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Location

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Delaware, Ohio

Would some one out there please explain to me what cantaloping is and is it a good thing or a bad thing and how do you stop it if's a bad thing.
CityGirl
Delaware, Ohio

9/22/2006 10:33:07 AM

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It's neither good or bad. You've probably seen the corky appearance of a canteloup skin. The skin of an Atlantic Giant Pumpkin does this especially at the ends as it matures. Certain genetic lines do it more than others.

Seeing cantalouping too soon makes growers nervous because it is a signal the fruit will soon stop growing.

Yet seeing it in some other lines might be an indication of the fruit going over the OTT charts which might please the grower.

9/22/2006 11:36:46 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Not to steal the thread but Tremor, I have seen the cantaloping.....but what about cracks in the skin, I relate this to it trying to grow too fast on the skin or tempeture related as this has now occurred since taking off the shade cloth, but adding a blanket at night. The skin is cracked in spots but not the pumpkin......?

9/22/2006 1:35:26 PM

Alaska

When the fruits are young the rind is plyable better able to keep up with daily growth. Towards the end of maturation the rinds gets harder less plyable. I call them stretch marks. Out growing their skin but as with cantaloupes always healing over. If it's cantalouping the end is near. Later Scott.

9/22/2006 1:44:27 PM

Long Island,New York

Those cracks will scab over and those scabs will be canteloping when they are done.

9/22/2006 5:34:18 PM

Ri

Canteloping is a beautiful thing when the fruit is mature and the season is nearing the end. This almost always equals weight!! If this is the case citygirl all is good. Peter

9/22/2006 8:51:22 PM

Deer Park WA

Canteloping is a sign of fruit maturity in AG genetics, We have had 70 day old fruit with no canteloping and they went 25% light (useually very orange thinly ribbed fruit) and canteloping on yellow/orange fruit with big fat ribs go 20% heavy....

The Gadberry's

9/22/2006 10:44:18 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Wiz, not sure but, maybe, cantelouping, and cracking, might be two different phenomenomenomena???? LOL maybe, maybe not...the cracking has oozing...and the cantelouping just gets sorta wrinkly without oozing? Peace, Wayne

9/23/2006 10:49:43 PM

Delaware, Ohio

Thank you to all of you for your answers to my question. I took my "giant" to the county fair last Friday. My pumpkin taped out at over 400 pounds and had really dark "cantaloping" but was not a very ridged fruit, and only a light orange in color. I bought my seeds at the Circleville Ohio pumpkin show last year and didn't keep my envelope so I have no idea of genetics, and besides that, the bees did the dirty work. I had THE BEST TIME growing this thing and can hardly wait for next year. Oh, and I won second place, no weigh off, just best quality, largest. Mine was largest, but not best quality, grown slightly stem side down and discolored. I have learned so much from all of you. THANK YOU!! If anyone wants to sell some seeds, this newbie is buyin!!!! I heard a rumor that the World Record might be broken at Circleville this year!! I'm going to the weight off, never been to one and would LOVE to see a record broken, heck would love to see a weigh off! Grow them big everyone...More from me soon!
CityGirl

9/24/2006 1:00:54 AM