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New Brunswick, Canada

I am a first year grower and pretty excited about this giant pumpkin I got growing here. It is only on day 30 but is 160 lbs according to the chart. I am trying to decide when to harvest this thing, the problem being that I have 3 different fairs/weighoffs that I could go to. The first one is in just 3 weeks and I'm sure my pumpkin will be far from mature at that point, but this first weighoff has the best prizes. I hate to harvest it before it's prime - but the potential prizes are pretty enticing compared with the other events later in the fall.

8/16/2011 11:04:03 AM

Granite Bay-California

Simple is it about the prizes or growing your biggest pumpkin? Only you can answer that.

8/16/2011 11:32:10 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Also, I really can't say how big your pumpkin might end up, but the best prizes usually draw the best pumpkins. I've seen excited growers show up to weighoffs and then once they see the quantity of absolutely huge pumpkins they are too embarassed to get their pumpkin out of the trunk of their sedan. There are a lot more growers that don't post on BP than those that do so consider what you might be in for at that early weighoff. If the plant is healthy, the pumpkin is growing, and there are more weighoffs later... keep it on the vine.

8/16/2011 12:50:13 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

I agree with both comments here...ITG if you think you have a big pumpkin and get to the weigh off you will be disappointed. See what last years weights were, and decide which weigh off to choose from. This is more than a competetion against others it is a competetion with yourself, and mother nature trying to improve your weight every year. I will never grow a 1600lb pumpkin. Unless I trip over a horseshoe and hit my head on a magic lamp. Although I do know this...All the neighborhood knows who grows the big ass pumpkins on this side of town. They think it is a world record.

8/16/2011 1:23:43 PM

New Brunswick, Canada

Good points all. Maybe I will let my pumpkin grow a little longer and get it to respectable size for the later weigh-offs. And then I can check out the early competition to refer to next year. I would estimate my pumpkin is 7 to 14 days behind others in the area as far as pollination date goes so probably no sense trying to rush it to an early competition.

8/16/2011 1:57:45 PM

New Brunswick

ITG If your plant is healthy and the fruit is doing well you might as well keep it going. The first early weighoff in our area is the Fredericton exhibition. Usually not too many fruit at this one as most of us hang on for the later weighoffs. Next will be in two different parts of the province. One in Edmundston and the other in Tracadie this year I am told. Tracadie will be the provincial event. The third will be Windsor Nova Scotia a week later. So you do have something to think about. Weghts around the province are going to be down this year due to the cold wet weather.You might want to check out my diary. We might share some ideas.

8/16/2011 3:10:12 PM

Rhode Island

a 1000 pounder at most weigh-offs does not even get you into the top ten.
id listen to orange neck. he gave you sound advise.

8/16/2011 7:06:11 PM

Nottingham, UK

As a first time grower, I would be inclined to grow it as big as I can and take the latest date for a show irrespective of the prize. You might be culling one that could grow very big and give you a good pb. You never know what next year may bring and it could be a year with nothing. Just my ten cents worth. Do what works best for you.

8/17/2011 3:39:37 AM

Muddy Waters

Take your slowest Kin to 1st contest!Save the Honey for your PB,I always took the 1 that petered out to the State Fair in August!Go to the Fairs they wont always be there!:(

8/17/2011 6:52:48 AM

Lexington, Ky

"they think it is a world record".....LMAO!

8/17/2011 1:47:16 PM

Dillsburg, PA

This is from a contest last year in Eastern Pa. It is pretty darn intimidating. This was the first year for the weighoff so it will probably get bigger each year but it will give you some idea of what your in for.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=148778

8/17/2011 2:09:19 PM

Adams County

ITG, at last years weigh off they put my 702 between Quinn Werners 1400 + and Jerry Roses 1400 +. not sure if they were trying to make me feel bad, or if those big uns were hungry. let it grow, if nothing else it does make a heckuve jack o lantern......

8/17/2011 8:09:09 PM

Hampstead, NC 28443

I am a new grower. I agree with all the comments here. But one thing to remember, this is for fun also and it is your first year. Bring what ever you are proud of to the scale and smile all day long. You worked hard and deserve to be there as a Rookie just like all of them guys were when they were Rookies too. Talk with all the growers, learn some things while talking and make contacts with people to help you get better for next year. Have fun.

9/6/2011 5:55:09 AM