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Iowa

My field pumpkin is already starting to show some color at day 25. Will it still add some weight or is it pretty much done? Kept it covered since pollination. Is there something else that should be done to extend the growing period?

7/15/2018 12:00:28 AM

Pittsburgh, PA

They will keep adding weight as they turn orange.

7/15/2018 8:46:00 AM

lunker99 . I think 7 weeks under proper conditions and anything over that is a plus . Did an internet search last year and stress will cause them to ripen very fast. That is too hot , cold night or dry conditions .
A pollination around last week of July , 1st week of Aug. is usually good for 1st of Oct. Keep them shaded and soil not too dry or wet.

7/16/2018 5:42:46 PM

Lewistown,IL

Experimentation is great. I am doing two different plantings this year. Two plants went in in May with the AG's. One went in late June. The early plantings grew about 30 days after pollination and the high heat came and it ripened fast but it took first place at the county fair weighed in 60's. My later planting 205 Schenk has yet to pollinate. It will be interesting on the 205 as the weather has cooled down and long range forecast is a cooling trend so I may get a long growing time frame for the later FP. On the weight gain after it starts to turn - minimal at best.

7/29/2018 12:08:59 PM

Saunders County, NE

Hypothetical scenario. Pollinated 7/4 and is fully ripened orange at day 60 (9/4). How much of its 60 day weight would it maintain on the vine 30 days later 10/4? Does anyone have experience holding a field pumpkin to weigh off this way?

8/1/2018 9:12:34 AM

Syracuse, NY

hypothetically, i'd say, without KNOWING, that if the PLANT is still healthy, or if at least the VINE that the fruit is ON is, there would be no reduction in its weight and it probably would be slightly gaining rather than losing weight. JUST my opinion. eg

8/4/2018 12:33:59 AM

Saunders County, NE

I have been monitoring a field pumpkin that has been completely orange since 8/17. I cut the stem 80% of the last week of August after heavy rain. I harvested on 9/23 after disease began to creep into the stem from the main vine. Since 8/17 the pumpkin increased in OTT estimate weight per GPC chart by 11% from 62 lb (144 inches) to 69lb (149.5 inches). UOW via a 2000lb hanging scale was 67 lb (3% light). Seed is a 132.5 Crissman 2017 (169.5 MacKinnon selfed). I would of taken more measurements, however I did not think it was gaining anything worth measuring

9/27/2018 3:22:55 PM