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Deer Park, WI

kind of a silly question to this audience. But i ran out of characters in the subject line to finish my hook. Where in the world are the largest pumpkins grown from a North/South latitude analysis perspective.

I write exclusive articles for the SCGA. Gives members more value for their dues money. So i can't/won't dilute that value by spilling all the beans here.

What I can say is that i just finished a pretty thorough investigation/analysis of the top 20 pumpkins weighed each year over the last ten years. Plotted them on a google map and then ran statistics on their respective latitudes to identify where the cream of the crop (minus known greenhouse grown fruit) typically hail from. Doing so revealed some interesting insights regarding Napa, CA, the upper Midwest, great lakes region, and east coast. Oh and central Europe makes an appearance too.

Big deal, you might say. Anyone can browse the GPC records on this very website and figure out where the big ones are from. But the fun doesn't end with the obvious. If you've read my other recent posts, Im more interested in the "why" than the "what". Why are the largest fruit found along a relatively tight latitude range across NA and Europe? Grower density and competence? Magical latitude? something else? So I speculate based on the best available evidence.

SCGA members get the full article and a library of many more for free. Not a member? Toss the club $20 and get access. https://www.stcroixgrowers.org/pages/copy-of-newsletters-articles-and-how-to-grow-members-only

Don't wanna join but still wanna discuss? That's why this thread is here. Anyone venture a guess what latitude is the average ideal for consistent top weight giants? venture a guess as to why?

3/11/2021 3:25:23 PM

Massillon, Ohio

Orange belt latitude: 38.5 - 44
How did I do, Joze?

3/11/2021 4:29:08 PM

45 deg latitude near large bodies of water that help regulate
day/night temps along with more sunny days to warm soil

3/11/2021 4:50:44 PM

Westmoreland, KS

39.3939° N, 96.4136° W right in the middle of Kansas! Freaking ideal spot "i'm sure i'm correct!"

3/11/2021 5:48:40 PM

Nova Scotia

Great observation, was brought many many years ago. My father Howard Dill stated about latitudes and large bodies of water seemed to be consistent where records were grown back then. When we had our first seed requests from places such as Belgium, they would ask how come we can't grow them as big you? The reply was...trust me some day you will! The rest is history. Danny

3/11/2021 6:05:11 PM

Also near other good growers.

3/11/2021 6:07:36 PM

Colorado

the daletas geddes line?

3/11/2021 6:48:07 PM

Western NY

I'm betting there's an optimum range that combines degree-days and sunlight.

3/11/2021 6:51:02 PM

Nova Scotia

Andy you got it. One other factor which we enjoyed years ago were calm soft rains at night which made a huge difference but not the norm anymore naturally with weather patterns.

3/11/2021 7:27:17 PM

Georgia

I know where it's not. lol

3/11/2021 8:34:02 PM

NILES , CALIF

Does it depend on who has the most up to date Greenhouse?
Are you asking organic,no greenhouse ??

3/12/2021 6:49:55 AM

Deer Park, WI

There's a lot of really good replies in here, well done team. Nana Rea, you are a wise soul, your guess is pretty darn close. 39% of top 20 pumpkins grown each year for the last decade were produced within the latitudes of 41.6-43.3 degrees North.

I agree with Andy that pumpkin productivity is also likely driven by heat units and sunlight.

Spudder and Danny are also correct in stating that notable clusters of top weight fruit lie at the intersection of +/- a couple degrees of the 41.6-43.3 range and a large body of water (Napa, RI-CT-VT-NH-MA).

One speculative trend that emerged from this investigation is the potentially negative impacts of consistently high relative humidity. There are indicators in the data set that seemingly point towards humidity being a real negative factor in regional success. I think we all accept that extreme heat, whether dry or wet, is a major limiter. But I did not foresee humidity playing as large of a role as it appears to.

3/12/2021 8:29:22 AM

Vancouver Washington

I was thinking a brand new greeenhouse in Iowa somewhere,not sure of lat and young?

3/12/2021 8:35:45 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Young's Beach!

3/12/2021 8:50:05 AM

Johnston, Iowa

Extreme heat, consistently high relative humidity? Sounds like a typical growing season day here at 41.5 degrees North.

3/12/2021 10:19:42 AM

Prestonsburg,ky

Crap Extreme humid hurts growing. That ever day in summer in Kentucky. At least now I have an excuse. Lol

3/12/2021 10:26:50 AM

Prestonsburg,ky

Crap Extreme humid hurts growing. That ever day in summer in Kentucky. At least now I have an excuse. Lol

3/12/2021 10:26:54 AM

Westmoreland, KS

gosh darn it "High Humidity is bad" Welp I take my answer back then!

3/12/2021 2:42:22 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

Bold prediction: the new WR will come out of the upper Midwest... maybe Wisconsin or Minnesota next warmer summer.

3/12/2021 2:52:50 PM

Muddy Waters

Dehumidifiers in my 2 million dollar greenhouse on order.Thanks for the Joe LOL Great Post

3/13/2021 7:57:15 AM

Deer Park, WI

Bubba's comment isnt that far off of ideal reality. The challenge would be managing the heat in a closed system in a humid location. Air conditioner?

3/13/2021 10:37:11 AM

Syracuse, NY

seems to me that ambient air at the lowest points of the GH (90* F, so what, if yer gonna cool it) forced in through 2 to 4 fanned vents and vented out through the TOPMOST points of the greenhouse with the same area as the inputs would suffice in all circumstances, especially if it were misted periodically anyway. you cannot just mist a room and expect maximum cooling - otherwise, you have a SAUNA. Those that I am not on the 'Ignore List' of please explain to me otherwise, for one day when I have a GH to fabricate. I think it's funny when a grower has a fan in the middle of a GH and the main topic is 'how do i cool this thing down?'; well...eg

3/13/2021 12:12:51 PM

Bethlehem CT

You are right Pumpkinpal, Mist style "swamp" coolers won't bring down temperatures in a humid climate. They do work in dry arid places where you can take advantage of evaporational cooling.

3/13/2021 8:25:46 PM

Syracuse, NY

Yay! One! Thanks---eg

3/13/2021 9:11:42 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Always fun questions Joe!
No idea how Ruben is growing in the middle of the desert where his temps are 110 117 all summer!

His cooling system must cost more then my house! lol

3/18/2021 10:02:15 AM