From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Lexington, Ky

The 2017 Giant Pumpkin OTT chart is so much closer to actual weights. I randomly looked at 6 previously weighed BG's from 2016/2017 and the spread is fairly wide.

Pumpkin chart puts those 6 at +64 pounds (+10.6 average).

Watermelon chart, same 6 -164 (-27.3 average).

I excluded the 265 Engel, it seems to have been an anomaly as it went -8/-58. From the one image that I saw of the 265, it appeared to have a "slant" on the stem end. If this one was added into the equation, the gap gets much wider.

One example, the 176.5 Sheldon 2016 was dead on the 2017 Giant Pumpkin Chart however, it was -34 on the melon chart.

Thoughts?

9/26/2017 6:49:15 AM

Georgetown, Ontario

Good question. I looked back on mine and they are pretty much dead on with the Giant Pumpkin chart. I've always been disappointed when they go way light according to the watermelon chart. It doesn't change the weight of the gourd but it definitely seems like the Giant Pumpkin chart is a much better one to estimate with.

9/26/2017 9:23:09 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Sure would have been nice if the 265 would have weighed closed to what it taped. :)

9/26/2017 1:04:25 PM

Wisconsin

Yes it appears the pumpkin chart is more accurate, a few more inches to go here

9/26/2017 2:32:59 PM

Bethlehem CT

I think they are hard to gauge because when they are still young I think they go close to the watermelon chart, as they mature they lose a lot of weight. I have had young dark green bushel gourds weigh like rocks. The older pale and netted ones of the same size will weigh much less. Anyone else feel this way?

9/26/2017 6:40:32 PM

Hanson Ma

I agree big moon. It's still a new catagorey. We need to figure out which way to grow them for measuring. Or would it be 2 ways to measure? We'll figure it out in the end.

9/26/2017 6:45:38 PM

sevierville, Tn

my first one went heavy, since then they have all gone light. No clue as to why as they were all grown to the same age. One more try here in 10 days and i'll concede to the pumpkin chart if i go light.

9/26/2017 10:16:49 PM

Webster Groves, MO

Considering the last 2 years, the watermelon chart is imperfect. Most have gone light. It is going to be a real
challenge to create a bushel gourd chart. More growers are
needed plus good detailed info such as OTT measurements are
needed to create a new chart. This will be a work in progress. I am most guilty of recommending the watermelon chart. Personally, I have found it to be the most accurate means of measurement but this is not true on a national level. Going forward this season, I hope there are some heavy to chart gourds out there. Best of luck to all growers this season!

9/26/2017 11:45:12 PM

Bethlehem CT

Have any growers found that certain shapes go heavier? For example, if you grow it on it's side vs. growing it with the stem on top.

9/27/2017 6:52:21 AM

Petersburg, Mi

What I noticed with mine in the past is that I go with the watermelon chart and then subtract 10% of the chart weight and it gives me a closer ballpark to the actual weight.

9/27/2017 8:17:03 AM

sevierville, Tn

It would be nice if the GPC sites would put the OTT measurements in. That way we could have the stats to build a chart.
I grow mine on its side like a pumpkin/squash.

9/27/2017 8:36:07 AM

Webster Groves, MO

John(Big Moon), you raise a great question regarding the positioning of the gourd. The 279.5 was grown with the blossom end down/stem up---it went way heavy. Same year, my 232 which had a far greater OTT measurement, was grown on its side and it went quite a bit light. Next year, my 2 biggest gourds were grown on their side, and they went slightly light. This year my 2 gourds may well follow this trend. My largest (growing on its side) will probably go light. The other smaller gourd (growing stem up) thumps like a rock. Coincidence?, maybe. I too would
be interested what other growers have observed.

9/27/2017 6:29:38 PM

Kansas

I agree with the OTT measurements with GPC and I see that happening next year for sure with the surge in growers. I have 3 large gourds still growing and two of them are on the side and one is blossom end down/stem up.One of mine on the side is very solid and for sure the one blossom end is as well. The other one on the side seems to much lighter for some reason. It will be interesting to see how they all turnout at the scales.

9/27/2017 7:34:18 PM

Bowdon, GA

Good luck hopefully it will be closer to the 311 mark

10/3/2017 11:17:00 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Guess the watermelon chart is about 20% off according to the results.

10/15/2017 8:29:51 PM

Lexington, Ky

Linus, couldn't agree more. Numbers are even more skewed applying the traditional OTT to a gourd sitting on it's blossom end.

10/15/2017 8:41:41 PM