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Huntsville Texas

30 days old, vine is 8' long, with a baby female pumpkin at the tip; will be at least 12' when it blooms. will need advice on whether to go with this one or wait for a later one further on the vine. hope to have pictures soon.

5/1/2012 11:23:34 PM

Nikiski, Alaska 99635

Pollinate it and the next three or four on the main, at the very least it can be an insurance pumpkin if you don't get some later sets further on down the main. From there you can cull down to the best grower, shape, position on the vine as the season progesses. Once a pumpkin gets past basketball size, has a nice shiny color and is growing with vigor it is generally is set and good for the long hual. With the oppressive Texas heat on its way I would go for an early set and keep the young pumpkin shaded as well as possible. Good Luck, I know what kind of weather you are dealing with as I went to college at Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas.

5/1/2012 11:55:47 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Wowzers!!! JD, in Alaska, went to college in Texas, grows the Alaska State record pumpkin, and is now giving growing info to another Tx. Dude!!!! BP.com rocks!!!! Peace, Wayne

5/2/2012 1:15:34 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Field pumpkins are a little different. The plant seem to be able to handle more than one pumpkin.They have a short growing period of about 45-50 days

5/2/2012 7:17:06 AM

Muddy Waters

Will it be to early to qualify for GPC?

5/2/2012 7:39:03 AM

Huntsville Texas

I really want to grow one as large as possible, so I will want to grow just one,after figuring out which one. I tried to get it in very early to avoid the heat, but didn't expect pumpkins quite this soon.
Linus, is the 45-50 days you mention the time to maturity from pollination?

5/2/2012 4:19:38 PM

Piqua, Ohio

If you want october pumpkins I wait till the last week in july. 50 days after pollination they start going the other way. contact the GPC about weighing it, you can weigh officially before weigh offs. The Indiana state record lope was done this way.

5/2/2012 5:56:45 PM

Nova Scotia

Michael , hope those MacKinnon's do something special for you and your daughter. One of my 162's was pollinated only a few feet out from the stump on a secondary. It was the first female to open and it grew rather well. FP's are a different beast than AG's and I am curious to see how they will like the heat of Texas as here on Cape Breton we didn't have much heat to speak of last summer. Linus is right as they only will grow for approximately 50 days and that may be less with your heat. Best of luck

5/2/2012 9:09:50 PM

Muddy Waters

So when do you plant seeds in ground Josh??

5/2/2012 9:30:52 PM

Muddy Waters

or start seeds??

5/4/2012 5:23:50 PM

Piqua, Ohio

Mid june works for me I've tried earlier in past years but have mature pumpkins in Aug and Sept I direct sow them, last year I had one plant produce 10 that were 60-70 pounds! I started with Howden's and now just grow my own stuff

5/4/2012 7:09:20 PM

Deer Park WA

What if you were to not allow a field pumpkin to set until later in the season by pinching off all the fruit? This would allow for a bigger plant and adjust the timing for October weigh offs.

5/6/2012 10:36:33 PM

Piqua, Ohio

that's just that much longer to fight disease and keep the plant alive, I suppose you can do it though!

5/7/2012 6:22:49 PM