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Oak Grove, Mn

I think most of us think that pumpkin genetics has the biggest impact on growing a HD contender. What other factors might play a role. For example, i have heard of trying to pollinating a female flower with perfect symmetry is desirable, because it might affect the shape of the resulting fruit. What other things can a grower be aware of if they want to grow the prettiest?

11/29/2015 5:56:29 PM

Muddy Waters

soil should be balanced.If your soil is out of balance it will effect shape & color.

11/29/2015 6:51:35 PM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

Be very careful around the pumpkin, so you don't scratch it, etc.

I usually cover my pumpkins with a light bed sheet, with no problems. On two occasions I used a bath towel early on. On both occasions the towel got wet, and it caused the otherwise yellow(young pumpkins) to turn white where the towel was touching. Eventually it caused a russeting in that area. I learned my lesson, I hope.

I'm definitely not saying it is a frequent occurance, but on a few occasions I've noticed that when the bulb under the female flower is round, the pumpkins have resulted somewhat wheel-shaped pumpkins. I'm planning on growing one of my own seeds next year. My plan is to grow two plants of it at opposite ends of the designated plant area. Then when I can see the shape of the female flower bulb, I'll go with the plant that has the more oval-shaped bulb, hopefully preventing the wheel-shaped pumpkin. This seed is the selfed 603.5 Muller 03. And my pumpkin was fairly wheel-shaped, significantly wider than long.

11/30/2015 8:07:12 PM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

I'm sorry, to be more clear, in my above post, when I talk of the bulb under the female flower, this is called the ovary.

11/30/2015 8:28:33 PM

NILES , CALIF

Bubba;
If your soil is not balanced your to be orange seed, will
not turn orange.
So if you have a balanced soil without a doubt it will
grow orange and a nice shape?

12/3/2015 12:21:11 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

I can see unbalanced soil having an effect on shape.

I have noticed that a round female tends to be a wheel. I've noticed that a perfectly round female around day 10 tends to be a wheel by day 30.

For my judging opinion, I don't think a wheel necessarily ruins your HD bid just as long as it stays upright. If it leans over on the stem and goes birdbath then you're out of luck. If it falls on the blossom and ends up centered that could be good or bad it depends.

12/3/2015 1:31:52 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

The wet towel theory might explain why my two pumpkins were different in coloration. I covered both with bed sheets. One was in full sunshine all the time, the other was in shade 1/2 of the day. I noticed during the summer that the morning dew took a lot longer to evaporate on the shady pumpkin. Next year I think I will build tents over the pumpkins so there is no wet issue.

12/3/2015 3:10:49 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I use a white sheet, and if it looks like it will be a good pumpkin. I suspend a tarp over it. I slant it so rain runs away from the fruit. Early and late sun gets under the tarp, but it protects the pumpkin from the direct overhead sun. In mid September when growth slows I take the tarp off on sunny days so the orange color comes out better. In 2013 I got lazy and did not put the tarp up. The fruit got too much sun/heat resulting is cracking and cantalouping. You can see that on my diary photos. For the shape I think it is important to keep the vine/stem height at the center of the fruit. This year I didn't keep the vine quite high enough and the fruit had a slight slant at the top. The long stem helped keep it from slanting too much.

12/3/2015 3:44:10 PM