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NEPA roller46@hotmail.com KB3QKV

When a pumpkin gets large, really large. How do you measure the circumferance? I mean if it is really big then could you get the measuring tape underneath it to get a circumference measurement?

7/20/2004 8:07:11 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

you measure the circumference from the stem end to the blossom end around.
Glenn Peters

7/20/2004 8:12:13 AM

Western Pa.

Once the circumference gets over 13', it's always nice to have a helper!(You need not get the tape under the pumpkin!) As Glen states, the circumference is taken parallel to the ground at the widest point. A more accurate measurement can be taken by OTT measurements, add to the C measurement, the two from the ground over the pumpkin and back down to the ground again. (Stem to blossom, and side to side.) The total of these 3 is your OTT, and a lot more accurate than just circumference. Note: Measure straight up or down to the ground when measuring, do not curve tape under the curvature of the fruit!

7/20/2004 9:34:50 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Here is a link to Bart's method of taping:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=37&gid=4

You can also find Len's most recent excel spread sheets for calculating weight based on the taped readings in the "How To" section of this website.

7/20/2004 11:48:48 AM

Wallingford,CT

At the time I wrote the article I did not have all the facts straight. Credit should go to Len Stellpflug who has meticulously compiled the data for the OTT method we all use today. Thank you Len Stellpflug.

7/20/2004 12:37:10 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Agreed. But your article has pictures that make it easy for first time measurers.

7/20/2004 2:28:29 PM

Cologne / Germany

I hope I´ll come to the point when I can use the OTT method this year -)
Right now I just put a 1964 half dollar coin in front of my "keepers" and compare the pics from the digi cam.
However the OTT charts helped a lot last year. For sure it was a lot of work to put all that statistic stuff together - thank you Len and others for offering it to the BP community for free!

7/20/2004 3:40:50 PM

NEPA roller46@hotmail.com KB3QKV

Thanks I think I understand now. I hope! :o)

7/20/2004 8:51:42 PM

NEPA roller46@hotmail.com KB3QKV

One more thing, What if the "outie" is measured in the widest pint. Surely the outie is not measured. Then do you just measure just above or below the outie?

7/20/2004 8:55:00 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Whichever yields the larger measurement without going over the blossom end.

7/20/2004 9:30:22 PM