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Manitowoc

I need to find someone to clarify my complex question about multiple different pollinators on one female. I've stumped a local ag extension in my area sooo, I could use some real expert input on pumpkin pollination. 4 different plants. 2145mcmullen..2261 Wallace...1822sippel,, and a 2624willemijns.. Now if I pollinate 1 female with males from the other 3 plants.. will the seeds of that carry dna/ genetics from each of those 3 males I pollinated with..i use approx 6 males on 1 female regardless ..

4/15/2018 1:39:57 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

All of the seeds would carry traits of the mother but each seed will only have the genes of one of the four male pollinators. A seed uses only one pollen Granule each. The male pollinator genes cannot be combined in a single season. Thus, the harvested seeds would be a potpourri of the four pollinators and the only predictable thing would be that each has the mothers genes. This is essentially the same thing as an open pollination. I am surprised that your extension could not answer this for you.

So pick the one you like the best! Just go with one pollinator! Good luck.

4/15/2018 2:00:48 PM

Manitowoc

Thank you.. part of the reason I was asking was I know each of the lobe's in the female are responsible for a group of seeds you be fertilized in the new growing pumpkin. So I'm sure you see my reasoning on this train of thought, and questioning lol..

4/16/2018 8:55:28 AM

Manitowoc

all the seeds except the 2624 has McMullen background. Especially the 1822 sippel was a2145 self pollination so carrying on that generic heritage won't be a difficult one.

4/16/2018 9:00:30 AM

Manitowoc

My bad.. the 2624 does have 2145 McMullen in its background

4/16/2018 9:06:27 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Being able to isolate each lobe and retrieving seeds would be difficult. Each grain of pollen is responsible for pollination. I our book would be considered "OPEN"

4/16/2018 10:36:15 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

The idea isolation of specific lobes for pollination has been discussed in the past to a certain degree. I don’t think that it’s ever been done. If you want to cross The 2145 with the other plants, then I suggest using the 2145 as the male. Then in 2019 you can continue your project by again combining some of the offspring of what you grow this year.

4/16/2018 11:37:54 AM

Syracuse, NY

would you rather have a huge jar full of mixed-up change that had to be counted before you could pay a debt in a hurry with it or several rolls of each type of coin all nice and neat and accountable-for that you could use in an instant to stay out of trouble with...plus, no one will want to plant seeds that have numerous pollinators because of the uncertainty of 'who da pappa' was in any instance, except for 'practice seeds'...and then one of 'em grows a world record, silencing me forever, lol---it is also not even NECESSARY to use more than one male flower for any pollination---the only real advantage is more seeds of that CLOSED cross in the end. eg

4/16/2018 12:08:18 PM

Manitowoc

Thank you all for your insight,, this will be only my second year at actually growing these monsters.. last season wad my first and I grew a 800+ so this year I'm just trying to clarify allot of newbie questions in regards to genetics etc. So don't look at me with dumb founded look like I'm stupid lol.. I'm just very curious,, and competitive and have always took my gardening seriously.. I've always said the only dumb question was the one I didn't ask. Sooo I'm thinking with all this I'm better to self pollinate since they all have same background genetics? And do my best to keep them healthy and fed. That about right? I'm shooting to smash the Wisconsin state record,, end result lol not a bad goal for a2cd year grower huh. Lol

4/16/2018 4:04:34 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

No worries! The only time this group tends to think somebody is stupid is when they stop asking questions and start running their mouth about this that or someone else.

4/16/2018 8:04:04 PM

Eugene,OR

Have you ever seen a litter of puppies that look like they have more than one dad? It is probably because the female dog was bred to more than one male & the puppies really do have more than one dad. You are talking about a similar situation.

4/16/2018 9:29:36 PM

Syracuse, NY

sorry to have spoken my mind in a harsh tone---
PS: i blinked and did not even see this when i first read your post:
"i use approx 6 males on 1 female regardless .." so, when i said in my rant about using more than one male? THAT added to my harshness without me even knowing it! no harshness intended, no dirty looks, etc., really. we are all here to help and answer questions and even learn from answering...and hearing the reviews. mainly follow Orangeneck---he is good at smoothing things over, lol--eg

4/16/2018 9:54:56 PM

Manitowoc

Don't worry I love to learn. I love to have fun with what I do. I joke astound allot. I'm always open constructive criticism . If i can find a way to do what I'm looking to do, by simply asking a few questions, and possibly confirm my thoughts ill dig deeper into the bigger questions of,, how to go about the next step,, if not then I go with how the experts have been doing it.. experts meaning anyone that knows more about a topic than I do but achieve the results I'm looking for. And that's many of you that answer questions like mine.. and I appreciate it. My biggest goal this year is yup break the 1 ton mark..i know it's a stretch from 800# but.. I'm thinking its ghing to be a tough year this year.. cooler temps and very wet.. lots of rain.. good luck to everyone.

