RE: beginning stage
Doug, I have left a pumpkin on the vine for about a month after its size
stoped increasing. It may have had walls thickening, or it may have just
been maintaining. I do know that it weighed in very close to its estimated
weight and had no problems sitting out in the heat. I just covered it and
kept it dry. The cool water the roots pulled up seemed to keep the fruit
cold and didn't allow water loss.
--- "Parker, Doug R" <PARKERDR@sce.com> wrote:
> Thanks Jon........
>
> I know day time temps during pollination will be luck of the draw.
> However,
> if it is really hot, how long before the female flower opens and how long
> after pollination do you recommend cooling the new fruit with the ice
> bottles? Then, since I did start early, I could by your reckoning have
> mature fruit by mid to late August. If that turns out to be the case, how
> long can I leave a mature AG on the vine? Or should I remove it promptly?
> (I'm assuming maturity is defined a near complete cessation of further
> growth) Does leaving a mature pumpkin on the vine adverse the remaining
> growth of those still maturing (assuming I've left more than one fruit on
> the vine [not recommend I know])? I've left Big Macs on the vine over six
> weeks past maturity with no adverse effects and, once picked, have had some
> last through Christmas. Do AGs have a similar "shelf life" once picked, or
> are they prone to early disintegration?
>
> Lots of questions I know. But I just realized I'm clueless as to the
> "after
> it's done growing" life cycle of the AG. I also just realized that my wife
> will kill me if it turns out I spent all this time and effort to grow giant
> pumpkins for Halloween only to have them all turn to mush by Columbus Day!
>
>
> Doug Parker
> Sierra Madre, CA
>
>
>
> ----------
> From: Jon Hunt [SMTP:jon.hunt@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu]
> Sent: Friday, May 19, 2000 7:36 AM
> To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
> Subject: RE: beginning stage
>
> Hi Doug,
>
> When growing in the heat the pumpkins and plants grow very fast.
> The
> theory is start late because the plants will grow faster than the
> plants in
> Canada and Pacific Northwest. My plants go into the ground on the
> second
> of June and I set fruit the third week of July. Yes, I play catch
> up all
> summer long but by September when the temps have moderated a little
> with
> highs in the low 90's and lows in the middle 60's we are still
> putting on
> pounds and grow the whole month. The hard part is setting fruit in
> the 100
> degree days in July. This can be helped by putting out frozen water
> bottles to keep the female blossoms cool during pollination. The
> other
> factor is mist. I mist the plants all day.
>
> It seems your plants are much larger than most of the growers
> already.
> Most growers are fighting the cold temps and are at the 5 to 6 leaf
> stage.
> Your plants are 3 feet long and looking for a female blossoms. Once
> you
> set fruit you will probably grow for around 70 days and be done.
> The key
> is to have your pumpkin be done growing just before the contest. If
> you
> have room for another plant try planting one this weekend and you
> will
> catch up to all the other growers in the country.
> Good Luck,
> Jon
>
>
>
> At 03:59 PM 5/18/2000 -0700, you wrote:
> >Jon......
> >
> >What part of CA are you in. I'm in So Cal near Pasadena and I've
> been in
> >the ground since mid April with vines now three feet long. Day
> time temps
> >here will typically exceed 90 from mid June through mid September
> with many
> >of those days above 100. So I though getting in the ground early
> enough to
> >pollinate by mid June would be good. Did I start too early? I
> understand
> >you've grown some big ones (that is if you're the Hunt from the 991
> Hunt
> >'99). Did you start these in late May also?
> >
> >Doug Parker
> >Sierra Madre, CA
>
>
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