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Indiana

Just curious has it ever been discussed about having two categories for biggest pumpkins? One for growing out in the elements and another where people grow inside greenhouses / make shift greenhouses. Wonder what the biggest pumpkin growing out in the open elements?

7/13/2021 6:24:32 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

It is a pumpkin growing contest..you do what you can as long as it is a solid fruit..The way it should be.

7/13/2021 7:21:20 AM

Bethlehem CT

I think the biggest grown outdoor is Steve Geddes up in New Hampshire. I believe it is still the North American record.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=298437

7/13/2021 7:32:00 AM

Bethlehem CT

I think it is entirely possible for a world record to be grown fully outdoors. My personal thoughts on this is that I would hate to see giant pumpkins get split into two (ir more)categories. This happened to giant watermelon growers a few years back when growers first started grafting. There was a lot of tension and people had there strong opinions. I don't think it was good for the hobby at all.

7/13/2021 7:35:07 AM

Westmoreland, KS

#1 issue would be how would you know that it was grown indoors or outdoors. That is why it is a pumpkin growing contest not and indoor/outdoor growing contest.

7/13/2021 10:03:09 AM

Westmoreland, KS

For example right now I have 2 plants growing inside and 2 plants growing outside. I could pick any pumpkin I wanted and say "yep this was my outdoor pumpkin" It would be impossible to prove that it was my indoor pumpkin. This would bring up many issues that nobody wants to deal with.

7/13/2021 10:05:05 AM

Syracuse, NY

I have a green house but no greenhouse. Haaaaa eg

7/13/2021 11:34:33 AM

Centennial Colorado

There is an advantage to growing in greenhouses, but also more risk. The risk comes in the form of disease, heat, and money. The outdoor risk comes in these same forms with the addition of the elements, so it really would not be as fun or practical to have 2 categories.

7/13/2021 12:14:22 PM

Watlington, UK

If there were 2 categories then hoop houses would have to be banned?

Also there is a lot of difference between a glasshouse and a polytunnel, so you'd need 3 categories. It just ends up a mess.

7/13/2021 2:18:32 PM

Merrimack NH

There are advantages and disadvantages to both outdoor and indoor growing. It's a contest to see who can grow the biggest pumpkin, however your choose to do it. Most of the world records over the years were grown outside.

7/13/2021 2:34:30 PM

Colorado

Future world records are likely gonna be greenhouse grown.It comes down to nighttime lows the last 6 weeks of the season. Whoever has the closest to ideal low temps the last 45 /55 days of the season is gonna put the most weight on.It would take freakish fall temps for that to happen outdoors.

7/13/2021 4:15:50 PM

Colorado

Two catagories isnt realistic.Most outdoor growers start under plastic so how could we word rules to what was "greenhouse" and what was pure "outdoors".

7/13/2021 4:20:54 PM

Susquehanna Pa

If you grow outdoors you have to cover the plant with something before the last spring frost date and use soil warming cables if you want to be competitive.

7/13/2021 9:17:05 PM

NILES , CALIF

There is a huge weight advantage growing in a greenhouse
If there wasnt, then why do these hothouse growers spend all this money on a Hothouse?

7/14/2021 5:52:00 AM

Nova Scotia

Lots of good observations on both sides. Ever since the 1970s, the size/weight of pumpkins has grown steady outdoors due to seed selection, skills, etc. However I believe CO2 levels in parts of our atmosphere has also risen which would contribute to weight such as done in greenhouses for various crops. Anyway whether a WR ATLANTIC GIANT is grown indoors or out...it is what it is at the end of the day! And of course those growers who live in shorter growing seasons have no choice and resort to a greenhouse in their ultimate pursuit of size.

7/15/2021 10:52:05 AM

This has been discussed at least as far back as 2013
2020----indoor---2593
2019----outdoor--2517
2018----outdoor--2528
2017----outdoor--2363
2016----indoor---2624
2015----outdoor--2230
2014----indoor---2323
2013----outdoor--2032

I do not see any great advantage but all had willing desire to put in the hard work and knowledge to deal with the different issues.

7/15/2021 4:43:09 PM