I said, "Don't do it! Don't do it!!!!!"

7/6/2011 4:28:21 PM

North Shore Boyz

Mill Bay, British Columbia

I'm with you Nana...and good assist with Christy....that was great advice!!

7/6/2011 4:45:09 PM

LongmontPete

Colorado

conventional wisdom would say cut them both off, and wait for an even longer one.

7/6/2011 11:23:36 PM

Johnny123

If we knew the answer to that question it would take all the fun and mystery out of growing pumpkins.

7/7/2011 12:28:33 AM

shazzy

Joliet, IL

Here is what I just went through ole Wize One. I had a rounder stockier pumpkin on my 1493 shenoha that was only 20.5" circ on day 10 at 11.5' out. Lost 2 females to abort in early development at 14 and 16' and had to wait until 18' for the next try. So I treated the 11.5' as if the one and set her up with mill fabric and had her slowly positioned to a nice 90 degrees of the main. I had to because the main snapped right after the 18' female one night growing straight up and self snapped. So with only one more pollination chance, I had to get the first one in order and trained the secondaries around the space and was all set to go with if needed. Then the 15 day measurement on the 11.5' was only 40". The first one was set in temps that never got above 68 and cold at night 4 days in a row and cloudy 8 out of 10 days. It was still only doing 4" circ in the heat on 16. I had the feeling it was not the one. The 18' was a longer shape exactly like the 991 produces and like the selfed 1493 off the 991 last year. And it was already 18 inches circ on day 7. Whacked the first one, have more plant now in front of kin, and the little one at 18' grew 4" last night and is 22" on day 8 at 6am. Toughest call I had to make in a while. Went with the gut and now let the chips fall where they may.

7/7/2011 9:09:26 AM

shazzy

Joliet, IL

Many do not measure at all when young to avoid scratching the little ones. I do not grow for aesthetics or howar dill award and have been keeping track records of growth for the past 3 years after day 7 for this reason. Culling is the hardest thing to do whether choosing side by side plants early on or small pumpkins. You need all the info you can have before doing the deed. Check vine between the 2 to make sure no fissures, svb holes, splits etc. Inspect the stems and shape and position. Then ultimately the difference in plant before the pumpkin. You will gain only 3 secondaries. My situation added an addition 300 square feet in front of the kin with spidering around secondaries and the main terminated at the 18 footer due to main snapping off at 19'. Was it the right decision? Time will tell but I had little hope in a 40" circ pumpkin on day 15 and now excited like hell to have one looking like mama and a much better grower early on. Pull theb trigger with info and instincts and live with it. No should of, could of, or what ifs once the deed is done.

7/7/2011 9:16:26 AM

shazzy

Joliet, IL

And that should have read grew 4 inches in one day from 6am day 7 to 6am day 8. If it grew 4" over night I might have got a little nervous. Lol.

7/7/2011 10:01:38 AM

basebell6 (christy)

Massillon, Ohio

i'm with nana, KEEP THE FIRST ONE. [and in case her story isn't clear, the first one was growing DREADFULLLY SLOW so i almost cut it off at 9 ft].

7/7/2011 12:14:08 PM

basebell6 (christy)

Massillon, Ohio

17'' at day 10 kind of slow.