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Pumpkin Zone

How many of the top 10 pumpkins used it? Was it used on the top 2907 Paton? Does Travis use it? Wondering what it was that got everyone started on using it?

6/16/2024 2:35:33 AM

Australia eastcoastcitrus@hotmail.com

Would be interesting to see who does use it and who doesn't and how many seasons its been used

6/16/2024 3:53:05 AM

Syracuse, NY

Site Search florel and there will be a time line---eg

6/16/2024 8:34:55 PM

Kutztown, PA

What would the benefit of using something that decreases ethylene? I watched a YouTube(of course), and it seems having ethylene builds cell walls and not having it reduce flowering and fruiting, and reducing it reduces rot (not sure if the later applies to living plants/fruits. Anyway what is the supposed benefit of using a product that reduces ethylene in the plant?

6/17/2024 11:50:53 AM

Tyngsboro, MA

It is outside of the top 10, but I used Anthesis on my 2480.

6/17/2024 11:16:39 PM

Torrance, Ca.

I won't speak for others so hopefully they see this.

6/18/2024 9:59:52 AM

valtierra/spain

My 2552, 2517, 2356, and all of more than 2000 pounds included in 2019 the 2183, had florel. My 2031, 1875, and 1789 of 2017 and the 1922 of 2018 had anthesis. 2528 of steve Geddes in 2018 had florel. dap 10 2183 and 2356 was Ridiculous, only 37 inches (95 cm). After 25 days, they grew up very strong.

6/18/2024 5:22:12 PM

Grittyville, WA

Sounds like there may be something to it. I have not used it but maybe the abysmally small DAP 20 numbers I had last year meant there was a good amount of cell division still occurring. Thanks all.

6/18/2024 10:43:22 PM

Eugene,OR

My personal best 2023.5 had Florel. Travis used it last year & we all know what he grew.

6/19/2024 12:10:24 AM

Australia eastcoastcitrus@hotmail.com

with numbers like those it sounds positive thanks for the feedback

6/19/2024 6:55:59 AM

Mission Viejo, CA

My PB also grown with Florel. It had the slowest start of any pumpkin I've ever grown. I used it again this year.

6/19/2024 1:10:40 PM

Germany

So, when it comes to making decisions for the next line-up, looking for the best genetics, the greatest inherent potential, would you prefer seeds from crosses of plants that produced fruit in the range 2100 ... 2400 lbs (and you know that they were grown with the help of Florel or related things), or would you prefer seeds from crosses of plants that produced fruit in the range 1900 ... 2200 lbs (and you know that they were grown without the help of Florel or related things)?

6/19/2024 1:20:47 PM

Grittyville, WA

Good point Pumpking! I meant to ask the same thing... I guess its like the old greenhouse vs outdoors debate. Another thing to consider when wondering which genetics are the best for your own methods.

6/19/2024 5:00:48 PM

valtierra/spain

pumpkins that I can assure were not grown with florel, wr matthias, this year petrelli, 2593 paton, all pumpkins with 2145 genetics. It's interesting. For me, I really like the crosses of the new seeds with 2145. I hope someone crosses 1885 x 2145, it would be a nice seed. I think someone in California may be doing it.

6/19/2024 5:33:06 PM

Kutztown, PA

Well, I never really got an answer of what is the benefit of Forel except for "it might grow big pumpkins". Anyone no why???

But I'm moving on to Rmen's good ideas. I'm planning to pollinate a couple of Stelts biggies with a Holland 1679 which is a (2145 x 2528) cross.

6/20/2024 9:44:48 AM

Merrimack NH

The reason growers use it is because it is believed that it extends the cell division phase of the pumpkin.

More cells = a bigger pumpkin at the end of the season.

6/20/2024 10:51:56 AM

Syracuse, NY

Maybe off-topic, but I typed it, so - Once a seed has a track record of several years of growing top-sized fruits, it is perhaps recognized as a top seed; Any crosses made with other seeds' plants' flowers' pollen result in seeds that may, or may NOT, be 'better' than the original 'top seed' in some way(s). It is a very slow process of filtration/elimination that somehow is resulting in a greater record(s) from time to time. There are probably hundreds/thousands of unproven seeds that never will be. eg

6/20/2024 11:13:21 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Florel is also usually mixed with Phosphonic acid. This is a Phosphite known to signal and stimulate a SAR response. So also helps Ethephon ET gain access into the plant. Used correctly ET briefly stimulates cell division. Caution: Extensive moron use can also trigger early senescence and shut down the fruit if use after expansion starts.

6/20/2024 11:15:58 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Make your own... use chopped pumpkin flowers and or leaves and stems with a banana... Then puff the fruit with the sealed in air mixture in the baggy.... Ethylene for free.

https://sciencing.com/science-project-fruit-growing-mold-6117211.html

[Last edit: 06/20/24 11:52:48 AM]

6/20/2024 11:28:00 AM

Kutztown, PA

Kahuna, Sounds like timing matters a lot. At what stage of plant growth is Florel applied? At pollination or a little before??

6/20/2024 11:28:19 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Puff in the First 72 hours of fruit life. Would note: One reason to leave the flower on the fruit for three days, as it decays it releases ethylene too. Flowers will begin producing Ethylene as soon as they are cut from the plant it is an instinctual response to complete their life cycle. Consider concentrating this gas using a beer cup over the flower. :-)

[Last edit: 06/20/24 11:59:54 AM]

6/20/2024 11:29:21 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Puffing fruit is unscientifically proven. However E can be made easily and very quickly by following the directions above. So from 24 to 72 HAP and after or around dawn when the leaf stomata start to open then pin prick a small tiny hole in the plastic baggie and puff the underside of the near fruit leaves and surrounding vine sections including the stem and new fruit itself. It works..

[Last edit: 06/20/24 12:18:11 PM]

6/20/2024 11:29:38 AM

Merrimack NH

Apply it to the pumpkin only (use a small spray bottle), 48 hours after pollination at a rate of 1 teaspoon per half gallon of water.

6/20/2024 12:10:56 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Can also try to distribute around the new fruit and vine area the same squished and chopped leaf/flower mixture as a mulch exchanged daily up to 72 Hrs with fresh trimming's.

6/20/2024 12:22:23 PM

Kutztown, PA

So, I was talking to a Board Certified Arborist friend of mine that has used Florel for one of it's intended purposes: To subdue the production of nuisance nuts, of the non human variety, such as those produced by a sweetgum tree etc. Of course, he's not heard of using the product in the way we're talking about here. He says, it works well. My conversation with him left me wondering "what could go wrong".
Scenario: What if successfully apply Florel at the right time, but your baby pumpkin aborts for some other reason? For example, excessive heat. Having applied it, wouldn't you have significantly diminished fruit/flower development further out on the vine possibly preventing a new pollination or stunting any new fruit growth?

[Last edit: 06/21/24 3:49:32 PM]

6/21/2024 3:42:48 PM

Bethlehem CT

Good question Garwolf. I have wondered about those type of consequences too. Here is another question, does florel reduce seed count?

6/22/2024 6:55:31 AM

Cheshire Ma USA

I have been using it for 5 years now and have never had light to the chart on the pumpkins that I use it on. Before using it most of mine were light to the chart. It does make them slower at the beginning and sometimes makes them look like aborts when they are not.

6/22/2024 8:00:57 AM