From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Muddy Waters

Just a suggestion here folks.I think these pumpkins weighing heavy in the double digits & up.I think the measuring of these pumpkins should be video taped for proof. I hate to say this.But I have witnessed pumpkins being taped wrong at GPC sites. Just some food for thought for the GPC committee.

6/25/2016 11:13:28 PM

East Jordan, MI

if you witness something being taped incorrectly you should make an on the spot correction. We are all interested in accurate data.

6/26/2016 11:40:31 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Due to the irregular shape of a pumpkin, this will occur. If you feel there is variation in the way the measurements are occurring, an improvement needs to occur in the measurement method. The only true way to measure the exterior area of the pumpkin would be with a 3D scanner.

6/27/2016 7:38:52 AM

Colorado

I think the three way measuring is meant as a guide.Tall short fruit vs. low blobs are going to have different volumes with the same ott numbers.

6/27/2016 1:44:27 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

You should always be present when your pumpkin is being taped. If video is required anyone should feel free to Document the process this way. We have a team measuring the pumpkins just trying to keep up with the pace of entries and finish before dark with the volume we get these days. I care about the accuracy of the measurements but for me the priorities need to be:

1) Safety of the growers, lifting teams and the spectators
2) no dropped pumpkins
3) the scale is measuring the weights accurately

6/27/2016 4:40:06 PM

Rhode Island

no question if you put three teams together and they all taped the same fruit you would get some difference in total inches.
the scale dont lie though. you weigh what you weigh.
as far as im conncerned that estimation chart based on total three way measurement is just that -- a guide to be used during the growing season --- nothing more.

when we crown a site, or state, or country, or world champion, we determine it by total pounds. not total inches.

pap

6/27/2016 5:31:00 PM

Colorado

A good example of a how to measure shaped fruit would be the McMullen 2145. Where to take the parallel to the ground measurement across the blossom end would be hard to get three judges to agree and would be a 15 inch swing depending on where it was taken.

6/27/2016 6:12:08 PM

Walhalla, ND.

Myself being a new grower, I have looked at and purchased seeds based on the % heavy. If pumpkin seeds that are for sale and being listed as let's say 14% heavy, I'm more apt to purchase that seed. If that pumpkin was measured incorrectly then the purchaser is being feed incorrect information. Therefore I agree with Bubba. I'm not certain that video taping is the answer. But the individual doing the taping needs to know how to do it correctly each and every time.

6/27/2016 9:38:04 PM

Willamette Valley, Oregon

For a truly 0% pumpkin (one whose 'actual' OTT indicates 0% to chart) to come in 10% heavy by mistake, the OTT would have to be off by around 18"!

That's systematically 6" off on each of the 3 OTT component measurements.

7/1/2016 5:43:38 PM