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Morgantown, WV

A lot of talk goes into seed selection and such in the off season, but not much gets said about shaping pumpkins. I believe that shape can be manipulated to an extent and "better looking" pumpkins can be grown even if they don't necessarily get the color. Lots of pictures and explanations in my diary, so have a look and let's chat!

Do you agree with me? Is it too much work and attention for most? Anything goes, but please keep it constructive.

7/21/2017 7:18:18 PM

Grittyville, WA

I'm trying growing them blossom down. I think this will help a lot. Sorry can't post pics in my diary / the site is not accepting my pics but so far it's working...

7/21/2017 10:08:07 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

You can do some by keeping the pumpkin properly positioned. Using sand to keep it level. But sometimes they have a mind of their own. I have had pumpkins decide to turn the blossom under and grow right over it. I also had one Keeping great shape until Mid August. Then the base started growing out and the blossom turned up 90 degrees. Not much you can do about it when they hit that stage. I learned this year that a misshapen flower can result in a misshapen pumpkin.

My biggest problems have been rabbits and cucumber beetles. I have to put chicken wire up because fox urine doesn't always scare them, electric fences don't stop them, and our pellet gun isn't very accurate beyond 15 yards. And last year we had a decent shaped orange pumpkin covered by scabs from beetle bites. I used 7 insecticides and just couldn't keep them under control.

7/21/2017 10:09:09 PM

Grittyville, WA

I posted a couple pics of pumpkins getting a blossom down start in my diary... not yet showing but they should be up soon.

7/21/2017 11:34:56 PM

Grittyville, WA

Try using hay bales Dustin. Grow the vine over the bale. They love growing over the bales. Hay is cheap and forgiving to work with the pumpkin vine can grab the hay in the bale even. You can remove as much hay as needed or add hay as needed.

7/21/2017 11:40:24 PM

Morgantown, WV

Great start to the conversation everyone. Keep in mind this is all just the learning phase of the project, and an attempt to collect a resource of helpful information to look back on.

I believe next year I'll make some adjustments to the prep work prior to starting the seed. It seems the best option here would be to build a taller raised bed or grow over the edge of a retaining wall, but trying to work with the natural landscape here.

I agree, cucumber beetles are murder on the orange ones, they don't seem to care much about any but the pretty ones. I haven't thought much yet about shading the pumpkin, i'll probably just have a tarp on stakes over top rather than trying to wrap the pumpkin with something and have the stem stay wet.

While pumpkins do occasionally take on a mind of their own, I believe this shaping theory could be applied to most. Again, if you're growing the S%#$ out of them, it may be a little more difficult, but just average ones coming out of my patch so I have a little less weight to worry about... for now :)

7/22/2017 6:35:36 AM

Morgantown, WV

Looks like a good setup Glen, those buckets may have helped me get a little more size before the set down. Still undecided if it's more beneficial to leave the vine after the pumpkin or not until it is straightened. I believe taking the end of the vine is how I got the twist in my main. Perhaps I'll drop it into a bucket next year as a size gauge for when to set on ring.

7/22/2017 6:48:28 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

One Idea I have is growing 2 pumpkins on a plant to keep them from getting bloated and poor shape. Last year we were growing one to have some to sell when we started losing plants. We culled it down to 2 and one was a 748# HD winner. Both had decent shape. We are trying two on an orange one this year. The one on a secondary is slower, blocky, but the one on the main is nice shape, decent growth rate. After a couple heavy rains, I think it might prevent blowing one up.

7/22/2017 9:47:14 AM

Planet Orange

Shape is 75% genetic. If you have a seed that will grow a dumb looking pumpkin it is going to be goofy no matter how you position it.

Growing pumpkins on the blossom, in my experience not make it to maturity. Sure some do but almost always they are smaller. I have pumpkins grow great on the blossom till around 600 pounds or so then they split on the bottom where you can't see. If you are doing this and the pumpkin suddenly stops growing you will find a split blossom when you finally clean up the by then sloppy mess.

On the constructive end, perhaps grow on the blossom inside of a truck tire inner tube, so as the sides enlarge the weight is dispersed around the perimeter of the pumpkin.

7/23/2017 10:30:55 AM

Morgantown, WV

I agree with the idea that Cinderella pumpkins may not reach the gargantuan size that it perhaps would had it been grown on its back normally. I also agree, and probably should have initially stated when I started this project, that this is a risky style of growing that is by no means a guarantee to get a Howard Dill Award, a discussion of shaping pumpkins just seemed to fit well in a place where people strive for better looking pumpkins.

That said, I re-emphasize the fact that this project and discussion is being focused on the post-seed selection process. Yes, if you select a wonky seed, you will probably get a wonky pumpkin, however the people in the Howard Dill forum generally at least have an idea of how to find some seeds with good color and shape, otherwise they wouldn't be hoping for the award, they'd just be showing up with their unexpected beauty.

I believe in-fact that this style of growing is probably counter productive to getting the award, as the larger ones with good skin tend to win over the smaller better shaped pumpkins anyways, because as we all know, the judging can be a tossup as to what qualifies a winner anyways depending on the weigh off taken to.

To get back on track, my PB Cinderella is 671 pounds and can be seen on the same style of cone in last year's diary. She was gorgeous, but she did not win the Howard Dill award. While that is about par for the previous estimate of the potential of these, let me remind everyone about the 1500 lb mark, then the 2,000, now the 2,500 has been well surpassed by regular pumpkins, and there were MANY doubters along the way.

It is not at all unreasonable to think that there cannot be a 1,000 lb Cinderella grown full term and in sound condition on the scale. Just because no one has done it before, doesn't mean it can't and won't be done. This is the beginning of my journey to make that happen, nothing more. Win or lose, I love gardening :)

Keep the conversation going!

7/23/2017 1:15:28 PM

Peru

My grandson grew a pumpkin where thr vine grew over a fence. The only problem I saw was the blossom end was really concaved. Like 6 or 7 inches deep. I would be scared if kin got much bigger it would get a fungus with somuch of a gap. The pumpkin was beautiful and had aa lot of people talking about it. It was 1059 v/mx 811 foss. I started the pumpkin late (mid june) weighted 357 lbs and lite to chart. It was the most perfect pumpkin ive ever grown.

7/24/2017 8:06:39 PM

stoughton WI

The blossom end tends to be the thinest part of a pumpkin, growing blossom end down would put alot of stress on it also if your blossom start to rot you won't know it.

7/24/2017 9:50:12 PM