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Arkadelphia Arkansas

Being a new grower I'm still green.... When do you pick? When it quits growing with the tape or when the plant dies?

7/31/2012 11:58:54 PM

Germany

As long as there´s the possibility for the pumpkin to grow (maybe slowly), let it grow. In a previous post I have read that the pumpkin even continues to grow for a while when the leaves of the plant got damaged (by frost). Reasons for picking the pumpkin:
- You need it (weigh-off is due soon, you are hungry, you have hundreds of hungry kids)
- You don´t want it to rot in the patch (i.e., if you have already spotted severe damage to the pumpkin, holes which reach into the cavity, and you want to save the seeds)
- You lost hope that it would pick up some speed again (maybe after day 365, LOL)
(Maybe there are further reasons for picking the pumpkin, I don´t claim completeness of the above list.)

If there´s no reason for picking the pumpkin, I would stay positive and think that it still grows internally, gaining weight without significant OTT-growth...and as long as there´s some plant behind the pumpkin I wouldn´t worry about leaving it on the plant until day 120.

8/1/2012 4:06:00 AM

Arkadelphia Arkansas

Is day 120 from sprouting or from setting the fruit? I am at day 107 from planting and 55 from set. Was growing well till the last heat wave here in south Arkansas. Slowed down to only an inch of growth /day.

8/1/2012 2:03:30 PM

Germany

120 days from pollination. Well, on day 55 you have already passed the hump of maximum growth, but some pumpkins continue to grow slowly but for many many further weeks. Patience is the secret in this case. Also, have a look at the OTT chart...and see what difference in lbs an inch is for a 200 lbs pumpkin and what difference an inch is for a 800 lbs pumpkin.

8/1/2012 3:38:30 PM

Arkadelphia Arkansas

Good point. Thanks for the info!

8/1/2012 5:22:18 PM

Centennial, Co.

Forester 4 Life, I am new also....2nd year....and am only on day 20. (That is somewhat normal for Colorado, especially for the inexperienced.) Anyway, my somewhat, maybe, one to get large, has gotten down to 1 inch a day also. And that is not good for so early in the season. Does anyone have any advice? Last year I grew a 200 pounder (was thrilled) but not doing so well this year. Slooooow growing.

8/3/2012 2:36:00 PM