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Ankeny, Iowa

Here's a proosal I suggest for all giant pumpkin growers in order to reach the elusive 1500 pound mark. I propose for a grower to create the perfect cross for an Atlantic Giant pumpkin strain. The rules are listed below.

1. Cross must be of pure Atlantic Giant pumpkin origin only.
2. Must be made from certified seeds only.
3. Cross must have been proven over a 2-4 year period to produce pumpkins weighing on average 1200 pounds.
4. Cross must grow 1200+ pound pumpkins in a variety of climates and conditions.

Suggestions to start with.
1. Crosses with a history of producing solid pumpkins that weigh about 15% heavy or more.
2. World record pumpkin seeds in the cross for at least 3 generations.
3. Pumpkins with strong and vigorous weight gains and plant growth should be used in cross.
4. Heat, drought, disease and cold resistant crosses are
highly suggested.
5. Experimental runs are suggested, For example give seeds from prospective crosses to about 50 growers in a variety of areas and have the growers create a data log/ diary for stats on their progress and how the plant performed and what their pumpkin weighed.
6. Create cross over period of years not in one season.

Any additional input or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

10/1/2006 12:27:22 PM

Rapid City, SD

Well........here is my 2 cents worth. To get to the 1500 mark........most any seed, proven or not proven, could have the potential to get to 1500. With perfect soil and weather conditions and proper care. Grow it or Blow it!

10/1/2006 6:24:05 PM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

I agree with old timer on the soil and weather conditions. Perfect soil is great but if the weather sucks the results are still likely to be poor. The weather ruined my chances this year. We had an enormous amount of rain followed immediately by very hot and humid temps right at pollination time. And I had very good, proven seeds. Great soil and darned good weather...got to have both.

10/1/2006 10:59:17 PM

Ohio

I Think I have the cross for ya Junior, how about this cross, 1068 Wallace x self? LOL

10/2/2006 5:44:35 AM

West By God Virginia

In theory most of your ideas are right, but to have all of them happen is the trouble.
"World record pumpkin seeds in the cross for at least 3 generations."
In general seeds from world record pumpkins haven't done that well.
1446 Eaton best progeny was 6% heavy. The biggest grown from it was 1289.5 DMG. Average weigh of progeny 923.7 and 1.84% heavy.
1385 Daletas best progeny was 11% heavy. The biggest grown from it was 684. Average weight of progeny 684 and 2% heavy.
1337 Houghton best progeny was 21% heavy. The biggest grown from it was 960. Average weight of progeny 746.9 and 7.83 % heavy.

10/2/2006 7:39:27 AM

Ankeny, Iowa

I think that in order to reach 1500+ pounds old fashioned luck, good soil, good weather and growing skill are deffinatley required. But I also honestly beleive that in order to reach 1500 pounds and beyond there needs to be a definitive and proven cross made, aka The Perfect Cross, I beleive that us growers should at least consider trying to experiment and hypothesize this winter on how to create such a cross. Then hopefully, through trial and error, we will all (together) come up with the perfect cross needed in order to take giant pumpkin growing to new and previously unmatched heights.

10/5/2006 9:44:13 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Maybe 1500 won't be so elusive after this weekend.

10/5/2006 10:20:33 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

If all of the "SMACK" on the smack post comes true...after this wknd 1500# will be something we will all think fondly as something that happened in the past...Good luck to all...I, personally hope it happens several times. I hope it happens more than once with more than one "Perfect Cross", I think that at the very least the RI guys have already been tryin to perfect this theory!!! If it becomes just one seed that is the "Perfect Cross"...then the fun of the chase is gone!!!! What a sad day that would be!!!!!!??
Peace, Wayne

10/6/2006 12:08:21 AM

Ankeny, Iowa

Thank you everyone for your input. I appreciate all of your thoughts and comments. Hopefully the quest for bigger and better pumpkins/ and crosses can be acomplished by cooperative efforts between growers in the giant pumpkin community. I hope all growers can continue in their hobby of giant pumpkin growing. I personally know it is something I will continue to love doing as long as I possibly can. I hope every grower can claim that same statement. I also hope that new "research" with AG genetics and breeding can continue and hopefully one day make the sport and hobby of giant pumpkin growing more popular and funner for everyone. Good luck to you all at the weigh-offs and keep growing em bigger and heavier.

10/8/2006 3:07:41 PM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

Junior,
This winter I think you'll get more responses in this forum, for questions such as yours. Breeding is quite an interesting topic to me.
That being said,I would imagine that if I grew the same exact seed that Ron Wallace grew his WR on, I might have ended up somewhere around 900 lbs possibly. It takes a lot of hard work and preparation to grow something of that monumental size.

10/8/2006 4:18:59 PM

Simi valley, ca

some of the un proven crosses,, or even same cross as proven could be a whole lot better ,, excample i grew 958 ciliberto & 1104 hester ( same cross) but conditions were greatly improved in many ways but 1104 didnt do as good & went light ,, the first yr i grew the 958 grew much more impressive in comparrison ,(872) & many mistakes first yr !

10/13/2006 1:52:40 AM

Simi valley, ca

so maybe we should try the 733 ciliberto same cross as the 1068 & possable break the 1600-or 1700 mark!!

10/13/2006 1:56:22 AM

Simi valley, ca

not a perfect cross though too many dill rings --and split pumpkins in those crosses !!

10/13/2006 1:58:30 AM

Mocksville, NC

The seed is just a small part in the the overall achivement of a great pumpkin or Sq no offence to any one, but its true, and it is true you need good seed thats part of the factor, but does not give up it full potentcial unless a full array of factors are in place, and alot of hard work, then mother nature comes along is with ya or againt ya, But the weights are going up so us growers are on the right track. the genetics are getting better year by year.

10/13/2006 8:35:51 AM