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I understand its better to chose a pumpkin with a longer built than a more round. And I have always done so in the past. Now I have a pumpkin that is over 200lbs and putting on 5-6 inches a day and is round as can be and is a 4 segment and the next one out on the vine has all the bells & whistles going for it but was a later pollination and is a 5 segment and roughly 30-40lbs. What would be the best decision to do? Can you still get a good size pumpkin across the finish line or is there a lot of headaches on the horizon with this type shape? The reason I kept it on was because the extreme heat wiped out all the others between this one and the later pollination. Is there any recommendations in how to handle this type growth pumpkin? Thanks for all your input!

[Last edit: 07/05/24 10:03:42 PM]

7/5/2024 9:53:27 PM

Syracuse, NY

I have found/seen that earlier pumpkins tend to abort more if a later set is set-also upon that vine. Whichever one starts to outrun the other, go for that one butt it'll be a waiting game and certainly not
'for certain'. I usually get three poll'd on a plant, as far apart as possible, to avoid Natural Selection that I'm involved in.
PS---Whichever you remove, do it half-through the stem one day and half the next.
Good Luck and more responses---eric g

[Last edit: 07/06/24 12:05:55 AM]

7/6/2024 12:03:13 AM

Grittyville, WA

Difficult decisions 101... Pics?

7/6/2024 3:24:09 PM

Syracuse, NY

What can happen when ALL of the circumstances seem correct to have a record-breaking season:
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=345092
I had thought that the 1109 was what I considered to be a 'torpedo-shaped' fruit, allowing for more space between A and B = better distribution of said fruit, butt it did the unexpected, entirely - The best news is that he kept after it and is doing great once again! Just a reference to maybe it doesn't matter TOO much, the shape of the fruit, early on, except for one with a side 3 times larger than the rest and a dozen other atrocities that could cause a grower to try again, immediately, lol---eric g

7/7/2024 2:01:24 AM

Colorado

Nothing wrong with a round pumpkin and 4 lobe is a good thing. Id think twice b4 cutting that first one off.

7/9/2024 8:49:29 AM

Kutztown, PA

A fat bird in the hand....................

I have to pretty round pumpkins growing right now. Both pollinated when and where I wanted them to be. I'm ok with that. What's round now may not stay round. From an engineering standpoint, a round (arched) pumpkin might be more structurally sound. But pumpkins don't know that.

7/9/2024 9:37:37 AM

Hadley Ny

What Cojoe said!!

[Last edit: 07/09/24 12:20:36 PM]

7/9/2024 10:48:45 AM