From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Bethlehem CT

Look up excurrent growth vs decurrent growth in trees. You may find it interesting.

1/21/2025 7:06:14 AM

Grittyville, WA

I didnt know those words. I did spend some time trying to figure out what truly makes the most sense. Ive seen growers allow for some more natural growth in the vines as they grow forward around the pumpkin and I think sometimes it can add a few pounds to have some unconventional extra vines, rather than relying just on the the excurrent "square Christmas tree."

Or the excurrent pitchfork pattern.

I'm not sure exactly how to put it into words or into math but I think most of us are settling for a design that is about 80% efficient. And we do have to make compromises and cut corners so nothing will ever be perfect but if a person is serious about smashing the world record then getting that extra 20% should be keeping them up at night. I dont even want to grow a world record and its keeping me up at night. Its weirdly both simple and complex. I guess the simple part is to state that the goal is to create the conditions that will deliver to the pumpkin the highest concentration of sugars possible, over the longest period of time (limited to 24 hours?). Add in some good genetics and voilà, a 3k pumpkin.

I'll post some more, but maybe someone smarter than me could actually figure it out.

[Last edit: 01/21/25 9:33:55 AM]

1/21/2025 9:28:06 AM