From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Connecticut, USA

Excellent analysis.

6/11/2026 12:43:59 PM

Nova Scotia

Yes with so many great growers and much more competition coming from all parts of the World every pound counts when the tail gate drops!

6/11/2026 1:38:00 PM

Grittyville, WA

I agree with the math, the only counter argument is that the soil biology has a natural biological cycle that aligns with the local plants. And for the pacific northwest the best window for having the native soil biology align with the growing-pumpkin goal is usually August. I've wondered why it's harder to set fruit and get good fruit growth earlier in the year even when the correct temps and fertilizer and sunlight are there. You might say the same thing about a teenage child their energy isnt going to align with the sunshine necessarily.

6/11/2026 4:46:41 PM

Grittyville, WA

But you are adding biology presumably? If the biology you've added is like a bunch of 2-4 year olds who get up at the break of day, then I think that's what your sunlight maximization plan is riding on.

Maybe it's the cover crop that wakes your soil up. My soil would be snoozing still.

6/11/2026 4:53:29 PM

SF Bay Area, California

An additional 3 percent on a 2,900 lb. pumpkin is 87 pounds. Oh... crap!

6/11/2026 7:50:18 PM

Torrance, Ca.

No wonder they get so much bigger up there! I think we get 8 hours on that same day. lol It's dark by 8:00pm. When I'm out at my son's house in MN, we're still fishing and the light is still out at 10:00 pm! CRAZY! The further north you go the more sun you get on those plants!

Knock one out of the park Russ!

6/11/2026 7:59:04 PM

Eugene,OR

Yes Chris, but the good news is that it is less critical for you to have an early pollination. But then your contest is super early.

[Last edit: 06/11/26 11:27:34 PM]

6/11/2026 11:11:07 PM