From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Eugene,OR

Vote here! If you could choose one, which would you prefer? A big plant or an early pollination.

7/4/2021 9:33:06 AM

big plant

7/4/2021 10:07:48 AM

Bethlehem CT

big plant

7/4/2021 10:09:36 AM

Colorado

early, we can have a short season.

7/4/2021 10:17:03 AM

British Columbia, Canada

Early

7/4/2021 11:44:53 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

Early, gets too hot with too many aborts, and we ain’t growing salad

7/4/2021 3:47:10 PM

Marshfield, Ma, USA

I'm wrestling with this problem right now. I need more votes!

7/4/2021 4:08:07 PM

Nova Scotia

Depends upon the target date for your weigh off, harvest or whatever it may be? Some have no choice or conditions which is early depending upon climate. However looking at record results of top growers a big plant. Years ago there were WR set from late pollinations such as mid July or so, but of course growing methods sure have been a game changer. Here in Nova Scotia, no choice but early. Unless we build a pumpkin dome, lol.

7/4/2021 5:36:11 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

How about early pollination on a big plant? That would be ideal.

Early pollination on a small plant will get you nothing but small pumpkins.

7/4/2021 6:34:19 PM

Syracuse, NY

A big plant - seems that once a plant is big and its size is being curtailed, its only purpose IS to support a monster fruit-to-be. I've never had this, lol, but, that's my vote---eg

7/4/2021 11:31:04 PM

Watlington, UK

Big plant for sure

7/5/2021 3:14:04 AM

Grittyville, WA

Depends when the weigh off is. The October weigh offs... I'd say big plant.

7/5/2021 3:33:46 AM

Merrimack NH

I like North Shore Boyz answer! It is a fine line for sure as you don't want to wait too long to get a pumpkin going either. I can tell you that my 2268 last year was pollinated only 13 feet out on a pretty small plant at the time, probably less than 400 square feet total. By the time the pumpkin was 20 days old, the plant was in the 600-700 square feet range. In my opinion, you just need to have a plant big enough by the time the pumpkin is ready to start packing on the weight to support it.
If you have a 30 day old pumpkin on a 300 square foot plant, chances are your not breaking any records.

7/6/2021 3:32:47 PM

Ontario

Since the question was early pollination vs big plant I would take a mid June pollination and 400 to 500 sq ft plant over a early July pollination and a 800 to 900 sq ft and keep your plant as healthy as you can just look at what the 150 sq ft growers are accomplishing

7/6/2021 4:24:19 PM

Bethlehem CT

Barry L, I agree, Moby Mike mentioned it in one of his Youtube videos. He said it is not the size of the plant on pollination day but the size of that plant 20 days later. So true.

7/6/2021 6:44:52 PM

Grittyville, WA

Joel Holland said his 2363 was pollinated only 10 ft out. Hard to believe. Its clear that size isnt everything.

7/7/2021 3:05:21 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

I’m with Barry

7/8/2021 12:31:48 PM