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Austin MN

Was curious to know what the average day 5 pumpkin size is? Do you want it to be about baseball size or bigger?

6/24/2012 12:57:26 PM

Buffalo, New York

as long as its still shiny and growing, day 5 means nothing

6/24/2012 1:04:18 PM

Austin MN

okay

6/24/2012 1:05:26 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Yep, give it time, but it should stay shiny and not get dull.

6/24/2012 5:40:54 PM

Joliet, IL

If you cut your finger nails and make sure to be gentle with the tape, there is nothing wrong with getting measurements on young sets. I have found 10 inches on day 5 will hit 20" to 24" on day 10 depending on how cool the nights. Warmer nights means extra growth in my experience. But that doesn't mean cool nights and slower growth early on means they will not chug later. Just ask the Hunts. The object with any early measurements from lay down stage on is to learn. See if they took. Looking and saying to yourself, "it still looks shiney but not sure if it grew." If you have a simple 1 minute process measurement, step on walking boars, and have a gentle touch, then it is just info. Some run out of the gate and peter out. Some go slow and steady....some just never quit. I look back to me earlier days when I thought if I measured or got to close to the pumpkin I would jinx it or cause more damage then good. Yes I have done the damage, but get in there with them and do not be afraid to measure. Some days they grow more, some days less. Its good info in my mind if I can figure out why. Cooler nights? Too much watering? Maybe time for a foliar? Measurements are just measuring sticks in the whole process to learn how and why they do what they do. And it helps understand when and why you need to suppliment with foliar after mid point if you want to avoid the dreaded early wall.

6/24/2012 6:02:29 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Thanks for that shazzy!


I just cut my nails, now I'm headed back out to the patch! :)

6/24/2012 7:09:35 PM

To me day 5, 10 and even 15 really don't mean too much. You can get a better idea of where your pumpkin is at on day 20 and you should have an even better idea on day 30. Day 30-50 is when you will find out if you have a pretender or contender. Like Shazzy said they are just measuring sticks. What really matters is getting that pumpkin to go big, but more importantly heavy.

6/24/2012 7:10:24 PM

Austin MN

Thank you I pollinated it Wednesday... I am hoping to grow a pumpkin over the 1000 pound mark so wanted to know if I was on track.

6/24/2012 7:16:51 PM

Austin MN

measured it. 9.7 inches

6/24/2012 7:36:05 PM

Joliet, IL

A couple of reasons not too be afraid to tape in early stages. You need to have access for putting mill fabric, sand, or syrofome eventually. You will also need to be ready to adjust pumpkin slowly to a 90. If you are careful and establish comfort around your pumpkin with walking boards and thought out moves, then you will be that much more comfortable when doing the deeds. Severing tap roots and blocking vine if needed to make sure blossom is parellel with stem to ground. Mini stem splits on fast growing stems can be saved if noticed early by keeping dry and captan and fan. Throw the tape around your neck and record the same way. If under blossom parrelell or over....do it same way, same time each day. it is not who has the biggest earliest measurements and an ego thing. It is just info to use....for possible culling purposes is the most reason. And again....anything I post is just a grain of salt to be taken from one man's experience. Never listen to just one person and pull the trigger. Ask around then form your own opinion.

6/24/2012 9:27:05 PM

Wi

Tanner the only thing D10 will tell you is how's the weather. If we have a hot spell D10 will be big. If not it will be small. This can also be somewhat (but less IMO) effected by how much salad you are growing.

I've seen pumpkins D20 between 56"CC and 90" CC that have weighed out on the scale over 1500 (in my patch). So even D20 can be nearly useless.

That all said I have as much playing the numbers game as the next guy...but probably not as much as Shazzy :)

6/25/2012 11:13:35 AM

Colorado

I dont have any day 5 numbers.Day 5 is a good starting point to start taping just to make sure the fruit is growing.Genetically some fruit are fast early and some are snails.

6/25/2012 11:35:03 AM

Austin MN

Okay thanks Chris... I know Alex said the 1240 was a slow and steady grower!

6/25/2012 11:42:20 AM

Rhode Island

to be truthfull? ron and i let our eyes tell us which we like and dont like.
around day 25 or so ,yes we will put a tape on her and follow every few days for a week or so. then, choices are made and we go for it.
from there on out we start a once a week daily average measurement and chart for the rest of the season.
we dont waist a hole lot of time making our decisions either.
in this hobby --- time is pounds
pap

6/25/2012 5:48:32 PM

Austin MN

pap thank u... can u eamil me some time I have some other pumpkin questions
[email protected]
Thanks Tanner

6/25/2012 11:39:00 PM