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Claysburg , PA

I am sitting here reading Diarys about early pollinations like early-mid june and am wondering if these pumpkins will make it to a first or second week weigh off in October .

8/15/2012 8:43:56 AM

nOVA sCOTIA

I can't see it unless you plan on a mid sept weighoff.The earliest poll on a 1600lb pumpkin i can find was on the 1622Liggett(june 20)and the 1634Werner(june 21)I would never want a keeper earlier than this.With all the foliar spraying going on with these plants i just can't see the plant holding up but one never knows.

8/15/2012 9:33:58 AM

Lexington, Ky

They can make if precautions are taken. I've seen them last well into November. A year or two ago, a grower kept his sound thru December, it was on display I think.....

8/15/2012 9:48:15 AM

canal winchester ohio

I don't think a lot will last to mid Oct in my area but not because of early polinations. They will mature out early due to the extreme heat the midwest had this year. If you look at the top 10 all time on AGGC you will see that 9 of the 10 were pollinated between 6-20 & 6-27. I don't think early pollination is the factor as much as weather. And the 1622 Liggett that was pollinated June 20th was still showing growth a week before the Circleville weighoff according to Bob.

8/15/2012 1:09:56 PM

Honesdale, Pennsylvania

What was your pollination dates this year Orange?

8/15/2012 4:27:02 PM

Claysburg , PA

Ned , I pollinated my field pumpkins the first week of August .

8/15/2012 9:04:11 PM

Rhode Island

as far as the competition aspect of this hobby goes? id rather be leading in the race then trying to catch up.

when it comes to these freaks the only way is to get out somewhat early,pollinate a week or so earlier than the norm and, if you get a long runner? you can make it to october.

if not? plenty of gpc weigh-offs to go to in mid to late september as well.

pap

8/16/2012 5:57:33 AM

Honesdale, Pennsylvania

I was wondering about the AG's next to the Sandbags james. I certainly agree with PAP. An early pollination is the way to go for a huge one but if mother nature and my soil just doesn't cooperate there isn't much I can do about it. It seems I always get off to a slow start no matter what I do and I am stuck with the old school target dates of July 1-10. It is what it is and I cant fight mother nature.

8/16/2012 10:27:39 AM

East Jordan, MI

If the pumpkin is healthy, and not allowed to get to hot it will last for a very, very, long time. Here are a few examples that I have direct knowledge of.

My 2010 pumpkin stopped growing to the tape about 40 days before the weigh-off. Even with a rotting stem for the last 34 days or so it was still 9.5% heavy.

Another grower in our area cut his and kept it in the garage for over a month that same year.

The 998.5 Liggett was cut off of the vine on Aug 22nd at 62 days old. It was loaned to a petting zoo for a display in Sep, where kids climbed on it and took pictures of it until Thanksgiving and was still solid.

Jose Ceja's pumpkin was given to Circus Circus in Oct where it was displayed and then stored until the seminar at the end of Feb where it was sculpted.

8/16/2012 9:21:55 PM

Torrance, Ca.

I saw that pumpkin at Circus Circus in Jan. cntryboy and it was solid as a rock! I couldn't believe it!

I was wondering who's that was :)

8/16/2012 10:28:11 PM