From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Sparks, NV

I am a new grower i started growing baby pumpkins 3 years ago. but now i am in to big ones.
I alwas wonderd how you crossbread them please help

10/21/2007 5:44:03 PM

Burlington Ma

Baum, thanks for asking this question I was thinking the same thing.

10/21/2007 6:31:21 PM

addison Il

There are three ways you can pollinate a pumpkin. First off when a grower selfs a pumpkin it means he/she takes a male from his/her plant and uses that males pollen to pollinate a female on the same plant. When you self there is no other plant involved in pollination.When you want to do a cross you can take a male flower from one of your plants and use it to pollinate a female from another plant. Always keep track of the male your using and what female your pollinating.When you do this its called making a cross. Example would be for me to take a male from my plant the 262 Michaels06 and use that flower to pollinate my 155 Michaels The seeds in that pumpkin would be named after me of course with the weight and the date it was grown and the cross would be 262 Michaels06 x 155 Michaels07. To Sib a pumpkin would be if I grew two plants using the 262 Michaels seed.If I where to use a male from one of the plants to Pollinate my female on the other plant that would make it a sibling cross as both plants have the same genetic background. Sometimes growers will use the phrase self/sib that means they not only used a male from the same plant they also took a male flower from its sibling plant and used it to pollinate that female.Whichever cross you do and there are endless ways to cross pumpkins just make sure you keep a good record because if not your pumpkin can and will be considered Open pollinated meaning you have no idea what the genetics are.Im no pro at this so maybe the heavy hitters will chime in and correct me but this is what I know LOL.

10/21/2007 7:00:56 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Back up the tractor...I think he is talking different varieties..The Book you need to read is "The Perfect Pumpkin"

10/23/2007 2:03:10 PM