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New York

I’m curious if these field pumpkins grow similar to atlantic giants. Do they grow in a bell curve fashion...reach their peak and gradually slow down to maturity? Or do they put on a majority of their mass early on and slow to a crawl the last half of their life? If I had hopes of hitting 120+ pounds, any idea where I would need to be at day 20? Would I need to be at 60 pounds..more/less? Are there recorded 20 day measurements for the twin 162's?

8/16/2012 9:37:05 PM

Western PA

I would like to hear some answers as well.
My 81 wolf was around 75 lbs near day 20, then very rapidly slowed down and is all orange now at day 34ish.

Weather (heat) may be a factor, but I don't have enough experience with these to say for sure.

8/18/2012 3:34:18 PM

Lloydminster/AB

I haven't really kept accurate measurements but I would say in my cooler climate that they simulate AG curves except there is a sudden stop at day 50 ish. Not too much before day 15, peak growth at 30-45 days, then a slow down to finish about day 50 - 55. They grow untill completely orange if you have some McInnis genetics in there. I had one (my 137) very immature at day 50, no orange at all. I get most of my weight late.

8/19/2012 1:42:08 AM

Mercersburg, PA

pretty sure that John MacKinnon has been taking measurements based on email conversations with him last year--maybe he will chime in.

8/19/2012 8:01:37 AM

Netherlands

I've just started keeping track this year. The day 20 on my 85 Eaton (81 Wolf x 142 McInnis) was estimated at 70 lbs. It started turning orange on about day 25 during a heat wave. We are back to cold weather, so hopefully riping slows down, though I have noticed weight gains have as well.

8/23/2012 1:42:49 PM

Nova Scotia

Alan unfortunately I did not document the 20 day OTT for each of the twins. When I noticed they might be something special the first OTT measurement I took was at day 27. The 162 J was at 161 and later the 162 B measured 165 at day 27. I would say if you are near a 60 inch cir around day 20 that could be a good indicator of a good one. This year I know of one on one of my crosses that was over 160 OTT at around day 20.

8/23/2012 9:25:46 PM

Ontario

This is my third year keeping records on field pumpkins and in 2011 my 142 McInnis pumpkins were 55- 56" on day 20 and ended up at 70" circ. They were 169" ott or 113 lbs by day 35 and had stopped growing by then.
My 2012 field pumpkins seem to be right on target to be at those measurments at day 20 and day 35.
In 2011 the pumpkins originally weighed 103-104 lbs but lost about about 2-3 lbs a week between harvest and weighing time.

8/23/2012 10:01:24 PM

Netherlands

John, are you saying your 162s went from around 85-90 lbs on day 27 to 162 lbs at the end? Till what day did they continue to grow?

8/24/2012 4:48:47 AM

France

Since I only grew an unique fieldpumpkin last year, I can't help for the records. All I can say, it grew very quickly at the beginning (up to 22lb in 3 days)and during about 45days ( at a slower rate). It was about 57"CC at day 20 and ended up at 77"CC for 179" OTT.

8/24/2012 5:50:51 AM

Nova Scotia

Brad, I don't know the weights at day 27 but the OTT was as mentioned above. I am hoping the FP chart created by Scott Holub last winter will be more accurate than using the AG chart but his would also place them in at about 85-95 lb range at those measurements. My FP's grew to around the 40-45 day range and then were pretty much done. From what I saw last year and what I am noticing this year I would say FP's don't like the heat, as it seems to cause them to mature faster. Just my observations.

8/24/2012 9:37:03 AM

New York

Thanks John and everyone who helped answer my question. I’m quite surprised with the large range of maturity dates based on climate! Really appears excessive heat is a killer of any hopes of getting over 30 day’s from what I hear.
I too have been recording measurements this season and will be interested in comparing notes at seasons end.

8/25/2012 10:10:11 PM