From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Sask, Canada

As shown in my grower diary, my daughters plant has two pollinated punkins about the same size and one needs to be culled.

Please help my 3yr. old decide which one to keep and name "Pork Chop" and well the other to send to punkin heaven...

Vote for a) or b)

Please no comments on how much of a smuck I am, I feel bad enough. You'd have to read the diary entry to understand.

Thanks in advance, culling day is this coming Monday.

TTYL
Ernie & Beth
Giant Veggies & Little Veggie

p.s. the entry was just posted so it may take a bit to get listed.

7/17/2002 8:17:44 PM

colorado

Ernie, maybe let her point out which one she wants, tell her to choose which ever one she wants, because it is great that you share this hobby, and if it is her plant, ask her her to point out which one she likes, or let them both get bigger and see what shape one takes on and let her decide then. Just my thought. Steve

7/17/2002 10:57:56 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Keep them both. They will still be huge for her. You know how kids are. Two of something are way better.

7/18/2002 12:03:32 AM

prairie du sac wi

ya,let her pic or keep them both(but I'd choose A it looks to have a better shine and bigger stem)

7/18/2002 12:38:35 AM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Ernie - The wife and I both like "A". She thought your post was great! Is it hard to get a 3 yr old to make that decision? I need to know 'cause I am planning on growing with my son some day. I will be in your same situation in a couple of years. Cheers & Good Luck w/ Pork Chop. Ceis

7/18/2002 1:18:20 AM

Deer Park WA

Uhh Earnie, what the heck happened to the trailing vine? No offence or anything, but sometimes I think a fella (or a Feella?) can over baby (prune the crap out of) what momma nature has put before us.... I think A/B are both fine, unless they are on the same vine then I would wait to see if the pollinations took, as in soft ball or bigger before culling.

PS. my granddaughter was 2 yrs old and knew to "Walk on the boards, and don't pick anything" She is now a very mature 3 1/2 and is the best weed puller/bad bug smasher/strawberry eater I have ever known!

7/18/2002 1:18:21 AM

Sask, Canada

Well guys you have to understand she has a mind like me and when she makes up her mind there is no changing it, first she understands that one pumpkin is better than two and she wants one "Pork Chop" as daddy is only growing one so she does too. Second I have already culled the july 9th one as it was smaller and culled the one that was pollinated yesterday as it was smaller and she doesn't understand that it may get bigger than these two in time. It was what she wanted.

She has been asking every one for advice, and asking them to pic a) or b) (that's what I told her we would call them till she picked one) and I mean every one like the neighbour, her 1 year old brother and even the saskpower guy that came to the house to read the meter, she even insisted I call grandma and papa to come over and look at her pumpkins and tell her which one to keep.

You think I have the AG fever bad you should have seen her tonight wanting to go out and check her pumpkins when me and the wife were talking about the weather and the warning about a tornado heading this way.

Ya it brings a tear to my eye, I've created a monster.

She does walk were she is suppose to and is carefull around the patch but she seen me misting and soaking with the hose and I moved it to the other side of the yard and she mistakenly took the soaker hose for the one she waters with, however I gave her a water can to use, it is much easier for her.

When all is said and done and we are at the weigh-offs the greatest moment for me will be when my girls punkin is on the scale and I look at her with her big smile and know that her happiness at this moment will live in my heart forever.

P.s. it was her idea to ask every one here which one to keep.

TTYL
Ernie

7/18/2002 4:32:09 AM

Sask, Canada

I'm trying to keep it short.

Cies: Lots and lots of patients, it is enjoyable to have a buddy in the patch and even better for father and daughter time. She does make up her mind more than not but when she wants you to pick you just can't say it doesn't matter. she is very strong headed. Good luck with your son...

Gads: I knew there was something missing, just kidding.
The b) punkin is at the very end of a main secondary (dead headed)and was pollinated for the heck of it. The a) punkin is on the main and is about 15' out, a freak accident found my foot on the main vine about 8" past this point which caused me to terminate the main at this point.

Both punkins are about the size of a small nerf football or roughly 12" in circumference.

TTYL
Ernie
Giant Veggies

7/18/2002 4:50:22 AM

Saegertown Pa.

Definitely keep the one on the main good luck.

7/18/2002 5:45:15 AM

colorado

I guess I would have to pick (a.) Steve

7/18/2002 10:26:20 AM

ipswich, ma usa

(A) looks like a good pick to me.

7/18/2002 10:49:32 AM

Kuna, Id.

Let them both go in case there is a problem latter down the road. Two pkns are better then no pkns if the one you pick croaks.
Ken

7/18/2002 11:01:23 AM

Ankeny, Iowa

I would pick (A). Because it seems to have a larger stem.

7/18/2002 7:38:24 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Hey Ernie, Love the story...having a "spirited" 3 year old myself. both long terminated vines I would leave them both on at least thirty days...but hen again I can't get my first one on...Good Luck with your decision.

7/21/2002 2:05:15 AM