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Ohio

when choosing a seed that you want to grow, say the genetics are there from both sides. do you favor it because of the female or male. example: 935 Lloyd x 723 Bobier or 723 Bobier x 935 Lloyd. which one would actually be better? in other words, which is more favorable, the female side or the male side of the seed. i don't have this seed, just used it as an example. genetics would be great from either one! or does it make a difference when choosing? any input?

11/27/2007 8:08:36 AM

President - GPC

Great Question!

11/27/2007 8:32:35 AM

Eugene,OR

50% of the genetics are from the mother and 50% are from the father. With that being said, if you actually saw the parent plants, you can make pretty good guesses about the offspring. Were the parents trouble free? Did they readily set fruit? What shape was their fruit? Did their fruit weigh heavy? Etc. If you didn't actually see the plant and fruit growing, ask the grower. We all know which of our plants and fruit were exceptional compared to the others we have grown.

Another thing to look for is the track record of the cross itself. One 723x935 cross is going to be similar to another. Although most of us don't really follow this practice, it is a fact that the genetics of the cross is much more important than the grower's last name. A cross made by a first year grower (assuming that it was a controlled pollination) should be every bit as good as a cross made by a Heavy Hitter. The difference between the two seed stocks is that in a couple of years the Heavy Hitter's seeds will be proven out by other people, where the newby's seeds probably won't be widely grown. However, with the great, new generations of genetics (as evidenced by our ever increasing world record records and overall raising weights)the crosses that have worked and produced great results should be a great guide as to "what works" genetically.

There has never been a better time to grow a giant pumpkin. Just a few years ago it was
rare to grow a thousand pounder. Now the genetics are so good, that it you have good soil and do the right things, you have a legitimate shot at growing a thousand pounder...or bigger.

Ah, if it was only so easy!

11/27/2007 11:24:25 AM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

The only anecdotes that I've heard on this is that the father seems to be a stronger contributor of color. Don't know how true that is.

It's all conjecture. But in humans if you see a really good athlete, look at the mom. ;-) Most great athletes don't come from a whispy-thin petite mother. (Just calling them like I see them.)

11/27/2007 5:10:48 PM

North Smithfield, RI USA

Best to see what your local heavy hitters are growing. Sometimes a certain cross does better or worse in certain conditions .

11/27/2007 5:35:21 PM

Western NY

I think the most widely planted scenario to test this out will be a look back in a few years to compare the results of the 998 and 1231 Pukos seeds. the 998 has had more planting so far, but i believe there were a few more seeds in the 1231, so time will tell.

11/27/2007 5:57:20 PM

Pumpkintown, SC

"it is a fact that the genetics of the cross is much more important than the grower's last name. A cross made by a first year grower (assuming that it was a controlled pollination) should be every bit as good as a cross made by a Heavy Hitter."
Unfortunately Russ, most just haven't acquired a taste for that kool-aid yet, LOL. BF

11/27/2007 8:46:54 PM

Salem, OR

Yeah, Cliff, it does seem that great athletes come from sturdy mothers and I've been wondering, too, if pumpkin color is passed on more easily through the father (and sturdiness through the mother). That's why the 1689 Jutras should be such an interesting seed to watch next year--strong mother known to grow biggest pumpkins ever and pollinator that is know for color. In my own seeds, however, this theory didn't pan out, I must say. In 2006 I grew the 1370 Rose and crossed it with the 1225, thinking that the offspring of my 983.5 Isom would be heavy giants with a strong orange color. The only person to grow it last year was Rod Raunig and he got a big one (1220.5)and it weighed a delightful 20% heavy, but it wasn't orange. Cream color. Go figure. I'm still growing it next year, though! And I'll be pollinating it with something orange

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1/7/2008 9:03:50 AM

Berlin,mi.(zuhlke2@hotmail.com)

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1/7/2008 9:09:45 AM