Pumpkin Evaluations 2008, University of Maine Cooperative Extension

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Pumpkin Evaluations 2008

Mark Hutton (mark.hutton@maine.edu)
David Handley (david.handley@maine.edu)

Large, medium and small pumpkins were evaluated at Highmoor Farm in the 2008 growing season. The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block with three replications. Each plot had ten plants. The plants were spaced 60" on center and the rows were 6' apart. The pumpkins were direct seeded on June 3 into raised plastic mulched beds that were carried over from the 2007 growing season. Immediately after seeding, the field was covered in floating row-cover. The cover was removed on July 3 and the plants thinned to a single plant per hole. Weeds were managed with a non-selective herbicide applied between the beds prior to covering the field with row-cover. One fungicide application of Topsin and Pristine was applied on August 8.

Results:

Small Fruited Pumpkins

Variety	Average Fruit / Plant	Avg Wt (lbs)	Min Wt (lbs)	Max Wt (lbs)
Oz	3.14	3.2	1.5	5.1
Gargoyle	3.12	3.9	1.9	5.7
Iron Man	2.95	3.7	2.5	5.1
Mystic Plus	1.86	5.9	3.3	17.3
Goose Bumps	1.85	8.0	1.9	23.8
Knuckle Head	1.54	11.8	2.1	24.8

	Oz Round shape Smooth Medium orange color Strong, long handles Semi bush plant Colors early (similar to Neon) 1.5-5 pounds (avg. 3.2) 3.14 fruits per plant
	Gargoyle Flat/round shape Shallow ribs Some warts Medium color Straight, long handles Hard rind 1.9-5.7 pounds (avg. 3.12) 3.12 fruit per plant
	Iron Man Round shape Smooth Dark orange color Strong long handles Hard rind Tolerance to powdery mildew, Fusarium and Phytophthora fruit rots 2.5-5.1 pounds (avg. 2.95) 2.95 fruit per plant
	Mystic Plus Flat round shape Dark color Strong, long handles Hard rind Powdery mildew tolerant 3.3-17.3 pounds (avg. 1.86) 1.86 fruit per plant
	Goose Bumps Unique Variable warts Round to tall round Long straight handles 1.9-23.8 pounds (avg. 8.0) 1.85 fruit per plant

Medium Fruited Pumpkins

Variety	Fruit Number / Plant	Avg Wt (lbs)	Min Wt (lbs)	Max Wt (lbs)
Magician	1.81	15.7	8.4	28.4
Sorcerer	1.64	17.5	11.2	29.1
Racer	1.59	13.6	4.5	31.7
Charisma PMR	1.56	15.1	7.3	24.1
Knuckle Head	1.54	11.8	2.1	24.8
New Rocket	1.45	17.6	9.0	27.1
Merlin	1.27	16.8	9.6	26.1
Warlock	1.25	16.9	10.8	27.1
Gladiator	1.22	15.2	10.9	23.1
Gold Challenger	1.22	18.9	12.0	26.8
Magic Lantern	1.22	16.8	6.3	24.9
Big Rock	1.20	19.3	11.6	31.6
20 Karat Gold	1.09	17.7	9.7	26.7
Oktoberfest	1.06	18.3	4.5	29.5
Hannibal	0.91	19.6	10.1	31.7
Expert	0.81	17.8	11.7	26.6

