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Hi, I have an odd shaped pumpkin and would like opinions on how to measure it properly. The blossom end is deeply concaved. When I measure over the top stem to blossom I have been stretching the tape tightly over the top and down to the ground on the blossom end. What I've noticed is that there is a significant gap between the tape and the deeply indented blossom. If I contour the tape to the surface of the pumpkin ( over the top of the pumpkin and into and out of the concave), I get and additional 4-5". For the sake of accuracy what is the proper measurement? Either way it's a new pb by farrrr!!! Thanks, Tony

8/25/2006 10:46:32 AM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

I believe that the correct method is to go straight down to the ground. It is just an estimate anyway.

8/25/2006 1:51:55 PM

Abbotsford, B.C

Straight to the ground.

Cameron

8/25/2006 9:51:39 PM

Denver, CO

I had one just like that last year, the tape would have it at 415ish measuring hhe way you have described, but it was 389 in reality ar weight in. I think it is probably a safer practice to subtract 5 to 7 percent from the OTT to get a better measure of the pumpkin you describe.

8/26/2006 7:48:09 PM

Ray, North Dakota

Sometimes they weigh heavier than the tape estimate. I culled one this year at 126 est, and it scaled 114. About 10% light, but it was only 25 or so days old.

8/26/2006 8:00:21 PM

[email protected]

Actually pumpkins smaller than 300 lbs often run heavy to the charts.

8/26/2006 9:27:32 PM

Thanks guys, I guess I didn't describe the situation to well. I understand bringing the tape straight down to the ground. The problem is that the pumpkin sort of has a bird bath shape. When I bring the tape from the stem end over the top which is high and run it down the back side of the pumpkin which has a bowl shape and sits low, the tape if stretched tightly doesn't even touch a substantial portion of the pumpkins blossom area. If I relax the tape when going over the top and let it lay on the pumpkin, then bringing it straight down we get a few more inches. Thanks for taking time to look at my post and all of your responses. Tony

8/27/2006 7:10:22 AM

ENGLAND

Tony. Don't allow the tape to go into and follow the contour of the bowl/birdbath part. Keep some tension on the tape so that it bridges the bowl area and take the measurement reading at the ground as you would if the bowl was not there.

Regards
Mike

8/27/2006 11:55:11 AM

Thanks Mike, Thanks exactly what I was wondering about. Tony

8/27/2006 12:10:30 PM