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SE Minnesota

So I have my lineup pretty much set, includes such stars as 1689 Jutras, 1207 Young, 985 Werner, 1350 Starr, 1568 Wallace, 843 Heyne (Same cross as the 998.6 Pukos), either 503 Beauchemin or the 1180 Daletas and a couple of other stars. Assuming of course they all germinate:)
My question is how does one pick a pollinator, best guess??, intuition as the plants grow? genetics?? I have lots of other super genetics in the bullpen as it were. Open to any and all suggestions and yes my soil is primed and ready to grow 'em BIG.
thanks in advance
Jim

2/26/2009 9:59:03 PM

SE Minnesota

another question, do i pick one pollinator for all plants? do i try specific crosses such as the Revier crosses, well done Chad. or do I try to replicate other crosses? Other plants in the bullpen include the Revier collection, 1566 Rodonis, 1166 Rodonis, 1147 Shenoha (thanks Shazzy), 1097 Beachy, 1000 Grande, 1537 Stelts, 275 Van Hook (Thanks John), 1468 Richards, 1536 Van Kooten, and Privitera 722 and 765 (Thanks Tom), 1402 Bosworth, 1183 Daletas
I have some in mind but don't want to muddy the waters as it were.
Kinda curious about the 1183 Daletas, looking for any info on this seed.

2/26/2009 10:10:03 PM

Walton N.y.

have you tried enie- menie - miney - moe i never set myself up that i HAVE to make a specific cross because it always seems the plants have ideas of their own and that you don't get males on the plant that you plan on using as a polinator when the female for the other half of the cross opens and i haven't had good luck with refrigorated pollen so for me i've found going with the flow keeps me from freaking out if i can't make the cross i want

2/27/2009 9:07:23 AM

Ham Lake, Minnesota

Being very critical of a pollinator should only be a factor if you are planning on growing those seeds next year. The pollinator should not have any effect on your mother plants pumpkin size and -/+% heavy, all that is already tied up in the mother plant. If you do wish to use your own seeds for next year, picking a pollinator that has had great weights and heavy fruits as a producer seems to be a good idea. Yes grow em big Jim! You have an outstanding lineup.

2/27/2009 10:41:36 AM

eastern Ontario

I learned by experience:

1.No point in trying to pick pollinators in the winter,although it is fun to speculate.

2.Plant and grow your best mothers,proven or by speculation.

3.Come blossom time,choose your male pollinators from your best plants and males at the time.

If a seed was good enough to be a choosen mother it should be good enough to be a pollinator but you won't know that until pollination time.

2/27/2009 5:10:35 PM

Colorado

big buck.I wouldnt try to replicate others crosses.Cross your two favorite plants and mix up your other crosses so that theres a variety of genetics. You wont know till the pumpkins are older whether you crossed your two best fruit.

2/27/2009 5:38:38 PM

Woburn, MA.

I think Randy gave you great advice & I don't think you can go wrong with that line up. You have some great seeds there!

2/27/2009 7:16:31 PM

huntsburg,ohio

Alan is 100 percent right on.I always go with best looking males and plant at pollination time.Jerry

2/27/2009 7:21:08 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

I was wondering how i pick out the BEST males to pollinate with.Do i consider the best male to be on the first secondaries,or on the main. Is there anything wrong with pollinating with flowers further out from the stump.

2/27/2009 9:33:32 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

What does the Best looking Male look like . Hey Brooks. Maybe you can anwser that one.

2/27/2009 9:42:18 PM

Walton N.y.

al said it a little clearer that i did at this point in time all you're doing is making wish pollinations and they never work out for me and in most of my last years pollinations the 1121 bobier plant had the the best looking males on all of the plants filled with lots of pollen so they got used the most while the males on the other plants were fine i tapped the pollen from a male from each plant on to paper and the 1121 had more pollen (by half again)than the other plants so i used them because it gave me a good feeling

2/28/2009 9:01:55 AM

wow randy,,kinda gives a new meaning to "was it good for you?"

2/28/2009 11:03:43 AM

eastern Ontario

Maybe I can elaborate a bit more,only based on my own experience.Others may see it differently.

-suppose you grow 5 plants,all your carefully choosen potential top mothers.
-by pollination time one plant grew a double vine
-another plant was a runt (poor grower) compared to the other four,identical conditions
-another plant had no fresh male blossoms that morning when you needed them

SO----------now your're down to 2 good potential male plants that morning--that is the time to decide which to use.

That's the way I see it anyway.

3/1/2009 4:19:23 PM

SE Minnesota

Thank you all for you input. Hopefully that magical mix will show up in your gardens this year. Good luck to all.
Jim

3/1/2009 6:14:41 PM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

Good explanation Alan. Sometimes our dream crosses don't pan out.

3/2/2009 1:35:32 AM