Lost the Big One
August 24th was not a good day as by biggest and fastest growing pumpkin
showed that crooked smile on the blossom end. During the first two weeks
of August, it gained 168 and 166 pounds. The pumpkin was pollinated on
July 12 and had an estimated weight at the end of July of 108 pounds.
The final circumference measurement was 150.5 inches and the OTT, 311.5
inches. Al Eaton's pumpkin estimation algorithm indicated that this
pumpkin would pass 800 pounds and that would have been my personal
best. This is the second pumpkin in my patch to end this way. :(
I still have several good pumpkins which should approach 600 pounds, but
none left with the vigor of the one which just died. This must be a year
for pumpkin blossom end splits in southeastern Minnesota as my fellow
pumpkin grower, Dave Bhaskaran also has had several. As you remember,
his 656 Bhaskaran was over 500 pounds at the end of July before
splitting.
Are splits all genetic or is our soil missing some ingredient?
Keep your pumpkins growing!
George Heyne
Rochester, Mn.
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