Re: Big One Down
Your benchmark numbers were running only about 10% over Al
Eaton recommendations. It doesn't seem to me that this pumpkin
split because it was growing too fast.
Pumpkins that genetically have thin areas, either because of
deep ribs or thin blossom ends,are more likely to split due to
their own weight because internal stresses are greater in thin
areas just where wall strength is the weakest.
Uneven cooling and heating will also create stresses. The top
of the pumpkin will cool off faster than the underside on a
cold night after a warm day. This could cause differences in
growth rates in different areas of the pumpkin leading to
greater wall stresses.
I don't think that the pressure differential in the pumpkin's
cavity to the outside air is significant based on discussions
we had on this list a few years ago. The internal temperature
of the pumpkin changes too slowly because of it's large mass to
cause a very significant differential pressure spike. (I still
wonder about this when transporting a pumpkin in an airplane.)
I think throwing a blanket over the pumpkin at night to slow
down temperature changes might have helped. This keeps the
part of the pumpkin that is facing the cold night sky from
cooling faster than the bottom.
Anyway, better luck with the rest of your babies.....
vince
best 831, 2001
27" at 10 days
75" at 20 days
104" at 30 days
--- Twoturkey@aol.com wrote:
> Hey all here is the #'s to the 639uow
> 10 day-23"
> 20-67
> 30-110 , 70.5, 71.5 = 252"OTT
> 35-127
> 40-138
> 41-140 split in a deep rib just as its Father the 940
> Mombert from last
> year. Had a very cool night after a warm day, think the
> upward growth along
> with the pressure within the pumpkin caused the split ,
> though it would have
> broke on its own, was still growing 4 - 5" day.
>
> Wonder what the PSI is inside of the fruit?? Any thought??
> Must be
> Ken
>
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