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Mtn. Green, Utah

I have pollinated 2 pumpkins on each main vine of my plants. My first round of pollination was 6/27-6/28 at about 12' out, the next round was 7/3 - 7/6 at about 15' out. The ones closer to the stump are larger for their age, but isn't that because they are robbing most of the juice from the ones further down the line? Would it be better long term to remove the closer fruit and bet on the one further out? At what point could I make that decision? Would removing the closer ones make the ones down the line blow? (Sorry, I know I have exceeded the number of questions for one post!)

7/14/2009 12:33:46 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Matt, lots of variables...vine position, fruit shape, growth at same # of days...and then comes in yer gut reaction as to which one you like!!! Hopefully a heavy hitter will chime in here and will give you a better selection process!!! Removal of closer fruit (if that is your decision) should prbly be done over a period of several days...so as not to blow the one further down the line). Grow em BIG!!! Peace, Wayne

7/14/2009 1:51:16 AM

Buffalo, New York

i just made a post on the same topic.....i have 2 plants, both have fruit at 11-12' out, day 13 and about basketball size, 15' out day 8, about softball size, and at 19' out, 1 day old.

I was told to wait until the 15' ones hit day 15 (next monday), before deciding which one to keep.(either the 11's or the 15's.

I have the 19' on just for backup.

advice people?

7/14/2009 1:51:32 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Pap had good advice, if your cull is more than 4 days old, cut the stem halfways the first day and finish the job the next, to help prevent overstressing the rest of the fruits on the plant. I do this to be safe.

I often sneak circumference measurements starting at day 4 if I know I'll have to compare a later set to an earlier one on the same plant. Then I can see if something is growing better by comparing the same day's measurements. I also take digital pictures, of fruit with a soda can, every day, so I can see how it's shaping.

Farther out means more plant behind the fruit to make it big.

Better placement and longer stem are important.

One cull I recently did, better placed, farther out, but starting to show some serious ribbing tendencies at 4 days. I do not like deep ribs so it was culled. Day 4 circumference on cull was similar to the day 4 number on the keeper.

It's often hard to choose, period. I have a long set cycle this year. Tally: one vine working on it, two just set with firsts, two just set with backups. Two more I will be resetting in a few days, nothing currently on one pleases me. One more has a few culls yet to be decided. Two pumpkins under shelters, deciding on two more. So. Moral... each one has a lot of variables, and nothing is easy. Guessing wrong means you end up with nothing, which is part of growing.

Choosing earlier than later is easier IMO, but. Fruit don't always show what they're made of until day 10 or later... I also think the 'butter zone' is 13-17 feet out so unless vine has been sparse with females, I usually prefer to keep one on in that area. I have some closer this year, and am about to cull a 10.5' I think... a few days versus more plant. Hope some of this helps.

7/14/2009 11:58:59 AM