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Willamette Valley, Oregon

Has anyone kept track of the correlation between how fast early vine growth is and how big of a pumpkin a plant will produce? Suppose I had 100 seedlings from the same parent plant, is the largest pumpkin in the top 50%, top 10%, or top 5% of the early veg growth rate? Is there evidence that culling based on early vine growth is reasonable? (it seems so, but has anyone looked at it scientifically?)

5/5/2009 3:25:59 AM

Rhode Island

usually a dud plant ( for example - one that grows slowly for the entire month of may - etc ) is just that ---- A DUD. the fruit will be likewise. there are exceptions but this is usually the case.

agressiveness in a ag plant is a obvious desired trait. most average to very agressive ag plants in good soil have the capability of producing big pumpkins.

the plant thats more agressive is an early indication of vigor however, its no guarentee the plant or fruit will be there come sept.
disease, critters, mother nature and lady luck all play a roll.

pap

5/5/2009 6:51:21 AM

Falls City, NE

I correct assume then that does not mean all the seeds from that line will react the same way right. Some maybe slow and others movers and shakers

5/5/2009 10:16:30 PM

Falls City, NE

Am I correct to assume Sorry

5/5/2009 10:17:12 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Dennis...correct!! Many growers have seen differences in plants grown from the same seed, the same year, the same growing area. Lots of differences too...fast, slow, big, small...and color, and shape differences too! Peace, Wayne

5/6/2009 12:40:34 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

A lot depends on weather. Last year my 1068 Papez got off to a miserably slow start due to the cold wet weather. It was barely 100 sq ft at pollination. But once the weather warmed up and dried out in July it took off and gave me a 841# personal best.

5/6/2009 8:55:49 AM

Paradise Mountain, New York

So if someone was growing a 1068 wallace and it's growing slow, then pull it the end of may?

5/8/2009 7:30:29 PM

Covington, WA

One thing I have learned over the years is not to give up on a plant until August. This subject made me go back and look at my 2005 diary. I had a 1033 Emmons plant in the patch that was just a dog. Very little vine growth, small leaves and short stalks on the leaves. I didn't get a fruit set on the thing until July 22nd. Once I did though the thing grew faster than anything else in the patch and was at 313" OTT when I harvested it on September 23rd. Unforunately I had a mishap loading the fruit and broke it so I never got an official weight, although base on the thickness I suspect it would have gone heavy and been over 700 lbs. I attempted to grow this seed again however the plant was lost when a windstorm damage the cloche and broke it off early in the season. There clearly are plants that are duds, but some are just late bloomers and should be given a chance. Besides, what are you going to do with the space if you pull the plant in June, grow radishes?

5/9/2009 12:39:21 AM

Honesdale, Pennsylvania

I hope you aren't 100 percent correct about the slow growing plants in May being duds Pap. If so, I have 2 patches full of them.

6/11/2009 8:44:44 PM

Las Cruces NM

I have to agree with Tiller. I had a poor plant simular to what Tiller discribes. It aborted time and again and I gave up on it -- just wasn't a desirable plant period. It did get one abt late and it was slow! My others bolted and I concentrated on them but as they slowed, that one kept going and going and went on to be my bigest. There was any reason for me to ever rip it out, but had I done so, I would have mised out on that expeiance!

10/3/2009 12:50:47 AM