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British Columbia, Canada

Does the thump test determine how thick a pumpkin is? I've heard so many people say yes and so many say no.

9/16/2014 6:10:09 PM

Wixom MI.

I have seen many pumpkins that sound solid to the thump and still go light. But I still like to think that if it sounds solid then it will go heavy !

9/16/2014 6:37:33 PM

Muddy Waters

no

9/16/2014 6:47:10 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Last year my pumpkin and my son's both thumped light for me and they weighed 8% and 10% light. Don Young showed me how he "thumps" them and he agreed that ours sounded and felt light.

9/16/2014 7:25:30 PM

thumping works I learned first hand from joe jutras its a feel

9/16/2014 7:30:15 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

thump test is rediculous!!!!!!!!!!!

9/16/2014 7:30:47 PM

Central NY

Lol

9/16/2014 7:41:24 PM

canal winchester ohio

Never thumped many pumpkins although I've met a few growers that needed a good thumping

9/16/2014 7:53:47 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

and i thought all growers were wonderful people huffs ...lol

9/16/2014 8:17:55 PM

Acton

Admit it. your wife has accused you of 'thumping' yer pumpkin. I know mine has!

9/16/2014 8:29:43 PM

canal winchester ohio

You never read anything from me saying that...lol
Its a microcosm of society, good..bad..givers..takers.

9/16/2014 8:30:18 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Yes, thump a dummy upside the head and then thump one of your friends with straight A's upside the head. Same thing

9/16/2014 8:48:12 PM

Wi

It absolutely works. On the bigger stuff especially. Shape can make it tough.

9/16/2014 9:17:31 PM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

I've been doing it for years and I'm about right 50% of the time.

9/16/2014 9:26:15 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

although i do love to give her a good thumping now and then...ahahaaa

9/16/2014 9:39:38 PM

Home of happy lil plants

i just stand on them.. if the stand test works its good to go

this is followed by the jump up and down test if still not inside the pumpkin yet you have a winner.

caution- results may vary due to food intake

9/16/2014 9:58:16 PM

Concord, CA.

BillF,
Statistically you have a perfect average!

9/16/2014 10:26:39 PM

Windsor California

60% of the time, it works all the time!

9/16/2014 10:34:03 PM

Wixom MI.

I think I know why spences pumpkin was so lumpy in june?

9/16/2014 10:34:10 PM

Breslau, Ontario, Canada

I've been seeking out the thumping expertise of the "Pumpkin Whisperer" Chris Lyons at every weighoff we've attended...Right every single time.

9/16/2014 11:41:54 PM

Bethlehem CT

Thumping works for me about 50% of the time. I am not sure why I still do it. I agree that the shape influences the sound. Flesh density may also play a part. I love the sound when you thump a good solid one.

9/17/2014 7:36:59 AM

Upa Creek, MO

On a serious note, it would be interesting if at one of the big weighoffs, a seasoned thumper thumped at least 25 pumpkins and made a prediction on each... then see the actual results.

9/17/2014 7:40:22 AM

Knopp, Germany

Thumping has only left me disappointed at the scales, I guess I just don't thump correctly.

9/17/2014 8:16:58 AM

Rhode Island

i have had pumpkins ping like a cheap basketball and go heavy and i have had pumpkins that thump like a rock and weigh on chart and also go light.no sure way to tell until you weigh it.
personally many time a really rugged pumpkin with lots of checking and wide high ribs will go over chart. but that to is not 100 percent accurate either.
pap

9/17/2014 8:31:24 AM

Wi

Anyone that needs an education on thumping should have grown a 1476 Hopkins. When they don't thump at all you know it's 20%. We had two of them last year. +22 and +23. Those are the ones that train you how to thump...lol. 1810 was also rediculously dense. There was no question it was going wayyyy over the chart.

9/17/2014 9:30:07 AM

Cornelius, Oregon

Its not just the sound it makes its how well the vibrations carry through the shell. Combine the two and you can get them right about 90% of the time. Also don't just thump in one spot. Take a couple "soundings". So I guess sign my name under the 'thumping works' list.

9/17/2014 11:01:48 AM

Central NY

Did I really just go thump a pumpkin like I knew what I'd be listening for anyway?....lol

9/17/2014 11:43:08 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Yup it workZ...just need a thumper

9/17/2014 11:54:42 AM

British Columbia, Canada

I really like that idea, Luke.

9/17/2014 1:21:07 PM

Colorado

I do better looking than thumping.

9/17/2014 2:13:43 PM

Midway, UT

Shape, amount of water content in the tissue and thickness all come into play. There was only one pumpkin that I thumped that I KNEW was going heavy (it ended up 25%+ heavy) and outside of that it is anyone's guess.

9/17/2014 7:35:27 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Wasnt hard to tell on that one Jamie, it waZ concrete....my 1725 is thumping thick this year....

9/18/2014 10:20:35 AM

Ohio

I use a 10lb sledge hammer to thump my pumpkin with, but you gotta be extra careful when you thump it with that, I have found the best spot to thump, and using only a 1/2 to 3/4 swing(swing like your hitting a 90 mph fast ball) to thump test a pumpkin is dead center of the blossom end.....
(if using a 5lb hand sledge use full swing and always wear safty glasses)

9/22/2014 8:49:33 PM