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Santa Cruz, CA

Last year we grew six pumpkins crossing carefully and choosing our seeds carefully too. Some of our pumpkins did not grow that big but have what look like good genetic crosses. For example, we grew the 1314.8 Beauchemin and crossed it with the 1420 Larue. It was in a part of our patch that had few amendments added and it only grew to 375lbs. (Other pumpkins in the same patch but in the amended section grew to 644lbs) What do you see are the down sides to growing the 375 Albrecht seed this year? It seems like one of the factors growers look at are the combination of the male and female's weights when choosing a seed to grow. We thought we'd cross it with the 1502 Wallace bring in more 898 Knauss and 845 Bobier into the line. Thanks for your thoughts -Kristine

2/24/2007 2:01:49 AM

Rhode Island

kristine

others have had good success growing seed from a pumpkin such as the size of yours. why not give it a try?

pap

2/24/2007 6:00:17 AM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

i.e. the 125 Wolf, Pap. But Kristine, I like your choices. I intend to cross the 1502 with a 742 Wolf, which is half 898 Knauss.

2/24/2007 8:29:10 AM

maine USA

For what it is worth, it sounds like a great cross to me. I hope you do try it. lots of luck in 07 KathyT

2/24/2007 9:38:05 AM

Yup the 125 Wolf,364 Webster, and the 691 Duchezeau were all very good to me.

The other plus I see is that we all need to grow our own seeds in order to see what our crosses will do.

Good luck !!!

Dan B

2/24/2007 10:25:57 AM

southwest MO

Kristine,
Make no mistake I think many folks including myself struggle with the same choices. So many seeds and only so much time, ground, money, etc. If you don't think the pumpkins grew to their full potential(weight) due to environmental factors, maybe base your decsions on color, shape, %heavy, vigor of the plant etc. Also look at the "preformance of the pollinator". Decsiions like this are often comprimises since it takes perfect soil, weather, etc., to get the maximum out of your seed. There are many folks out there that with experience have learned to take a seed to its potential. They may be making decisions based on these very things but their dealing with their breeding stock that just happens to be a few hundred pounds heavier than yours!!(or mine) Just my thoughts since you asked :/

2/24/2007 10:42:19 AM

Goffstown,nh

Hi Kristine, I have to say i love the cross! As far as the size of only 375lbs... Look what the 1314 was grown from (500Beauchemin) who would have thought? Good Luck!
Jim

2/24/2007 11:07:51 AM

Santa Cruz, CA

Thank you everyone for your suggestions and help! If you have some more thoughts on this it would be much appreciated.... We are definitely going to plant the 1502 Wallace and our 630 Sprinsock.(1180 Daletas x 1420 Larue) The 630 Sprinsock went 20 percent heavy and was crossed with the 1420 Larue, our fastest growing pumpkin in the patch. Growing those two make complete sense to me. Now for the other three..and this is all up in the air at this point and would love to hear suggestions on how you would get to your picks of the following choices. We have a great selection of wonderful seeds that all seem like really good candidates plus our other crosses from last year. What would you do if the 1502 and the 630 Sprinsock were in your patch and you had three other seeds to choose. Here are some of our seed choices: 1081 Larue, 1180 Daletas, 1173 Macari, 783 Daletas, 644 Liggett, 1123 Daletas, 1139 Sherwood, 582 Hester, 1125 Frantz, 582 Hester, 709 Mc Callum, 977 Wallace, 1140 Wallace and 1186 Wallace. There are a couple other ones I'd love to still get and consider but I haven't pursued them yet: 931 Miller, 1195 Glasier, 1250 Klein, 1332 Werner, and 1446 Werner,1231 Pukos and the 998 Pukos. We also have our crosses: 534 Albrecht (1420 Larue x 1180 Daletas), and the 475 Albrecht (1413 Beauchemin x 1420 Larue) It you have timeand can help with the decision, we'd love to hear your thoughts! Thanks- Kristine

2/25/2007 4:31:22 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Kristine,

If memory serves you got your 1502 at the CT auction. We here in CT will be cheering for you big time.

I am of the opinion that cultural practices count first with genetic selection being next most important. Since Mother is a fickle girl, please don't ever hesitate to ask for help BEFORE problems get out of hand. LOL

We'll be here for ya!

2/25/2007 5:31:50 PM

Rhode Island

kristine

id definately go with joes 998 if i could get it. and id use the 1502 as a male pollinator.

pap

2/25/2007 7:42:43 PM

Santa Cruz, CA

How hard is it to find a 998 Pukos? Were there many seeds?
Will it be showing up in any auctions that you know of? What of our seeds (listed above)would be considered a "good" trade? The color is beautiful on the 998 too.

2/25/2007 10:48:58 PM

Eugene,OR

The 998 has been in several auctions this year. It sells for $100+.

2/25/2007 10:58:11 PM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

I think the 1180 Delatas would be a nice pollinator for the 1502 Wallace. It tends to go heavy to the chart, and may add some color.
The 1446 Werner might be a fine pollinator as well. 1502 X 1446.... some big momma's there!
Or maybe pollinate the 1502 with the 977 Wallace(is this the reverse cross of the 1502...same plants???). I think the 977 Wallace could be a sleeper seed, with some awesome potential.

2/25/2007 11:16:50 PM

Santa Cruz, CA

I was looking through our seeds and realized that Joe sent us a 983 Pukos (1068 Wallace x 1420 Larue) when we got our 1180 Daletas at an auction. Pap, do you think that would be a good cross to the 1502 if I can't find the 998? I like the cross very much and it would bring more 1420 Larue into our 630 Sprinsock as well. Jeff Johnson is in our area and he grew his 897 off the 983 Pukos. ( It was a really nice sized pumpkin for our area) We both get summer fog.

2/25/2007 11:24:04 PM

Santa Cruz, CA

Doug,
I really like the 1180 Daletas too. We grew our 630 off it last year and we have a seed we could use this year. It was a great plant and went 20 percent heavy too. I like the 977 Wallace as well, the walls are the thickest I've seen. The 977 Wallace is the 1354 Checkon x 1068 Wallace. Yes, the reverse cross of the 1502. I'm not sure if they were the same plants eather.

2/25/2007 11:34:15 PM

Rhode Island

kristine
you must go with your gut feeling.on paper it sounds interesting. with the 983 you would be reinforcing the 1068 line plus that 1420 larue will give you lots of orange and good genetic additions. its always a crap shoot.
pap

2/26/2007 4:57:15 AM

Salem Or

A problem with small pumpkins is that you dont know if they would of split if they had grown bigger...

But that 1314 X 1420 looks like a good cross. Genetics are there, just has to get grown.

3/2/2007 2:05:41 AM