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Stanwood, Washington

Earlier this year I cut some culls off of my 811 Gerhardt they were a deep yellow when I cut them but within a week of being off of the vine they had turned a brilliant deep orange. My question is have you noticed a deepening of orange color after harvest and if so would you ever consider harvesting a pumpkin a week ahead of weigh off to try and deepen the color and win a Howard Dill award?

8/22/2014 5:05:24 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

No I would not cut it. Expose it to the sun, and rub it with a smooth cloth. Do not use any chemicals or Oils.

8/22/2014 5:41:52 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I agree with Linus. Last 2 or 3 weeks give it full sun. Right after you pick it you can buff it out to a nice shine. Putting anything on it can get it DQ'd and maybe cause it to slip out of straps when lifting it.

8/22/2014 5:57:39 PM

NILES , CALIF

Captain;
No one would ever know? Just you;
I grew an 811 last year,it got almost glow orange the longer
it was off the vine;
There is no rule that I know of in the gpc that says it must
stay on the vine right before you take it to a contest.

8/22/2014 6:30:39 PM

New England

there are a lot of growers who have cut their pumpkins early due to developing issue on the pumpkin (in order to get it to the weigh off). If you don't care about weight then by all means cut it. Mine deepened in color a week after cutting it last year but it also started to lose its lustre the longer it was cut. I have one that Im hoping to take to a weigh off in late September and I have already left it exposed to the sun everyday since last week. Last year I started exposing mine 3 weeks prior and I think I should've started earlier.

8/25/2014 9:20:27 AM

Smithville, Tn

I grew a Dill winner 4 years ago.It was totally covered from the first of August to the first of October. Only completely uncovered twice in 2 months. It developed its fabulous color all on its own. Trying to duplicate it again this year.

8/25/2014 3:00:18 PM