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Idaho

From what I can gather most people think the male pollenator has no effect on the size of the pumpkin. Until the next generation! Is this really true or just an opinion? If this is true Chris Stevens is the best grower of the 1161 so far, along with mother natures help of course.

12/4/2010 11:39:59 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

100% true- scientific fact.

12/4/2010 2:51:41 PM

Willamette Valley, Oregon

To understand why that is you can think about the human analogs:

Pollen = male sperm
Ovules = female egg
Seeds = babies (all the seeds are siblings if it was a controlled pollination with one father)
Fruit = mother's belly

12/4/2010 3:22:52 PM

Colorado

A infamous grower told me a intrigueing story years ago.He was growing hubbard squash for size.He didnt have any HS pollen so he used ag squash pollen as a sub.He ended up growing his all time biggest hubbard squash.It makes me wonder

12/5/2010 2:58:06 AM

Deer Park, WI

Folks, when you step back and consider the big picture, plants and humans are not all that different. While we may look very different, on a cellular and biochemical level, there are more similarities than difference.

It is in this context that I ask you to think about this metaphor- Does having sex with your wife/girlfriend/side action make her fatter?

12/6/2010 10:42:06 PM

New York

The analogy I've always kept in mind is that when a yorkshire terrier puppy mates with a poodle, the poodle doesn't become a yorkie; only the offspring are affected.

12/7/2010 6:43:51 AM

Tenino, WA.

True but the poodle is already an adult the pumpkin is just a blossom it is the off spring

12/10/2010 9:11:14 PM

Las Cruces NM

I think this is going to bring on some heat but all discussion is good as far as I'm concerned! Pollen can matter to a degree in that fruits, in general, that are fully pollinated (more viable seeds)tend to be bigger and fruits with less incomplete pollination tend to be smaller or abort. This size is do to hormonal changes take place as pollinated seeds develop and it is these hormones which causes the fruit to grow. There has been study to support that view. Now whether a particular pollen strain has some greater degree of effect on size over another, I don’t think there is an answer there ... so we can’t say it doesn’t, nor it does [if there is such a pollen study, I would certainly like to review so by all means please present!]. If we can say plants are the same as humans/animals (and we can't as that is in itself a falacy), we could say a person having a bigger baby will indeed weigh more. With plants however, size of the seed doesn’t seem to matter but there are studies to show number of seeds seem to matters (seen studies to support this). However, with AGs, we have seen many a big one with relative few seeds which throws a curve ball into that generality. I don't have an answer for that in AGs, but perhaps the pollen is still providing hormones effect even though the seed doesn't develop?? And of course for genetics, the pollen is important for the makeup of offspring (i.e., the seed’s genetics) but seed genetics has to do with offspring and not the current fruit.

12/12/2010 8:00:51 PM

Redmond, Washington; U.S.A.

As far as I know any male human could impregnate any female human as long as all there parts are working. Not the same with ag's as they do not all cross pollinate. Ever tried to force two different ag's to cross several times only to go back to selfing becuase you tried crossing the plants so many times and it didn't work. Pollen matters.

12/13/2010 8:13:53 PM

Colorado

Like sw/1064 says were talking about a fruit not a poodle.The fruit is a lot of flesh supporting developing seeds.Different pollens may affect the fertility of the seeds and the development of the flesh(seed maturation gives feedback to the developing fruit).Why are many of the giants having low seed counts?

12/15/2010 1:03:46 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Mr. Joe, sir...IMHO...low seed count is Wiz & Biz 's fault!!! Eddy dancin is what caused low seed counts!!!! Peace, Wayne

12/15/2010 9:11:02 PM

Colorado

I'm not sure what all that eddys dance caused.I'm still recovering from that video.lol

12/16/2010 2:28:13 PM