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Wi

I've seen this question a LOT so here's what we do here:

First off I try not to pollinate anything until I'm ready to keep the pumkpin. Therefore if I get a female at say 6' I cut it off. Now if I get one that I think is a hair close, but females are rare further down I'll pollinate that. The reason I try not to pollinate until I'm ready for a keeper is some growers seem to have trouble with that first set killing everything else down the line. I've cut the first (growing) set in favor of another down the line only to have it abort.

So for me it's all about position, position, position. I don't care how fast it grows early on (before D10-15). I choose the one in the best location from the stump, I attempt to keep a nice lobed female, and I look at the shape of the growing fruit. Big numbers are great early on. I see lots of those, but I'll catch you later :) 40" D10 ain't no thang. 400" OTT before September first and you have my attention :). I once had a 17.5" pumpkin on D10. It taped 426" OTT on the scale. D10 means almost nothing...in fact it's probably less than nothing because it's a false sense of security! LOL.

So don't sweat measuring everything early and sweating over which one is the best. I like position, position, position, then shape, angle to the vine...etc. If you build it, it will grow.

Not every plant can grow a world class pumkpin.

7/13/2012 9:12:42 AM

Lakewood, Colorado

Thanks Chris. Great information for us "not yet heavy hitters".

7/13/2012 10:57:20 AM

nOVA sCOTIA

good stuff Chris!

7/13/2012 11:34:35 AM

Wi

A note of interest. This is the first season I'll be growing out a 6 lobed female. It was SLIGHTLY close (to the crown) for me, but it was perfect in every other way. The resulting low 20's day old pumpkin is completely flawless. However it could have split while I was typing this...LOL.

7/13/2012 12:01:25 PM

Ontario

Thanks Chris,I had to make a decision,I chose the one 3ft. farther down the main ,5 lobe instead of a 4 lobe with an unusual stem and to small holes that appeared on a rib,it was an easy decision. Now I just have to hope ,the one I have left doesn't abort! Terry

7/13/2012 12:17:59 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Thanks Chris.....lookZ like the plant made the decision for me on WrinkleZ II.....appearZ to be aborting...and Plan B aborted too...Oh well....Ill pollinate another....

7/13/2012 12:51:52 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

I very much like your thread Chis. I've read so many times that we should pollinate 1,2,3, or even more females and choose later which ones to cull in favor of the "chosen one". When I choose which one to pollinate and when AND if it takes, I stay with it.

7/13/2012 11:13:14 PM

Frankfort Ohio

im with joe if its growing at day 15 i start cutting other sets first seems to be the best for me

7/13/2012 11:27:45 PM

Bay City Michigan

Chris if the pumpkin has a scar on it would it be more risk to grow or if it is at the right position and growing well would you keep it?

7/15/2012 2:49:39 PM

Wi

If it's a tiny scar and NOT DEEP it will be fine. I had one a few years ago on a 1421 stelts. It was maybe 1/8 x 1/8 inch on the baby pumpkin (and this one was probably 1/8" deep). It was probably 8" by 8" on the scale in October (1468).

7/15/2012 9:20:07 PM

Bay City Michigan

thanks for the advice chris

7/15/2012 10:57:18 PM