From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Midway, UT

Which is the best seed ever? It is the one that grows you a personal best. But on average some seeds do tend to perform better than others. Taking the data on pumpkinlink.com from past years combined with this years weigh-off data the following is the average pumpkin weight for each known pumpkin that went to scale from each seed. These numbers unfortunately doesn't answer the question in regards to disease resistance, average experience of growers or other important factors but at least it gives an idea of how the seeds performed for pumpkins that went to scale.

It should be noted that the 1068 Wallace is at a bit of a disadvantage since it is an older seed and average pumpkin weights have gone up over the years. It still is one of the best seeds ever based on average. Didn't have time to do more seeds but I thought the results would be interesting to share. If you have a seed you would like to know the average weight of feel free to email me.

1161 Rodonis - 1,182 pound average
1068 Wallace - 1,131 pound average
998.6 Pukos - 1,062 pound average
985 Werner - 1,048 pound average
1385.5 Jutras - 1,048 pound average
1566 Rodonis - 1,036 pound average

10/26/2009 9:03:46 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

INMO, I feel that the 1161 is still too young for this title. If it repeats in 2010 then you might be right.

10/27/2009 12:30:08 AM

Ohio

1068 Wallace with out question in my mind. 723 Bobier and 845 Bobier, and 898 Knauss is another that are important in the gentics factor for being great also.

The 1161 is also in there.

And off the top of my head,,,just a few of the newer seeds or ones that havnt been grown that much yet that I think that will be added to that list in the years to come.

1288 Wallace
904 Stelts
991 Urena

It just to hard to pick one certain seed for being the all time great.

10/27/2009 5:18:41 AM

Saegertown Pa.

I think you have to look more at top five and top ten average. I did this a week ago but I don't think the numbers have changed.
top five Average
1385 Jutras - 1545
1068 Wallace - 1520.1
985 Wernerb - 15512.5
1161 Rodonis - 1510.2
998.6 Pukos - 1493.9
Top Ten Average
1068 Wallace - 1464.2
1385 Jutras - 1463.9
985 Werner - 1460.3
1161 Rodonis - 1442.9
998.6 Pukos - 1397.2

10/27/2009 5:34:46 AM

Saegertown Pa.

in top five the 985 Werner should read 1512.5

10/27/2009 5:37:41 AM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

It depends on how you interpret "best". Can't argue with Quinn's data, but based on consistent performance I think it's a toss up between the 1068 and 998 Pukos, with the 1385 Jutras not far behind. Data is just that but of the pumpkins entered on AGGC, the 1068 was planted 96 times with 64 over 1000. The 998 was planted 79 times with 43 over 1000 and the 1385 was planted 55 times with 32 over 1000. Taking into account the age of each seed it's pretty amazing the 1385 is that close. At this rate the 1385 may surpass the others in a year or two. Does that mean it's the best seed? Depends how you define it.

10/27/2009 6:04:20 AM

Midway, UT

I think the truth lives somewhere in between Quinn's top ten average and my overall average. Fire power to grow a 1,400 plus pound pumpkin is what you find in the top ten list. Ability to grow big consistently is maybe more in the overall average (although there is maybe more variability in the average because grower experience comes more into play). One interesting thing to see in Quinn's top ten list is that you are only talking no more than a 22 pound difference between the top four seeds. That is just a 1% difference which says to me that statistically there is almost no difference between those 4 seeds. Thanks for sharing those numbers Quinn.

10/28/2009 10:16:36 AM

Milmine, IL

AGGC members can check out the 'Rankings' and '10 Year Rankings' pages off the 'Queries' menu. The 'Seed Summary' and 'Seed Performance' pages will be of interest as well.

10/28/2009 1:16:02 PM

Colorado

I dont know how many 991 urena seeds are out there.If the pumpkin elite all grew that seed I'd guess that it would make the list as well.

10/28/2009 2:07:40 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

It makes you wonder, where are all the other seeds? If I had a 1385 or any other that we're talking about, I'd plant it. Only 55 have been registered by AGGC?

10/28/2009 2:09:16 PM

Midway, UT

Your right Joe. 991 Urena is right up there with the best seeds with an average weight of 1,123 pounds.

10/28/2009 3:41:30 PM

That State Up North

The 1068, 998, 985 and even 1385 are all older seeds, it is highly likely that a seed that is in existence today will surpass their performance. Thus, those are likely not the best seeds in the world right now. So, the tricky part would be figuring out what the best seed is without years of data pointing to an older seed.

Only seeds to have doubles in the top 10 this year are the 1161 and 985, so maybe a combination of these (1549 Rose for example) will become the new best seed.

1421.5 Stelts looks pretty good in my opinion, and so does the 1544.5 Revier
but maybe the 1355 Kilburn is better...

but, I still believe the best seed in the world is in your seed pile, and you will never plant it

10/28/2009 9:20:22 PM

Rhode Island

huh ????????

10/29/2009 9:01:49 AM

Western PA

No doubt genetics play a large role in seed performance, but what needs to be taken into account is the growers growing those seeds. If you have the worlds best growers all growing the same seeds of course your going to get great results on those seeds.

I am willing to say there are AT LEAST a hundred different seeds out there that are not on the radar or have not had the right PR to become a seed that everyone wants to grow that could be right up there at the top of the list with these big time seeds.

Pass a no name seeds with decent genetics onto all the top growers to grow and that seed will become a great producer also.

10/31/2009 4:17:50 PM

Colorado

PP what you say is true.However, I'd like to point out many great crosses on paper dont pan out.It's one of the factors that keep unproven seed stocks from getting tried.

11/2/2009 11:54:20 AM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

Cojoe,
I'm guessing in some cases, some of the great crosses on paper don't pan out, because they don't have a breakout first year, or aren't grown enough. If Quinn W. didn't grow a big one on the 998 Pukos, that seed might never have caught on.
That being said, I do agree that similar crosses aren't equal.

11/2/2009 6:29:39 PM

That State Up North

Pap

I am going out on logic here, let me explain my point by example.

in winter 2003-04 ask anyone what the best seed in the world was and you would have had answers including 723 Bobier, 845 Bobier, 705 Stelts, 846 Calai, 940 Mombert, 1260 Weir, 805 Pukos ect
Not one mention of the seed that at that point in time was the best seed in the world, even though it hadn't been planted yet to show those numbers. Based on performance of all seeds up to 2003 growing season, the 1068 Wallace is the best, but no-one knew that yet.
So, that is why I would argue that in 2003-04 winter months, the best seed was the 1068 Wallace, not the 723 Bober.
Thus, in winter 2009-10 the best seed in the world is not the 1068 Wallace, it is something else, and likely something that was grown in 2009, so since we know the best seed isn't the 1068, 985, or 1385, why not guess it is the 1421.5 Stelts, but odds are it is something else we won't guess...

11/2/2009 9:21:10 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Good points Nic except that seeds collecting dust will never be great. Someone must get behind a seed before it can pop big stuff.

11/3/2009 1:32:04 AM

President - GPC

Good Thread.......Very Interesting......Which HH wants to try a 1019 Grande seed this year in Ohio, Rhode Island, or other sites that have grown a WR? First seed out smashed the state record by major poundage in a very cold growing year, grown by just a "WaterBoy"....any takers on this...email me, Ill get you a plump seed to try for next year.

11/4/2009 2:18:07 PM