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Stanwood, Washington

Any good web references with specific information on how to determine which fruit to keep?

7/18/2011 1:10:30 AM

Bristol R.I. USA

Many factors to think about, fruit shape, vine placement, distence from the stump, growth, etc.

7/18/2011 9:02:05 AM

Stanwood, Washington

Like I said I am looking for specifics. Everthing I have read on the subject is pretty general in nature and and ambiguous leaving alot of guess work. As dedicated as people are to this sport, you would think that someone would have come up with some more concrete rules to follow. For instance growth rates are definately quantifiable and by looking at historical data there should be a way to calculate the point at which a higher growth rate is able to compensate for a later start. It seems like you could also throw in a variable into the equation to account for distance from the stump and come up with a pretty accurate projection on which pumpkin has the most potential. Has anyone ever done this type of imperical analysis or is it always just an educated guess based on subjective observation?

7/18/2011 1:49:21 PM

Picton,ON ([email protected])

Always go with the first pollination unless there is something wrong with that fruit.

7/18/2011 2:15:46 PM

Picton,ON ([email protected])

If the first one is too close, then you shouldnt have pollinated it in the first place. I pick off all my female flowers until i get to the right distance out the start pollination. All my sets are the first pollination this year.

7/18/2011 2:17:44 PM

Bristol R.I. USA

Captain 97 there isn't any specifics just general rules. If I where to give you advice I would say pollinate the fruits on the main vine, try to get the best pollinations at least 10 feet out on the main. When selecting wich pumpkin to cull, I make sure the fruit is the size of a basketball. I make sure the vine placement is right or can be corrected, pumpkin shape. I like a long pumpkin because they seem to go heavier, growth, if a certain pumpkin grows much better then the others I slowly cull the pumpkin that seems to be slacking. If the next fruit continues to make great gains and the remaining pumpkin on the main have little or no gain then the remaining fruits slowly get culled in the next few days. This is the general rule I go by. Sometimes you think you got a great pumpkin growing only to find out its aborted. I hope this helps you a bit. I don't think anyone can give you specifics. Just general rules that we all go by. Follow those general practices and you should be okay. remember before culling make sure you make all adjustments to the vine before cutting. The general rule is make all the needed adjustments then slowly cull the unwanted pumpkins from the vine.

7/18/2011 8:36:35 PM

milford, CT,

Shape and vine position..I try to avoid possible "wheel" shapes which tend to be round /Short front to back and high when they are young. I like football shaped fruit.

7/18/2011 9:36:08 PM

milford, CT,

Try to wait to day 20 if possible..these fruit change shape drastically between day 10-20

7/18/2011 9:37:02 PM