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Stanwood, Washington

I have seen people on the message board and in their diaries talking about 20-30 inches at day 10. My first is at day 11 and is only 10 inches in circumference. Not sure if it didn't take or if it is just the weather around here. We have only had about 5 days over 70 degrees so far this year in the Puget Sound. Any thoughts? Like to hear what others around here are experiencing.

7/7/2011 8:53:27 PM

Presto, Pa.

Hi I am a newbie grower. I ain't sure of anything. I can tell you my pumpkin 7 days old. and it is 13.6 inches round. Is that good? I don't know. I read of some of the things happening to other and run down and check my girl every morning to see if she is ok. lol Look at my dairy uncle ed. As long as I don't get a hell strom, or some calium thing. Or bugs. I think I am ok. Some of these people are having a he.. of time. I feel lucky so far. Ed edrsilsley@comcast.net

7/7/2011 9:37:13 PM

Hinckley MN

I have only 1 pumpkin at 7 days and it is 10.5 inches around the middle (not stem to blossom end). I measured it, scratched it with my fingernails in the process, then 2 hours later wondered if that was the wrong circumference?

7/7/2011 11:16:47 PM

Georgetown, Ontario

http://www.gvgo.ca/downloads/2008_feb_ott_benchmarks.pdf

7/8/2011 6:19:43 AM

El Paso TX.

I think more important the first 10 days is just keeping the plant healthy - figure later on in the growth cycle the pumpkin can make up for a small 10 day weight in less than one day if the plant stays healthy !

7/8/2011 10:01:51 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

When trying to set a pumpkin, I never cut one out till it is shriveling up. You hope for a big day 10 but it really means very little. But it is like blackjack. 16 or under day 10: hit me.

7/8/2011 10:14:04 AM

Stanwood, Washington

Thanks Shepard.

So looks like I am not going to make 1000# with this one. Thats O.K. I really wasn't expecting that anyway. :)

Is it reasonable to expect say a 400-500 pound pumkin if you are at 10 inches at Day 11?

The First one is only about 9 feet out So hopefully its not my keeper anyway. I just Pollinated the second one 2 days ago and its at about 13 feet so I am keeping my fingers crossed that in about 8 more days I will have a 25 inch pumpkin.

7/8/2011 12:47:46 PM

New York

New for me to. I am at day 5 and I measure 12.5 around @ about 11' out good or bad I dont know but its getting bigger

7/8/2011 4:09:05 PM

Tinykinville

captain your day ten numbers mean zero, when it comes to final weight, if its growing dont worry about it.

7/8/2011 5:00:28 PM

3 acre corner in Whittaker,Mi USA (faulkner5@msn.com)

i sweated it last year..but not this year cause it really doesnt matter. (Plant health = #1 priority) this is my formula this year. the rest works itself out :)

7/8/2011 8:15:43 PM

Stanwood, Washington

While it added an inch of Circ over the last 24 Hours so it is growing. Its still kind of frustrating to have it growing so slow.

7/8/2011 9:51:33 PM

Buffalo, New York

the more u look at it, the slower it will grow

7/9/2011 12:53:29 AM

Tinykinville

okay once again numbers in first thirty days mean zero. i dont even bother with tape till day twenty and still means zero. soil and weather will decide outcome. you cant control weather but you can control soil, get soil right and let rest take care of its self

7/9/2011 5:34:46 AM

Rhode Island

i let my eyes do the math for me. by that i mean we dont get all warm and fuzzy over 10 or 20 day measurements for the simple reason that some pollinations take right off, some are slow outta the gate and some are nothing special at first but then find the right gear.
what counts is thirty days and up.

7/10/2011 10:13:25 AM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Agreed pap. I have five plants with pumpkins set and my largest plant, the 1495 Stelts, has the slowest growing pumpkin. Healthiest plants I've ever had to this date. I expect different things from each pumpkin

7/10/2011 1:37:29 PM

South Hero, VT

Barring problems with disease, hail, insect/varmint damage etc., your chances of growing at least a 500 pounder are excellent with seed genetics today.

Christy Harp's fruit was lagging all during the month of July in 2009. It wasn't until August that the pumpkin took off like a rocket. http://www.ovgpg.com/documents/articles/ovgpg2-09.pdf

7/10/2011 5:04:03 PM

Joliet, IL

Anything from 16 to 30 inches. That is a big spread. Cloud coverage and cooler temps will slow a little one down where day 10 is more like day 12. But culling decisions and recording from 7 days or anytime you choose is what works for me. I like getting comfortable with myself around the small kin for cutting taps for stress checks or blocking when needed. While in there if you remember to watch finger nails and edges of tape then why not record the data? Data is just that. After years these records will help you in culling decisions. Nothing wrong with data unless you are not good with your dexterity. Get in there, it won't bite.

7/10/2011 5:39:57 PM

Joliet, IL

Or I should have said day 10 is more like day 8 if cool and cloudy for a 4 or 5 days during early development. Or sometimes the plant is just catching up with more solar panels added quickly at that stage.

7/10/2011 5:49:50 PM

Ashby, MA

My day 7 measurement was 15.5 inches. I just had to cut it off due to a split in the stem right near the main vine. I plan on keeping the next one which is set at 12' out.

7/10/2011 10:09:37 PM

Hinckley MN

1st polination at 96 degrees is 14 inches at day 10. starting to wrinkle at stem end. going to cull it and grill it for supper. 2nd polination at day 8, 20 inches, happy as a clam.

7/11/2011 9:47:53 PM

Stanwood, Washington

Its now at 25.25" circ. on day 20. The second is at 13 inches on Day 11 so its 3" bigger and about 4 days ahead of where the first was at the same age.

7/18/2011 1:01:47 AM

Nottingham, UK

Mine is 11' on day 10. Been cold and wet from day 7-10. Always seems that others are bigger. Must remember its a marathon not a sprint.

7/18/2011 4:58:25 AM

Muddy Waters

Were measuring melons early on,I agree with you guys here I think there the same as kins,First few weeks dont mean Dang Ditilly Dang Ditily Ding Dang Dong!!Gary burke said slow & steady wins the race!I think were looking for the long term grower not fast out of the gate.Im looking at shape more than speed!But Im no X-Purt!Havent grown Nutin YET!!!

7/18/2011 6:12:13 AM

Kentucky, U.S.A.

I only have two on one plant. The keeper is two weeks today. According to the chart the OTT total increase was 17 inches, and 17 lbs. I'm excited! BSD, David

7/18/2011 10:09:41 PM

Ottawa

Day 11 and the circumference is 26" the second one is at 23" on day 10 (same plant) gaining 3" a day now, second year growing, got hit hard by a hail storm in june, took two weeks to see any new growth.

7/30/2011 1:08:15 PM