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Paradise Mountain, New York

when is a good date to start culling your pumpkins you don't want to keep? I have a keeper which is 48 1/2 inches now on day 15. I know some guys go with august 1st. But do some growers pick a different time or date/
thanks PumpkinBrat

8/2/2002 12:49:07 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

PB...I was hoping to see some input here on your question, but since it's slow, I'll give you my 2 cents worth. Got a 80" circ fruit 10' out on the main, poll. july 5th. Got two more on back side mains, one on each side of plant, poll. a week later about beachball size. Took two basketball size fruit off over the last week, leaving the plant with 3 fruit
Pinching off every other pumpkin that comes along now. Have not terminated main yet, but turning it around to make what will probably be an ungodly mess in the patch ! Read somewhere that Geneva never terminates main...so that's my game plan as long as I can stick to it...Good Luck.

8/3/2002 6:45:14 PM

Kennett Square, PA

Pumpkin Brat:
Since we share in the same heatwave/drought I'll share my philosophy. With my best at 192, I am cautiously agreesive of culling vines that don't make sense or food for my keeper. In doing so, out go softball to football sized pumpkins that are further out. I am believer in plant stress and drought, high temps and high evening humidity combined with the usual PIA's (cucumber beetles, SVB's, etc.) I am beginning isolate keepers (only ones at 75 pounds and up)and discarding the rest. Simply the access I've gained to where I need to go to releave stem stress etc. is worth it. Invest in shade protectors!!! With a weekly gain of 98.6 pounds I have to attribute some of it to the pumpkin's ability to have a flexible skin. Good luck.

Gary

8/3/2002 7:57:30 PM

Key West, FL

cut everything off and watch the vines grow

8/4/2002 12:58:07 AM

Rexburg, Idaho ([email protected] )

I've done things a bit different this year. In years past I've set fruit on all vines and let them grow to beachballs and then cut them off. The problem was I wasn't really giving any consideration to keeping pumpkins on secondary vines, only those on mains or back mains. Why raise 20 pumpkins to 50lbs each just to cut them off. Thats 1000# of fruit that stole energy from the plant.
This year I only set fruit on the mains and back main vine all other buds where picked when they first appeared. I then culled down to one fruit per vine (at about 15 days). Yes its risky in that if I have a problem with the chosen fruit then I have no backup. But, I'm after the biggest fruit possible and if it means taking risks then so be it.
Currently I have three pumpkins ahead of last years pace(847.5#). My largest is 133# ahead of last years and it was pollinated a day later. I doubt that this is the only reason I'm ahead every small thing helps.

8/4/2002 9:30:38 AM

Deer Park WA

Cool Brian, so what is the Idaho State record? or do you already own it??? I would love to visit your patch as we are practically neighbours!

8/4/2002 11:48:24 PM

Rexburg, Idaho ([email protected] )

Any time Gerry, I'd be glad to have you stop by. I broke my own Idaho state record last year with my 847.5.

8/5/2002 9:03:24 AM