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Big Rapids, Michigan

I'm a first time grower and have a question about the names given to seeds and how to understand them. I know the number in the name is associated with the weight of the pumpkin it came from. Where I get confused is when you have , just for example, 924 Conley or 913 Herring or 869 Calai x 670 Daigle or 846 x self. How do they get the name and where does it come from?

And what does one look for when try to decide what to cross with. Are to heavy weights crosses better as compared to a heavy weight with a lower weight, or is it just simply a growers particular preference and trial and error?

Thank you in advance to all who reply with any info an insight you can provide me.

Jeremy

3/21/2006 1:15:57 PM

Huntsburg,Ohio

The name is the person who grew it last name. When we cross pollinate we look for the heavy or orange or just shape of a fruit. It is pritty easy to understand after a little bit of being on here and around giant pumpkins. Clinton

3/21/2006 1:24:16 PM

Port Alberni, BC, Canada

Jeremy, remember, there are no dumb questions. We were all beginners at one time.
Normally, the first number is the weight of the pumpkin the seed came from. The name of the grower is next and the year the pumpkin was grown last.
Most growers also list the parents of the pumpkin the seed came from. (female X male)
This is a good site to get information from other growers.
Good luck in your rooky year.

3/21/2006 2:47:37 PM

yes there are dumb question though yours is not one of them.

there are several ways you will see pumpkins listed.

900 example (translated weight: 900 lbs; grower: example;)

900 example 2007( translated weight: 900 lbs; grower: example;year grown: 2007)

900 example 2007 ( 670 example x self)( translated weight:
900 lbs; grower: example;year grown: 2007; mother 670 and father same plant)
900 example 2007 ( 670 example x 675 example)900 lbs; grower: example;year grown: 2007; mother 670 and 675 father)

there you also several other terms but they are not as common but just as simple to learn.

3/21/2006 3:23:25 PM

Norton, MA

To summarize them: This is what the packet of my 720.6 looks like.

720.6 Noel '05

F. 1068 Wallace
X
M. 1104.5 Hester

-1-

720.6 is the weight of the pumpkin that the enclosed seed came from. Noel is my last name. '05 (short for 2005) is when it was grown.
F. (Female) is the seed that grew the plant that the 720.6 was on.
M. (Male) is the seed that grew the plant that the flower that pollinated the 720.6 as a baby was on.
If F. and M. aren't listed, the female is always first.
The 1 is the number of seeds in the packet. (Not always noted).
When "self" is on the male side, the baby pumpkin was pollinated with a flower from it's own plant. When it's a "sibb", it was pol.'d with a flower from a dif. plant, but grown from a seed of the same pumpkin.
UOW = Un Official Weight = Not weighed on a certified scale and/or without proper witnesses present.
DMG = Damaged = A hole penetrated into the cavity before the weighoff.
EST = Estimated weight (by the measuring tape and charts)
EXH = Exhibition only = (rarely used, because it's unneccessary) for some reason, not considered for prize money at a weighoff, but recognized.
* or Sq. = Squash
The genetic selection is base on traits, it's alot of just guessing though. AleX Noel.

3/21/2006 8:20:21 PM

Syracuse, NY

jeez, AleX and matfox, i think even i learned a thing or two--good job! eric

3/22/2006 5:13:17 PM

Norton, MA

AAAHHHHH! But look at that spelling mistake in the last line!!!!! I can't take it! Not BASE, BASED!!!!!!!!!!! Yikes, I need serious help. LOL! AleX Noel.

3/22/2006 8:23:47 PM

Syracuse, NY

baste that turkey, lol...

wee al make mistakes;
i got outta bed this morning, ---DOH!

3/23/2006 6:38:15 PM

Norton, MA

lol!

3/23/2006 8:25:03 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Alex, you gave a very good description.

3/24/2006 4:10:47 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

lol Eric, me too

3/24/2006 9:17:24 PM