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Re: Screaching to a halt !

Hi Dean

I am having a similiar problem.  I have 4 pumpkins remaining on my plant.
All but one have more or less stopped growing after doing well for the first
25 days.  The weather here in Edmonton was the same as yours during the time
you describe except it didn't get quite as cold when the front came thru.
I haven't had a chance to measure them since sunday as I was away, so I
don't know if the growth has improved since then.  I have yet to cull two
fruit and will make the big decision tomorrow.  It seems that my "best" one
was still doing the best, though slowing down, and the others have more or
less stopped although they "take turns" growing a bit on some days.

I am speculating that they are competing with each other for resources and
hope that cutting two off will help.  I would only leave one if I had more
than one plant, but I don't want to take the risk of losing my only fruit to
some disaster, so will leave two.

In 1995, my pumpkins exhibited a similiar pattern where the rate of growth
increased for about 25 days and then levelled off, but kept growing at a
more or less steady rate after that.  This year seems to be similiar.  The
only good thing is that the average rate was better from the start so my
best is quite a bit bigger for it's age than last time.

There is a grower in Saskatoon who won the weigh-off here in Smokey Lake
Alberta twice.  His name is Rod Goertzen.  He may have some advice for you.

For comparison, my largest fruit was 62" circum. on Aug. 10 at 27 days.  Ovt
total was 145".  I'm anxious to measure it tomorrow.

I hope this helps.  I would like to hear more about these growth patterns
from anyone out there who cares to comment.

Maybe I'll see you at Smokey Lake on October 4.

Kurt Frederick
Edmonton, Alberta

At 01:18 PM 8/12/97 -0600, you wrote:
>
>Greetings pumpkin experts:
>
>        Here's what happened last week our weather was hot mid 90's then we
>had a couple of thunder storms and now a cold front has set in. In fact last
>night it dropped down to 34 very close to frost. We are having day time
>highs of low 70's and these cold nights and now my pumpkins that were
>growing 3-4 inches a day have all but stopped ! I'm guessing it's because of
>this colder weather but will they ever get back up to speed again or are
>they done?
>
>        Being a rookie any help,thoughts,or recomendations would be greatly
>appreciated
>
>Once again  thanks
>
>Dean
>
>Saskatoon, Sk
>
>
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