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Nelson county , VA

the ones from the hardware store, by weeks seeds , they say 1600lbs on the package.
anyone know the best case grow for a "generic AG"?

6/5/2010 7:46:21 PM

Coupeville WA

200#

6/5/2010 9:26:14 PM

Deer Park WA

If your growing generic seeds you probably dont have the soil, skills, experience that it takes to grow a monster so the pumpkin weight wont be that great. If you have the skills and ability you would be growing proven world class seeds.

6/6/2010 12:24:28 PM

Coupeville WA

The reason that I say 200# is that When Howard Dill was alive, We were at his his home talking about the mass produced seeds that were sold in the stores. He told me at that time that most offspring coming from those seeds were about 200-250# regardless of the grower. These seeds were grown in many test markets, and for some reason, would not grow large pumpkins.
You are much better off with proven seed!

6/6/2010 2:00:41 PM

Smithville, Tn

We've been growing pumpkins(for Halloween) and various other ornamentals (gourds, jack-B-littles, baby boo's, goose bumps, autumn wings, luminas, etc.) for fall decorating, so I consider us to be skilled growers with very good soil. Last year my husband ordered us some GIANT seeds just for fun to see what they would do. Got a couple around #100, one at #186 and another at #205. I did a lot of reading! The biggest ones got a lot of pampering, daily watering and feeding, not to mention measuring. I had one that got to #95 and just quit growing. Vine was in good shape, it just stopped. We had a proven grower tell us that if we could grow a #200 on a generic seed then we could grow a #1000 with no problem. Just to help us along, he sent us some seeds for this year. Just got them started, can't wait for them to poke through. KPM, we hope to do you proud down here in Tennessee. For the rest, don't be so quick to be so critical of others. You were a beginner once too!

6/6/2010 11:47:21 PM

Gold Hill, Oregon

i agree with hands on. store bought seeds are mass produced. just like everything you buy in a store. more pumpkins per acre = more seeds, more lettuce per acre = more money. the seeds you buy in the store might get the nieghborhood lookeylure award. if you want to grow monsters go to the seed exchange forum and ask for some. someone will be willing to help you out. there are also seed auctions held here in the fall and winter months.

6/7/2010 2:23:56 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

The grower cannot choose to "mass produce" seeds.
Store bought "generic" seeds have the genetic potential of ZERO-2000 + lbs.
As Gad's already pointed out the average gardener has the same likelihood of producing nothing regardless the source of their seeds. The limiting factors being skills and soil prep rather than seeds.

I hope Tom Beachy sees this thread.

6/7/2010 7:19:45 AM

Long Island,New York

I don't believe store bought "generic" seeds have the same potential as properly bred/crossed selected successful contest seeds.

6/7/2010 8:59:09 PM

Netherlands

I grew a 200# pumpkin from generic seed in 1987.

Generic seeds do not have the potential of 0-2000 lbs. Even a seed like the 723 Bobier had a potential limited to almost exactly 1400 lbs and the 848* MacKenzie of 1130 lbs, for example. The 723 was planted 100s of times and at the end there was a cluster of pumpkins between 1400 and 1407 lbs. The 848* has also been grown 100s of times and the top were 1130 and 1131.

Generic seeds are much smaller than competition seeds, up to about 400% lighter in weight. These seeds have not gone through a careful genetic selection like competition seeds have.

The growers do choose to mass produce seeds by planting as many plants as possible in a certain area and letting all pumpkins on the plant grow to maturity. Afterwards no selection is made of the best seeds (with the exception of some smaller retailers).

The potential is likely between 0 and 300-400 lbs.

6/8/2010 3:07:20 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

look at the size of these seeds barely bigger than a pepo variety. The 1st AG seed sent to me by Fred Calai was huge. I knew then no more store bought for me.

6/8/2010 1:08:46 PM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

Punkinologist, email me. You are in the middle of a bunch of giant pumpkin growers here in Virginia with plenty of good seeds to offer. mfowler@hsc.edu

6/10/2010 10:36:45 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

6366, best of luck to you this year!!! Peace, Wayne

6/12/2010 2:03:55 AM

Gays Mills, Wisconsin

McKenzie Ruff grew one over 1000 pounds.
got the seed at a hardware store.

6/12/2010 7:59:41 AM

Indiana

It depends on where the generic seeds came from. It depends on what variety of "Atlantic Giant" it is, and many other factors.

The "generic" or bulk seeds that I produce and sell can go up to and over 1500 lbs probably. Many times the parents are of the top seeds in the world.

I think Tremor's mark of 0-2000 is pretty close. I do not like to assign a top end number because it is likely that the seeds of today can produce much more, we just have not maximized their potential.

Just because the 723 didn't produce much over 1400, does not mean that that was its upper genetic limit.

I remember the story of the Ruff 1000 pounder. Quite interesting!

6/13/2010 11:57:09 PM

Deer Park WA

Go with proven genetics available from this community if you ever hope to grow a World Record. As I stated in an earlier post (sorry if it offended)if you are growing $2.00 off the shelf seeds then you probably are not providing the proper growing conditions necessary to grow a world class specimen.

Still negociating on a new 1 acre home in Tenino WA for next season!

8/27/2010 1:21:05 AM

Des Moines, Iowa

With great growers and a close nit community like the ones on this web sight, the conversation on what a generic seed will grow doesn’t even need to be had. Great genetic lines are in abundance for the price of a bubble. I think most growers other then the heavy hitters would love to see a few requests in the mail every fall. I for one will give seeds to anyone that sends a bubble. The same way I received my seeds last year. Thanks again Don, Chad, Pete, Wilbur, Dave,Franks

8/27/2010 10:26:47 AM

Bemidji Minnesota

I just wanted to add that there are SO MANY really good genetics out there in the community, that very SADLY will never hit dirt.

That is the reason I would not grow a generic seed, as there are so many growers who have not had a seed request yet. Some of them have great crosses with 1385's and 1161's for size, or some mixed with 772's and other great colored pumpkins.

These seeds stay in their oat-cylinder, or freezer bag, until the end of time unless somebody asks for a seed and plants it.

10/14/2010 8:40:07 PM

France

Hi, I'm new on the forum and I would like to ask you about this item concerning "generic seeds". Do you consider the langevin seeds as generic seeds ? The seeds he produce are made with crossed polinisation of well-known pumpkins (for example 1432 Northrup x 1725 Harp or 1725 Harp x self, look at http://www.giantpumpkin.com/seeds.php). Perhaps my question isn't a good one but I wonder if these seeds are "mass produce" seeds
Christophe from France

10/26/2010 4:16:00 AM