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France

We all know the basic way to tape our fruit :

"the Circumference measurement should be the LARGEST circumference taken approximately parallel to the ground. The Front-to-Back, and Side-to-Side measurements must be taken over the highest point, straight down to the ground. The F-B measurement should follow the stem to blossom line, with the S-S perpendicular to it"

But how do you tape the EE with a fruit that had a big shoulder on the right or left side ?

Shazzy and Jos fruits are good examples :

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=189702

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=187681

Should we tape the EE respecting strictly the stem to blossom or going on the top of the shoulder on the left ?

Thanks

9/23/2012 4:29:19 PM

Germany

The highest point. Just imagine what happened if...in addition to the shoulder being a shoulder the blossom and the stem were also out of centre, maybe shifted to the same side where the shoulder is...then you had exactly the same shape of the pumpkin and you would definitely measure Over The Top. (As far as I know, you need to measure "blossom end to stem end" not "blossom to stem".)

9/23/2012 5:26:35 PM

Germany

...in other words, if someone would try to guesstimate your body weight by taping your height (over the top, from back to nose end, and from side to side) and your widest circumference, it probably wouldn´t make a lot of a difference if your nose was perfectly in the middle of your face or (for whatever reason) out of centre...it won´t change your height.

9/23/2012 5:31:33 PM

Muddy Waters

I would go right down the middle & ignore the hump.I have a hump on my 1161 this year.it wasnt there when I began taping,it developed later on as it grew I continue to ignore the hump in both directions side to side & end to end.I think this will give me a better estimate.since the hump is just 1 part of the fruit .not the majority.Just my 2 cents.

9/23/2012 8:19:26 PM

El Paso TX.

Depends do you want to have a better chance of being "Light" or "Heavy" to the chart ?

9/23/2012 10:17:16 PM

Germany

JD, that´s true, and probably the best answer (because OTT doesn´t mean anything, only the scales is the one and only to tell the truth).

9/24/2012 1:49:37 AM

Germany

...and now another example, which might bring us back to the initial question: just imagine (maybe on one of the above linked pumpkins) the blossom was on the right side and the stump on the left side, and the overall shape of the pumpkin would be the same. Then you need to take the hump into account, because it´s on the way from stump to blossom. I think the question was related to correctly taping OTT for official representation purposes. In the official GPC results chart there is the weight and the OTT estimate listed (and the % heavy or light), and for that reason there should be a "one and only" way of measuring OTT, a clear definition, and the abbreviation "OTT" is part of the definition, Over The Top (only the circumference thing isn´t contained in the abbreviation). Pumpkins of the same shape and same size should give the same (ok, maybe almost the same) OTT, no matter where blossom and stem and hump are (relative to each other).

9/24/2012 1:57:39 AM

Muddy Waters

My taping should be conservative then If I go with the hump it would add 50 lbs to my Jackson.It's all just a ballpark figure.So whatever floats your gourd is fine.

9/24/2012 5:28:00 AM

Muddy Waters

I think by the book stem to blossom is exactly that ground to ground at stem to blossom.on that 2nd photo you would be in that low rib .not on the hump.Just saying what I think the x-spurts would do at the weigh off.The largest circum is for the parallel to the ground taping.So no matter how we tape them. The weigh-off site should re tape them at there judgement of the GPC definition.Is this correct?? If I'm mistaken somebody tell me.Do all sites retape them or do they take the growers word for it??

9/24/2012 5:35:20 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Everywhere I have been they retape them..If there is a question of measurement. The grower will let you know. Often it is a matter of 1"

9/24/2012 7:32:37 AM

France

Question is to be sur to do the right measurements but as JD said it can become heavy or light. It just to get a fair, correct and true OTT.

9/24/2012 9:36:47 AM

Wi

You should go over the high spot OR obtain the largest measurement. Then the SS should be perpindicular to that measurement. Also the largest measurement.

There should never be a case where you don't use the LARGEST measurement.

Heavy pumpkins should be heavy because they are heavy. Not from manipulating dimensions. The chart is not designed to accurately portray 100% of fruit shapes.

9/24/2012 9:42:09 AM

Muddy Waters

So If my kin develops a hump should I start taping at that point instead Chris?

9/24/2012 3:26:15 PM

Muddy Waters

Ok! I went out & measured the humps.Somebody call David Copperfield.It measures the same within 1 inch whether I tape in a valley or a hump.LOL!It's a square block with bulges everywhere!lol

9/24/2012 3:40:59 PM

France

Shazzy, how do you tape your great pumpkin ? EE on the hump or not ?

9/24/2012 4:27:40 PM

Princeton Kentucky

I'm glad you all retape pumpkins before weighing, lol..Thats why I stopped measuring mine at 300 ott because I started getting defferent results and the headaches weren't worth it...I'll bring asperin, heres an older pic..its worse now, lol:
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=186956

9/25/2012 9:06:59 AM

France

Since the opinions are different, maybe a GPC member can help us on that point ?
Thanks by advance

9/25/2012 5:30:41 PM

Wi

Mehdi. Always the biggest measurement.

9/25/2012 5:47:35 PM

France

OK Chris, thanks.

9/26/2012 6:15:21 AM