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Location

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Date Posted

Upa Creek, MO

When is your local weighoff? And what’s your ideal DAP to take one?

The Missouri weighoff isn’t until October 6th which isn’t looking doable given my pumpkin would be over 100 DAP and my plant is getting pretty rough looking. I wish they’d move the date back since most of us shoot for early pollinations.

It’s looking more like I’ll have a nice unweighed yard ornament.

8/31/2018 7:00:23 PM

Syracuse, NY

what i do is stick a bamboo stake carefully into the ground very close to the farthest point out near the side of the pumpkin, like a quarter of an inch away, leave it ALONE for about 3 days and if the gap closes up, it's still growing. as long as it's intact enough for your YARD, you could still take it to the weighoff. good luck, nonetheless. eg

8/31/2018 7:33:27 PM

Home of happy lil plants

plan is day 97 here too luke you can make it. just watch that vine/stem it doesnt take a pretty plant 5 weeks...JUST 5 weeks

8/31/2018 8:30:04 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Hey Luke, our Weighoff are Oct 6 & 13 this year and i’d like my pumpkins to be a minimum of DAP 90 for Weighoff to be ready.

8/31/2018 10:50:36 PM

Dillonvale, Ohio

My 1st weigh off is September 26. Mine quit growing 2 weeks ago. I'm a little nervous about it rotting before I get it weighed. Pumpkinpal is right, if it's still intact, take it. Who cares if it rots afterwards. If it quits growing, you at least know you got all you could out of her

8/31/2018 11:39:36 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Weigh off in Guston, KY (Roberts Farm) on 9/15.

9/1/2018 3:01:21 AM

Lymington UK

That's a great question Luke.
At around 60 DAP we generally see some leaf senescence on the backs of the weaker plants. The stronger plants like our 1875, 2145 B and 2363 at around 70 DAP.
With our temperatures over the last few years it typically takes at least 100 days for our pumpkins to stop growing. Admittedly they are only growing 10 to 20lbs in the last weeks but they are often the most important ones.
Stuart and I have been looking into crops like commercial cucumbers to find their ideal night and day temps. These crops have had vast amounts of money spent on them to find the ideals.
in reality we all need to grow our pumpkins as quick as possible while the plant is at it's very best.
Ian

9/1/2018 5:10:50 AM

Lymington UK

Forgot to ask. Ohio is warm at night so how long was your pumpkin growing in total.

9/1/2018 5:13:39 AM

Southern Plains

Oklahoma Giant Pumpkin Growers weighoff. Dewey, OK, on Saturday, 9/8.

9/1/2018 5:45:41 AM

Upa Creek, MO

Thank you all for the replies and I'll keep pushing through past DAP 100. Gummy stem or something similar is slowly taking out the leaves. The main vine and secondaries still look good. My biggest priority is a display so will monitor daily for vine rot.


Vine borers are also relentless this year and just keep cycling. I'm finding new rounds of babies in untreated gourds in another part of the yard, and see the adult moths on the plant every day.


Ian, Ohio weather is a bit cooler than here. We are still in the 70's every night. Highs are only low 90's, so temps look great.


Best of luck to you all!

9/1/2018 4:00:58 PM

Westmoreland, KS

I think I have a chance at hitting a hundred days of growth but with this heat I am not going to take any chances

9/1/2018 5:29:03 PM

Upa Creek, MO

That’s what I’m worried about, it’s 95 again today and afraid of the rot getting into the pkn. But i figure all these nights still in the 70s are a plus, I’m pulling for you to get the Kansas record!

9/1/2018 5:58:36 PM

Lymington UK

Even in a glasshouse our temps would drop down to around 55F but its the relative humidity that is a big problem especially if it goes higher than 85%.

9/1/2018 11:24:56 PM

Westmoreland, KS

Lol crap 8 am on September 2nd 80 degrees and humidity at 86%.

Thanks Luke I'm trying to keep her sound...She's keeps growing and she keeps cracking not fun but it's been a great season!

9/2/2018 9:12:49 AM

Lymington UK

Your going well Jake. Good luck Ian

9/2/2018 3:17:39 PM