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Eastern Pennsylvania

I have 2 pumpkins on my 1230 plant. One was 403 on Sunday and the other was around 250. Could be more now but I had to move and the punks can't be measured frequently. The patch is set and watered frequently though. The report is that the big one is visibly growing a lot. I am thinking about having a trusted person cut 1/2 of the stem on the smaller one, to preserve it yet give more weight to the one that counts. The most important thing is that I finish my rookie competetive season with something to bring to Altoona. They are at day 37 and 36 respectively. What should I do? -Jim

8/17/2006 7:34:54 PM

Montoursville, PA

Singleness, of purpose. If that were mine I would have a trusted associate cut off the smaller one in three or four cuts. This will prevent a spurt. Takes guts but I believe in even rookies going, for the maximum from their patches. Just be sure your trusted man with the knife understands to cut the stem not the main vine. Mercy that would be a bad mistake.

8/17/2006 9:07:47 PM

Cull it!!
When I was told how to cull when the fruit are in the "growth" stage a "v" cut was suggested,,making it deeper everyday till done,,seems that a straight slice can heal over,,,that might confuse that "trusted person" !

Good luck !!

8/17/2006 9:18:20 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Unkadan has it right!!! Master LongBeard says always ....GrassHopper...."Focus" .....always......looka eyes......lol
Go Slow....lil at a time...until all is gone....we dont want to blow it up at this time....I did it 2 mine..its OK.. and even though it had only 1/3 left on the stem ...it still grew...so it does make a difference....we worked too hard ...dont blow it up now .....like they have said b4 Slow and Sure wins the Race.........Checkon..1469....makes sense 2 me Good Luck...
WiZ

8/17/2006 10:41:54 PM

Dillsburg, PA

IMO, I would leave it. Why mess with a good thing. Were talking state record here. Too many bad things can happen. If the record was not an issue my opinion would change but it isn't everyday you get to take the state record. Its a nice looking pumpkin too.

8/18/2006 11:06:52 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

There is no way I will cut the second fruit all the way off. I need to keep a small lifeline to it. It has even better shape than the bigger one. Plus I want the seeds. I am leaning towards the V shaped notch as suggested but I will make the final decision based on tomorrow's day 40 measurements. Thanks!

8/19/2006 2:45:00 PM

Ray, North Dakota

OH COME ON!! I was told to cull my side vine fruit over the period of a couple of days. For those of you who have read my posts and diary, I got a little "tipsy" one night and chopped that sucker off in one cut.

My single fruit is now well over 400 est, and the smaller one is still a shrinking jack o lantern on my porch. Speaking of which I better throw it in the compost pile...

8/19/2006 2:49:06 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Herbie- I got in on that topic AFTER you cut the fruit. I'm glad your big one is handling it. But you see, doing anything over a period of several days is no longer a luxury for me. Because I live 3 hours from where the pumpkin is growing now, every decision must be all or nothing. And it is already taping over the state record. Why blow it up just to add a few pounds?

8/19/2006 6:36:01 PM

Ray, North Dakota

I should have left my smaller one on as a safety valve. It appears my small split has extended deep into the stem and I haven't had any growth over 1" OTT in two days.

Gonna cut him off and weigh him on our small platform scale at work.

I have a post under split stem that I am waiting for some advice on.

8/19/2006 7:45:59 PM