	Magician Round shape Good ribs Dark color Strong, large handles Dark green handles Powdery mildew tolerant 8.4-28.4 pounds (avg. 15.7) 1.81 fruit per plant
	Racer Round to flat round Good ribs Dark color Strong, large handles Very nice attractive fruit Semi bush plant 4.5 to 31.7 pounds (avg. 13.6) 1.59 fruit per plant
	Charisma PMR Flat round shape Fairly deep rib Medium orange color Strong short handles Good uniformity Reduced vine Powdery mildew tolerant Crew favorite 7.3 to 24.1 pounds (avg. 15.1) 1.56 fruit per plant
	Knuckle Head Unique Variable warts Tall shape Good ribs Dark orange Long handles 2.1 to 24.8 pounds (avg. 11.8) 1.54 fruit per plant
	New Rocket Tall round shape Good ribs Medium orange color Good handles 9 to 27.1 pounds (avg. 17.6) 1.45 fruit per plant
	Merlin Round shape Weak ribs Medium dark color Good handles Powdery mildew tolerant 9.6 to 26.1 pounds (avg. 16.8) 1.27 fruit per plant
	Warlock Round shape Weak ribs Variable color Strong handles with large attachment Semi-hard rind Powdery mildew tolerant 10.8 to 27.1 pounds (avg. 16.9) 1.25 fruit per plant
	Gladiator Round Good ribs Dark color Strong, large handles Powdery mildew tolerant Strong semi-vine 10.9 to 23.1 pounds (avg. 15.2) 1.22 fruit per plant
	Gold Challenger Round shape Variable ribs Variable color Long handles Semi bush 12 to 26.8 pounds (avg. 18.9) 1.22 fruit per plant
	Magic Lantern Round shape Wide ribs Variable color Strong handles good color 6.3-24.9 pounds (avg. 16.8) 1.22 fruit per plant
	Big Rock Round shape Wide ribs Variable color Strong handles good color 11.6-31.6 pounds (avg. 19.3) 1.2 fruit per plant
	20 Karat Gold Round shape Weak ribs Good color Strong, long handles 9.7-26.7 pounds (avg. 17.7) 1.09 fruit per plant Powdery mildew tolerant
	Oktoberfest Round to tall shape Good ribs Variable color, mostly very dark Variable handles 4.5-29.5 pounds (avg. 18.3) 1.06 fruit per plant
	Hannibal Round to tall shape Shallow ribs / smooth Dark orange Strong, moderate length handles 10.1-31.7 pounds (avg. 19.6) 0.91 fruit per plant Powdery mildew tolerant
	Expert Tall shape Deep ribs Dark color Long, dark handles 11.7-26.6 pounds (avg. 17.8) 0.81 fruit per plant Long vine

Large Fruited Pumpkins

Variety	Average Fruit / Plant	Avg Wt (lbs)	Min Wt (lbs)	Max Wt (lbs)
Camaro	1.63	20.2	10.0	33.7
King Midas	1.32	25.8	17.8	37.2
Gold Gem	1.23	20.0	10.6	39.5
Gold Medal	1.06	22.3	11.8	40.0
Dependable	1.04	25.5	13.6	36.4
Rock Star	0.86	22.1	14.9	33.6
Super Herc	0.86	23.9	17.5	33.9
Harvest King	0.80	25.0	11.5	39.6
Wolf	0.71	24.1	18.3	36.4
Gold Medallion	0.59	22.9	13.8	30.8

	Camaro Round shape Smooth Variable pale color Average handles 10-33.7 pounds (avg. 20.2) 1.63 fruit per plant Powdery mildew tolerant Semi-bush
	King Midas Tall round Variable ribs Dark orange color Nice, dark handles 17.8-37.2 pounds (avg. 25.8) 1.32 fruit per plant Best yielding large pumpkin Powdery mildew tolerant
	Gold Gem Shape variable Mild rib Color variable Handles not great 10.6-39.5 pounds (avg. 20) 1.23 fruit per plant Large vine
	Gold Medal Mostly tall shape Not too ribbed Variable color Variable Handle 11.8-40 pounds (avg. 22.3) 1 fruit per plant
	Dependable Mostly tall round shape Fairly ribbed Color variable Good handle attachment 13.6-36.4 pounds (avg. 25.5) 1 fruit per plant Full vine Moderate powdery mildew tolerance
	Rock Star Round to tall shape Weak ribs Light to medium color Long handles 14.9-33.6 pounds (avg. 22.1) 0.86 fruit per plant
	Super Herc Round to tall shape Good ribs Dark color Strong, large handles 17.5-33.9 pounds (avg. 23.9) 0.86 fruit per plant Large strong plant Powdery mildew tolerant
	Harvest King Tall round shape Fairly ribbed Dark orange color Strong short handles 11.5-39.6 pounds (avg. 25) 0.8 fruit per plant Weak plant Some warts
	Wolf Round to tall shape Good ribs Variable color Strong, large handles 18.3-36.4 pounds (avg. 24.1) 0.7 fruit per plant Large vine
	Gold Medallion Round shape Fairly smooth Good color Variable handles 13.8-30.8 pounds (avg. 22.9) 0.59 fruit per plant Weak plant