From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Minnesota([email protected])

Is it my imagination, or are pollinations getting earlier and earlier the past few years? I see quite a few people have done some pollinations already(or are very close) in the upper U.S. and Canada. Just an observation. Unnfortunately I'm hoping for my first pollination in the first week of July, I'm thinking. That's been par for me.
Is there such a thing as too early to pollinate?

6/16/2016 2:58:01 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

For myself and maybe others, I am using Anthesis again this year which is suppose to help with late season gains. The theory is the growing season can be longer so I pollinated earlier.

6/16/2016 4:44:57 PM

Cincinnati,OH

I've been reading Ron's diary and he likes to have his pollinations done by the 24th so it's hard to argue with success. I would have to use heated hoop houses to accomplish that. I'm looing at the first week of July.

6/16/2016 6:22:01 PM

Upa Creek, MO

I have noticed this too, the window used to be by July 10th and seems many are well before then. I shoot for mid June just cause July is brutally hot here.

6/16/2016 10:22:50 PM

Central Minnesota

Doug, I agree. Around here we used to say by the 4th of July however, our fruit were never finished growing by the time the cool nights of early September set in. The idea with the early pollination is that the peak growth occurs during the long days and better weather. I am shooting for the 19th - 22nd this year. Earliest I have ever pollinated a keeper was the 18th.

6/17/2016 9:32:09 AM

Weatherman

If you want a 2,500# pumpkin, June 24th to October 15th is 113 days. You need to average 22.12# a day.

6/17/2016 11:09:16 AM

Muddy Waters

Plant size at pollination is very important.If you set fruit early on a small plant.Your plant will never get big enough to hit 2000 lbs.I learned that last season on the 1734.

6/17/2016 4:59:37 PM

Winthrop N Y

Pollination date depends on the weather you get in May . By sharing growing ideas grower are able to start early.

6/17/2016 7:49:18 PM

Buffalo, MN ([email protected])

Doug I agree with Scott, when I started them on 4/25 my goal was to have them pollinated by 7/4. It appeared to me that the bigger pumpkins where being started one to two weeks sooner. I tried to plant two weeks earlier but they seemed to just set there. I start the seeds on 4/18 and expect to start pollination 6/18. Due to wind damage on three plants I will wait an extra week before pollination.

6/17/2016 11:22:02 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Thanks for the replies. I'll have to take what the plant gives me this year, as for pollination dates. I may have to try for an earlier start next year. With no soil cables, or added heat in the hoop houses, I likely won't get mid June pollinations. But even an earlier pollination by 5-7 days could be significant to a pumpkin's final weight.

6/18/2016 1:15:36 AM

San Luis Obispo

I'll be lucky to pollinate first of July...

6/18/2016 2:17:04 AM

Putnam Ct.

Listen to Bubba on this one, Bigger plants to push pumpkin.

6/18/2016 7:22:08 AM

Warwood

Plant size is important but just watch the Nitrogen. Too much nitrogen,especially too late, will cause smaller if any fruit and mostly a huge green plant.

6/19/2016 9:23:32 AM

Zurich Ont Canada

I totally agree that if you are a Northern grower that you have to aim for early pollination. I find September offers very little growth due to short days and cold nights. So if you pollinate July 1, you only have 60 days of good solid growing. 20 pounds x 60 days = 1200 pounds, Nice pumpkin, but not breaking any records.

6/19/2016 9:25:33 PM

Zurich Ont Canada

I totally agree that if you are a Northern grower that you have to aim for early pollination. I find September offers very little growth due to short days and cold nights. So if you pollinate July 1, you only have 60 days of good solid growing. 20 pounds x 60 days = 1200 pounds, Nice pumpkin, but not breaking any records.

6/19/2016 9:27:03 PM

Weatherman

Heavy Hitters are telling you to start your plants in a greenhouse with heating cables so the plants will be big enough to pollinate by the 24th.

6/20/2016 9:31:36 AM

aurora, IL

Today I pollinated my 504 Chandler(Rocky) with 2 males from my 438 Chandler(Terminator) at about 13' out from the stump. The main is 15' long, started deadheading secondaries, cut off male flowers and tertiary growth.

6/23/2016 4:21:43 PM