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Nh

I had dumb luck the first 4 or 5 years of growing big pumpkins. Not huge but between 500 and 800 lbs with pretty small plants.
For the past 4 years not so good. disease, male sterile plants, foaming stumps etc etc.
This year, finally, I have one very large plant with three pollinated. first one around the 14th.
Second one around the 17th and last around the 20th.
Biggest one is around basketball. 12 ft out from stump.
Next one is cantaloupe, 15 ft out.
last one is baseball and 20ft out.
I feel like it may be contrived for me to monitor for much longer.
Any suggestions?
Lastly, my goal of a 1000lb pumpkin.. Is it even possible to reach 1000lbs this season with what I got?
If so, what advice would you feel most helpful in achieving this?
thanks

7/25/2015 10:34:26 AM

Central NY

1000 is def still possible if the plant looks good...I would say monitor growth and pick the one with the best day 15 numbers , assuming positioning is good on all three...but def wait for other advice

7/25/2015 11:04:27 AM

BC, Canada

Justa, My morning routine is to have a coffee and do my email stuff before dragging the old body out to the garden. I'll have a look at the BP message board. Some times it's the same old and sometimes there is something that makes me think.
At first I thought "what a dumb question? This guy wants to know everything." But then I thought that isn't such a bad question at all, this guy wants to learn. It made me stop and review what I am doing this year. Am I doing all the things that this BP community has so generously taught me over the last few years? I"m not really the one to answer your question until I weigh out that big one.
But, I do know that if you monitor the post here and just read and read until it becomes second nature you will eventually just start doing things that add up to that successful plant. I learn every year.
When I did my apprenticeship they said it takes 10000 hours to master a craft. Pretty true.
I know some of the real experts will offer some specific advice here, I just wanted to say good luck.

7/25/2015 11:13:56 AM

Bethlehem CT

Good advice, My 2 cents; All things being equal, I would go with the one at 12' just because it will have a few more days to grow.

7/25/2015 1:08:45 PM

East Jordan, MI

How big is your plant?
Are you growing in the same place as the last 4 years of disease problems?
Do you feel your soil is better than the years that you were growing the 800 lbrs?
When is your weigh off?

Those 4 answers will have more to do with whether you can grow 1000 lbr. Plant health is key. Good soil is a necessity. Plant size and time are limiting factors.

As for which one to keep, I would pick one of the first 2, based on shape and position after the second one is 10 days old. With the later set, I would probably pick the 12 footer if there wasn't something about it that I didn't like. But the 15 footer will have more plant behind it which might work better in the long run. It's always a tough choice, but I feel fairly sure being only 3 days apart, they both have a chance at reaching your goal if everything else is on target and you can keep the plant healthy and happy.

7/25/2015 1:55:08 PM

Nh

thanks for all the responses.
plants main is 20 plus ft.
probably have around 10 to 12 secondary's over 4ft in length, on per side of the main (20-24 in all)
first 4 on either side are approx. 12 to 15 ft.
next set of 4 on either side around 10 to 12 ft.
next 4 per side about 6 to 8ft.
I probably have 4 to 6 more per side after my fruit per side, however they are about 2 to 3 ft in length.
unfortunately im only able to grow in the same area year after year.
this year, however Im using a systemic fungicide. something I never had done before. so far not plants looking nice.
im always adding stuff to the soil. haven't probed into soil testing a great deal.
lastly, if I were to enter the pumpkin, weigh off date in early October.

7/26/2015 9:31:36 AM

Nh

meant to say so far my plants all look nice

7/26/2015 9:33:10 AM

Edmonton, 53.5N, 113.6W

my two cents is that if you want to go big you have to take a chance and go all in on the first one, if it's growing well, NOW. These long warm summer days are when you get the best growth. Short days and cool nights (if you're in new hampshire I presume you get frost in Sept?) slow growth a lot.

7/26/2015 12:00:58 PM