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Decatur, IL

I plan on having a lifting party for my first pumpkin that I've taken to a weigh-off tomorrow (Thursday). The weigh-off is Saturday. Is it really that important to leave some of the vine trailing on either side of the pumpkin and fastening a milk or big zip-lock full of water on each end. I just thought it would make things too cumbersome when moving and was worried that it might snap the stem off.
Charlie

9/28/2005 9:47:57 AM

Nova Scotia

personnaly I would not bother with the water bags unless I was going to be close for top prizes or records. the water bags likely only save you a pound or two anyway

9/28/2005 11:07:06 AM

I don't think your going to lose a lot of weight quickly. Where would all the water go. Even a 1lb of water is a lot. And that all would evaporate in one day either. Plus it wouldn't leak out of the pumpkin as well.

9/28/2005 11:20:55 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

I don't bother with water bags....Although I do not agree with the above comments about water loss. A Giant Pumpkin has a very large permeable surface area which is contuinually losing water. Not as much as say a leaf. But the pumpkin once cut from the vine is loosing water weight at a steady rate. This is why Commercial growers "Wax" or "Shellac" fruit to stop water loss and preserve the harvest for as long as possible. Now if you could store the pumpkin in a refrigerator and keep the humidity at 85%. It could last for a very long time and water loss would be minimal.

9/28/2005 12:18:19 PM

Honesdale, Pennsylvania

My 803 from last year was re-weighed a week later at a contest that a local restaurant was having. It weighed in at 797 and that was after the 4 our journey from Altoona to home. So a pound a day seems about right to me.

9/28/2005 2:13:35 PM

North Smithfield, RI USA

8 to 12 lbs on a smaller pumpkin per week. This is from the Topsfield fair to the SNGPG weigh-off ! Of course a world class pumpkin will lose more in that time !

9/28/2005 6:10:27 PM

Sioux Falls, SD [email protected]

It will lose less if:
cool
wrapped with plastic
shaded
humid

(if couple pounds a day bothers you)

9/28/2005 6:15:04 PM

Sioux Falls, SD [email protected]

Sometimes the bigger loss is what it would have gained

9/28/2005 6:16:00 PM

Western Pa.

Charlie,

Simply cut your pumpkin and leave a foot or so of vine on both sides. After you lift and load it, you can add the water bags. I have found that plastic gallon milk jugs (containing water) work well, and you can duct tape them to the vines.

9/28/2005 7:58:06 PM

Montoursville, PA

Putting water bags, on anything less than a possible record does serve, to amuse the onlookers. Being somewhat, of a showman I have been, on the verge, of setting up two IV bags hospital style just, to amuse the troops.

9/29/2005 8:51:01 AM

Puyallup, WA

Hey Doc....Be sure those bags are filled with MILK!

9/29/2005 4:47:20 PM

Follansbee, Wv

HAHAHA Stan! Please don't do that Doc. I have enough trouble with the milk thing as it is...

9/29/2005 5:02:41 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

I thought the IV bags were filled with beer!!!

9/29/2005 9:30:31 PM