4/17/2018 8:17:24 PM

Rhode Island

miner
best advise i could ever give any new grower?

1. buy some soil health and soil disease books - study
2. find a seasoned grower to mentor you - learn
3. invest in needed products - they are difference makers
4. work it,work it,work it - be motivated to suceed

lastly, dont ever tell anyone you failed because you had bad luck.
bad luck is an event that was unpredictable,like hail or hurricane damage.
most time though, your success and / or failure is mostly all on you.
listen to those who have already made the mistakes - learn from them

pap

4/20/2018 8:40:30 AM

Cincinnati,OH

I tried the different lobe pollination thing and it can be done, it's just not very practical. You can follow what I did here.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=90669

4/20/2018 4:44:08 PM

Deer Park WA

What pap said,

4/20/2018 11:38:48 PM

Manitowoc

Believe you/ me pap. I'm about as motivated and ready to learn, always have been and will be. Learning won't stop until my pulse does, lol. I'm so motivated to learn everything about these amazing plants, that I want to be the first to hit the 5,000#. Giant pumpkin. Somehow, I'll figure it out. Listening, reading, learning and experimenting.

4/27/2018 5:10:17 PM

Manitowoc

Now correct me if I don't have this part quite right, pumpkin plants are.. annuals? They will eventually die of old age,,"mature". Genetic age limit so to say?

4/27/2018 5:15:16 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Parts of the plant will age and die yes, older leaves and vines. But the growing vine tips and roots at new nodes can keep going if cared for properly. If you poke around here you will find that some of the most famous plants have been cloned. Cuttings kept growing over winter. This could mean for instance that instead of just growing a 2145 seed, you would be growing the ACTUAL 2145 plant that grew the world record. With its genetic potential already known. There have not however been overwhelmingly exceptional results from this practice that I am aware of.

4/27/2018 10:26:27 PM

Manitowoc

So in theory or all actuality you could sustain a plant in a heated green house, with controlled climate conditions etc. After normal harvest times and keep your pumpkin growing?

4/28/2018 8:12:52 AM

Manitowoc

Thanks to all of you for all of your insight and honesty. I've got some research to tend to. Time to fire up the computer design program, and dig dig dig for more info. Can you just hear the turbine whining lmao thrift process is on overload. I love it.

4/28/2018 8:17:07 AM

Manitowoc

thought process

4/28/2018 8:17:50 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

No. Definitely not the pumpkin itself. You would keep a small piece of the plant growing. And then grow another whole new plant with it, which is essentially the same plant. And grow a new pumpkin.

There is no way to sustain growth of a single pumpkin, it will mature and reach its end.

4/28/2018 11:10:03 AM

Syracuse, NY

Well, he DID say under all those great growing conditions...and, we always hear about "It was still gaining 15 pounds a day when i picked it..." I am NOT disagreeing with anyone, just reflecting on what was between the lines...the pumpkin WILL eventually be at its end and probably start to rot or exhibit senescence, the eventual stoppage of all growth in the pumpkin/maturity/death. that having been said, WHO KNOWS how big and heavy a pumpkin could get to be if it were kept 'on' until this happens? The main drawbacks would be: a HUGE mess of a pumpkin in your greenhouse, the missed opportunity to have had a World Record that never made it to an official GPC scale, and for the vital 3rd part of the combo, the probably-immense expense of heating/cooling/fertilizing the beast beyond what is considered officially to be the season's end.
The main 'drawforwards'? lol---Just ONE, really: To have grown it to be as big as it possibly COULD be without any limitations of time, money and enthusiasm to be put into it. So, if you ever have one WR in the bag and another to 'experiment with' that is STILL growing appreciably...but it is PAST any official weighing deadline? Go for it! Maybe then, we'll see what 3,000 pounds of AG looks like.
here's an analogy---i wonder how fast a Top Fuel dragster would eventually go if it were on an endless dragstrip...

4/29/2018 12:53:49 AM

Syracuse, NY

I should NOT start a rant with 'Well", lol---
It is not meant to be anything other than that.

4/29/2018 12:57:47 AM

Manitowoc

I apologize for any misunderstanding of my enthusiasm of growing, and potentially causing high blood pressure, to anybody. Lol btw pumpkinpal there is one major limiting factor in regards to the top fuel dragster. The transmission and rear end gearing would limit out the rpm band and its geared to reach its max output in that 1/4 mile. Lol anyhow thanks again everyone for all your input, rants lol. And knowledge expertise and advise. I'm off to tend to the garden and do some preparation.

4/30/2018 7:08:10 PM

Syracuse, NY

Okay, you have nice season, now. eg

5/1/2018 4:41:13 AM

Syracuse, NY

a, lol.

5/1/2018 8:08:14 AM