1999 Growers Log - August
The Sproule 968 and Cramer 652 are both doing well. The Sproule main vine was terminated today at about 30 feet. The main pumpkin on the Sproule is growing at a rate of about 1.5 inches per day (7 day average) and measured in today (Day 48 after pollination) at 104 inches circumference for an estimated weight of 284 pounds. The weather here has been cool at night (8 to 10 degrees Celcius, 47 - 50 degrees F) so there is a heater in the shelter (seen to left of pumpkin). A tennis ball is on top of the pumpkin as a size reference.
The Cramer pumpkin is making this a real race. Over the past 7 days it has averaged 2.9inches/day. The cool weather was slowing it down so I built a new shelter for it. two days ago. This one includes a shelf to hold the heater securely, plus I've used my cold frame opener on the roof to lift it up a few inches when it gets too hot. It also has some mylar plastic on the roof and south side to reduce the daytime heat load. Both pumpkins are being fertilized every 4 to 5 days with 8 oz (dry) of soluble 15-15-30 fertilizer mixed into their water. Current circumference on the Cramer (Day 26 after pollination) is 77.5 inches. The photo below shows the view of the shelter holding the Cramer pumpkin and the mylar over the south side and the roof.
The last photo for today shows the bare frame of the shelter with the roof propped open.
The Sproule is continuing its steady growth, measuring in today (Day 57) at 118 inches circumference. I did a total OTT measurement two days ago and it measured in at 263.5 inches. The pumpkin is "sweating" a bit, with small drops of material oozing to the surface of its skin.
The Cramer is also doing very well (photo below), and doing its best to catch up to the Sproule. It measured in today (Day 36) at 105 inches. Total OTT yesterday was 228.5 inches. As you can see from the photo it is still very yellow and smooth skinned. The blossom end has tucked under and the whole thing is growing a bit lopsided. Shellie Cramer commented on the photo and said she could see the smoothness of the Cramer 652 and the orange coloring of the Mombert trait. The Mombert 567 was smooth and highly colored early and then the ribs and hard skin showed up only a few weeks before maturity.
Both pumpkins are growing more slowly now. The Sproule #1 measured in today at 280 inches OTT for an estimated 450 pounds. Over the past 6 days it has only gained about 28 pounds. Its now 68 days since pollination. Much of the skin is showing a canteloupe texture and it is clearly turning orange, so it has reached a mature stage. Whether it can gain much more weight remains to be seen.
The Cramer has slowed down but still gained 63 pounds (estimate based on circumference measurement). over the past 6 days (now at Day 45 since pollination). The OTT weight estimate is less than the circumference estimate. As can be seen in the photo above the Cramer pumpkin slopes down to the right and towards the blossom end (foreground) By circumference the estimated weight is 392 pounds, by the OTT method the estimated weight is 317 pounds. The latter is probably much closer to the true weight. If it can keep growing at a reasonable rate it might surpass the Sproule.
Hopefully, if all goes well, this will be my final update before the weighoff at Smoky Lake on October 2nd. Both pumpkins are pretty much mature now and weight gains are minimal. The Sproule measured in today at 289 inches OTT (a personal best for me!) for an estimated 493 pounds. If it holds together and gains a little more weight I will finally have an official 500+ pound pumpkin.
The Cramer has slowed down dramatically, gaining only an estimated 10 pounds in the last 3 days. Current OTT measurement is 266 inches for an estimated 392 pounds. I won't be posting any further measurements or weights until after the weighoff at Smoky Lake, unless something blows up and I have to do a post-mortem.