The Pumpkin is Coming Down the Stretch!

Pumpkin Gordo Gato

Five weeks from today will be the first giant pumpkin weigh-off of the year.  My pumpkin is currently 77 days old.  So I've probably got 14 to 20 days of growing left in her.  Weather has been hot lately, but that isn't bad for me.  The cold of night from this point on is my greatest potential issue.  Nighttime lows have stuck around the low 50s and high 40s, which is not close to ideal, but not bad this time of year for me.  If we can keep it from getting into the low 40s over the next 20 days, we may be able to get to get 20 days of growth or more.  She is slowing down however right now.

Anything less than 1,000 pounds is unacceptable to me.  That should be the minimum.  This pumpkin still has a descent shot at 1,000, but it will be close.  Low 900's is what I would estimate if she slows down quickly and only goes the 14 days.  Over 1,000 would be the estimate if it grows the full 34 remaining days, but I don't see that happening.  This pumpkin looks meaty like last year's so the hope is still that it can go heavy to the charts.