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Trumbull, CT 06611, USA

One of my pumpkins which has a circumference of approx. 45 inches was growing approx. 3-4 inches a day. Over the past 2 days growth has been around 2 inches a day. It may not be a big deal but the pumpkin should be growing faster each day? Are there periods of small growth? Maybe I am just crazy because I take measurements every day. Any input?

7/25/2002 8:21:25 AM

derry n.h u.s.a.

Ray:
3 to 4 " a day isent a bad gain.If you want it to grow faster,deadhead a couple of vines everyother day and you should see a good gain (only if your plant is large enough for you to want to stop vines at this point!
Also i've noticed that on overcast days,cool temps seem to slow the growth a little compared to an 80+ degree day.Good luck.John

7/25/2002 8:31:55 AM

Stafford, Virginia

You need to remember that as your pumpkins get larger the surface area/volume of the pumpkin get gets substantially larger (it's a geometric addition) Here's an example:
Assume that pumpkin is solid and weighs 85 Lbs per cu. ft.
(this isn't exactly right as a pumpkin isn't solid and that is why we are looking for the genetics that grow the thickest meat). I will give you the weight gain of a 24" to a 26" and then from 48" to 49"
THIS EXAMPLE WILL NOT CORRESPOND TO PUBLISHED WEIGHT CHARTS

Vol of a sphere is : (4/3)pi(radius cubed) pi=3.1416
Circum = (pi)diam diam=radius/2

24"=(pi)diam 26"=(pi)diam
24/3.1416=d =7.64in. 26/3.1416=d=8.28in.
d/2 =rad =7.64/2=3.82" d/2 =rad = 8.28/2=4.14"
Vol(of24")=(4/3)pi(3.82cubed) Vol(26")=(4/3)pi)4.14cube)
=233.5 cu in =297.23cu.in
so: 233.5cuin/(1728cu.in/cu.ft.) 297.23cuin/1728cuin/cuft
=.14cuft X 85#/cuft =.18cuft X 85#/cuft
=11.9# =15.3#
Now if you do the same calculations for a 48" to 49" the weights are 92.65# for 48" and 97.75# for 49"

so: 24" to 26" is a gain of (15.3# - 11.9#) = 3.4# for 2"
48" to 49" is a gain of (97.25 - 92.65#) = 5.1# for 1"

Getting back to the original question - you might be gaining fewer inches per day as the fruit gets bigger but the weight gains will be bigger for each in gain in circum.

Consult the charts and you'll see what I mean. Just remember that thickness of fruit and "true" roundness are very big factors in estimating weights.

7/25/2002 2:12:20 PM

Utah

daily growth is dependent on the weather, high and low
temps, amount of sun, amount of water, etc...

John is right. the larger a pumpkin gets the more
weight it puts on with each inch.

7/25/2002 2:26:18 PM