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Ca

Quite a few people seem to be working on crossing for "big and orange." I'm curious what seeds have really good reputations. I know about the 801.5 Stelts, for example, what other seeds do growers like?

8/15/2005 4:54:33 PM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

As top choices for both weight and color I would seriously consider the 670 Daigle 03, 801.5 Stelts 97, 869.5 Calai 00, 846 Jutras 03 and the 810 Dill 99.
A little less consistent concerning the orange but also with good weight potential are the 1016 Daletas 01, 1076.5 Werner 02, 1370 Rose 03, 961 Daletas 01, 1230 Daletas 01 and the 1225 Jutras 03.
Nice orange producers with a little less weight potential are the 604 Jutras 02, 1074 Calai 02, 932 Steeves 03, 850 Wallace 00, 782.5 Stucker 02, 1048 and 1036 Companion 03, 808 Beachy 03, 940 and 867 Mombert 00 and a few others.

These were all more or less proven seeds but, of course, there are also a lot of newer (still unproven) seeds for good orange color.
Here are a few that come to my mind: 1125 Frantz 04, 1101 Northrup 04, 965 Northrup 04, 915 and 800 Dieffenbaugher 04, 851 Davies 04, and of course all 2004 and 2005 Reiss seeds (LOL). Northrup, Companion, Jutras and some other growers did some very fine "orange" crosses in 2003 and 2004.
Also look out for crosses with the 846 Calai and 567.5 Mombert in them....

8/15/2005 6:55:14 PM

Long Beach, CA

I'm growing a 495 Reiss (801.5 X self) plant right now, and it is indeed a great color seed (see pictures I posted in the photo gallery). I selfed the plant, so the progeny should also be reliable color producers. Email me if you'd like seed!

Oliver

8/15/2005 9:15:50 PM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

Hi Oliver!

I saw the pictures that you posted in the photo gallery on the evening they were posted and was delighted about the color and shape! You are doing a good job with it!

Make sure to set aside a few of the 495 X self and Prizewinner X 495 seeds for me!

A local grower here is growing my 472 from last year and the fruits have a *perfect* shape and color.

My 401, 333 and 312 seem to produce slightly longer fruits but also with good color.

8/16/2005 5:56:27 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

I'm hoping for deep orange (and huge) on the 826.5 Shymanski (1016 Daletas X 1385 Daletas) and have sib pollinated it too.

8/16/2005 12:28:54 PM

No Place Special

I have growing what I think will be the "perfect" big and orange cross. My 1101 Northrup is a nice round and orange pumpkin... about 400 lbs now and still doing 21 lbs a day. It is pollinated with 1125 Frantz and the male pollinator has a VERY nice looking fruit on it that has 1000 lb potential.

8/18/2005 10:01:57 AM

Butler, Ohio

I got be a big ol "neon orange" fruit goin on the 800 Dieffenbaugher. 533# and the brightest orange you ever saw!! I think Christy hit the jackpot when she made the 845 Nesbitt x 846 Jutras cross last year.

8/19/2005 2:17:09 PM

Berlin,mi.(zuhlke2@hotmail.com)

I have some good orange crosses going also. 1101 Northrup x self. This one should be over 600lbs this weekend and is getting some real nice color to it.1101 Northrup x 1125 Frantz it is still a young pumpkin but is showing good color allready.1125 Frantz x self and 1125 x 1101.both on the same plant. It is a small plant but the pumpkins are growing good. They won't win any size prize but they have good color.915.5 Dieff. x self getting close to 400lbs. great color on this one.

8/20/2005 7:27:22 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

I am growing an 808 Beachy that is the best orange color I have grown yet. I crossed it with the 721 Pearce, which also is a nice orange, but went down with a blossom split at 295" OTT.

8/21/2005 9:29:12 PM

Long Beach, CA

Hey Martin, I owe you thanks for sending this great seed to me, the newbie. The fruit on your 495 Reiss seems to be still coloring up; now it is an intense orange, almost red. I'll probably give this seed (or its progeny) another go next year, either as a main plant or as a pollinator. I'll send you seeds as soon as I have them dried!

Oliver

8/23/2005 11:18:01 PM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

I still have a few 495 seeds left and would be happy to send you another one. I will also have available another very nice cross for big and orange this coming fall. I have a feeling that this cross will do much better than the 801.5 X self.
Anyways, thanks for giving my seed a try and post a few more pics of the fruit when you harvest!

8/24/2005 6:20:16 AM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

I love a good orange discussion, sorry I'm coming in late
to this one...

I'm growing the 981 Zunino this year, and am happy to report
that it's giving excellent orange color for me.

http://idahopumpkin.tripod.com/

See September 2005... I selfed this one.

9/1/2005 5:52:41 PM

maine USA

I am a newbie and no doubt probe to errors, are any of the above listed seeds less apt to produce pumpkins that are unlikely to crack? thanks Kathy T

9/10/2005 9:57:52 AM