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Hampstead, NC 28443

There are so many opinions about genetics. You see people who are growing new seeds, but you also see the long time growers growing the old proven ones too. Is this a technique? How do you pick? I would like to hear opinions on old vs. new seeds. Last year was my Rookie year.

12/13/2011 10:10:54 AM

Rhode Island

if i were planting a large patch,lets say six or eight plants? id probably plant 1/2 2011 genetics (from the biggest and best crosses available to me ) and 1/2 of the proven standards of our hobby ---1161-1385-1725-stelts seeds-werner seeds-(some of the mother seeds of our 2011 heavy weights),what ever you can get your hands on.

im an older fart so i do just two plants.for 2012 im rolling the dice and planting two of our own from 2011,my 1647 and rons 1789.
each has fantastic genetics and some great history from our experiences with the mother seeds in 2011.(the 1725 harp) i dont consider it a big risk at all.wont know for sure though until next summer.

the best advise i can give you is this. being a new grower? you should be trying to grow something that has proven to be a successful seed from a couple years past.it will improve your chances.

if you cant get any of those seeds? plant seeds from 2011 that have proven genetics one parent back in the genetic chain.

pap

12/13/2011 11:02:57 AM

Honesdale Pa USA

Yeah Pap,what he said! LOL

12/13/2011 2:13:02 PM

Hampstead, NC 28443

Should have known the post would be high-jacked by Amelio. Just want an answer without all the babble. Thanks for the truthful reply pap, please can I have other opinions as well?

12/13/2011 4:13:35 PM

Hampstead, NC 28443

Getting compared to a 7 year old was nice too (sarcasm).

12/13/2011 4:28:49 PM

President - GPC

Where iZ BiZ....?

12/13/2011 4:30:32 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

I don't care what he says, I have procrastinative distance to the Wallace's caste.

12/13/2011 4:32:20 PM

Minnesota

Opinions? here's what I do, go to aggc.org, top pumpkins, click on hiararchy tree, look at the genetics in the top pumpkins, and go to pumpkinlink, see what the seed has grown. I think of next year, will this seed be good for crossing into or something crossed into it. Its not all seeds, seeds soil sun and luck. A top grower said the secret is in the soil.

12/13/2011 4:46:03 PM

Germany

Giving new seeds a go is both good for others to see what the seed can do and your one and only chance of having the first big one with this particular seed, and it´s a lottery, of course, with risk and with surprise (hopefully positive). No need to talk (or write) about proven seeds, their status speaks for itself. For above reason the new ones are more exciting. Just care for the plants as if they were out of a 1161 seed. When looking out what seed to plant, of course its parents will be a helpful indicator (if one or both are from more or les proven seeds). Do not look at the weight of the parent pumpkin as the only indicator of quality, try to figure out the potential in the seed. E.g., you might have a seed out of a 1000 lbs pumpkin, what else do you know? 1000 lbs after 110 days or 1000 lbs after 65 days (early harvest because of stem split)? What do you know about the pollinator plant...did it grow a big one? Did it grow just a 600-pounder? Why? Foamer? Only fruit on a secondary vine, late pollination, 70 days old? ...makes 600 lbs look quite good, doesn´t it?
Have you seen cross-sections of the two pumpkins? Homogeneously thick walls down to blossom end? Perfect. One could list many many more things...just to summarize, try to get to know as much as possible about the parent pumpkin and the pollinator plant (and its pumpkin) and try to evaluate the potential in the new seed.

12/13/2011 5:12:07 PM

canal winchester ohio

like pap said it depends on the number of plants you can grow. If 2 try to cross 2 proven seeds to give some good genetics in your seed line. Then the following year grow that seed as a priority in your patch because you'll come to learn that a seed grown from your soil always seems to do better when planted in the same ground.
Some may argue this but I've always noticed that.

12/13/2011 5:18:37 PM

milford, CT,

I'd go with PAP..he never steered me wrong!!! How can you question any long time grower who has a history of picking the "right" seeds..Sorry but I still have to respect growers with much experience.

12/13/2011 5:21:21 PM

Germany

...and here I need to enter some lines again...SKWI, look at the Milford diary, look at his 1176. The pumpkins at both Rodonis plant and the pollinator (Stelts) plant are speaking for consistently good growth. The pumpkins on his 1161 and 1421 haven´t been the heaviest grown off these seeds, but their habits are speaking for quality...from both female and pollinator side. The 1176 Lombardi 11 is a new seed, but I will grow it next year. The reasons are pointed out above in my first comment, and Pap also did a recommendation of new seeds from pumpkins which have parents out of proven seeds. The 1176 is well in accord with Pap and with my criteria. Furthermore, Mark made a special offer to those who will grow the 1176 in 2012...but in another thread.
(no need for further recommendations from my end at this point)

12/13/2011 5:35:11 PM

Gays Mills, Wisconsin

Scott,
If my goal was to grow the first 2000 pounder, I'd be taking a chance on a 2011 seed because there's some exceptional potential on paper.
If I'm hoping to be competitive in the weigh-offs, getting ahold of seeds that have a good history (no dill rings, cracks, splits, etc...) that have been proven (grown big ones before) can keep me in the game.
I like the excitement of taking a chance on a new seed but will grow a "got a good chance to get to a weigh-off" seed also. Good Luck this year. John

12/13/2011 5:38:50 PM

Germany

oh well, it´s late here in Germany, the 1176 Lombardi is 1421 x 1161, not the reverse as one might have the impression from my above lines. Sorry for the confusion (if any).

12/13/2011 5:40:49 PM

Oakland,Maine

Speaking as another new(ish) grower, I decided it would be the best plan for me to get the growing techniques down first:vine training,pruning,burying, hand pollination, etc.
Then when I was more confident with my abilities at handling an AG plant I would proceed to try a proven seed. I would feel guilty buying a really hot seed and end up ruining it by not knowing what I was doing.

12/14/2011 6:46:46 AM

Hampstead, NC 28443

@dww2 and others. I was feeling the same way about growing great seeds. I too was nervous wondering if I was experienced enough. I was told this winter by a experienced grower to not be to afraid to grow great seeds. There are so many variables like weather, genetics, etc... that if you are really putting in the time and work, it will pay off and you do not want to miss your season when it may happen for you. I like the advice here, thank you. I have six spots, I think 2 will be new seeds, 4 will be proven. I do, like John said, want to weigh in something also.

12/14/2011 2:01:14 PM

President - GPC

There is a long term grower here in CO...one of his likes was to combine.... Old with New, then growing it the next year always produced well for him.... 1111 lbs......Never more, sometimes less. but he like combining thoSe genetics....old...with new....not new...with old.....

12/14/2011 2:16:25 PM

Bristol R.I. USA

Here we go again the "Amelio show" I can't figure out if you're fooling around with your posts or really for real. If I had the space I'd plant as many plants as I could handle I'd be planting some new and older genetics. The thing with the older genetics are that they're proven while the newer seeds have yet to be proven. It stands to reason that some of the hobbies best want to have the genetics already in there line up for that year and the following year. I don't believe genetics are the end all be all for growing, you could give a heavy hitter a no name seed and they'd be capable of growing a monster. Why??? Because the put their time in and do the little extra things that are needed to get them growing a little extra.

It stands to reason why the same 4 growers are always in contention to be the world champ.

12/15/2011 9:42:17 AM