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Puyallup, WA

Mike lists the pumpkins grown in 2003 from the largest pumpkins on his list graduating down to the smallests' offspring. After reading that list, no one can tell if the seed in your hand has the "genetics" to grow a 1K fruit. I don't care what pumpkin it came out of!! Just look at the
"flops" that came out of "big name" pumpkins! Even "big name" growers had "disappointments" with "big name" seed....even their own!!! This tells me that not all the seeds that come out of each pumpkin have the same "potential".

Now if only one could just hold the seed to their forehead and get the right "vibes". :>)

www.atlanticgiantgenetics.com/SeedSummary2003.asp

2/6/2004 7:24:13 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

I truly believe that growing pumpkins is like a man and a woman having kids. None of the children we have are all the same. Different color hair, eyes, height, weight...... Just because a seed is a 845 Bobier or 582 Hester doesn't mean you will get something huge with each seed. For some guys to understand this better, take four seeds of the same and plant them in your patch. On AGGC look at some of the unknow pumpkins that have done very,very well. I'd hate to buy a seed for $300.00 and get a 450 pound pumpkin from it

2/6/2004 7:31:20 PM

Goffstown,nh

Was it just a coincidence then that three 582's where planted in NH and all three where over 1100lbs? Sorry but I believe grower technique and weather conditions plays a bigger part than we may think. Let's see what Bruce Whittier does with it this year, than you may think diffrently? Just my thought...

2/6/2004 9:05:56 PM

Puyallup, WA

I agree, Jim! But even good growers will have "flops". Even Brett himself did not do that well with his own 582 seed.

Hummmm....Perhaps we should begin to "penalize" New Hampshire growers for their obvious advantage! ;>)

2/6/2004 9:22:05 PM

Atlanta, Georgia

Stan,
My daughter Katja loves helping me label seeds. She grabs them and tells me if they are a "good" seed or a "bad" seed and then I chuck the bad ones.
Maybe she can make some money doing it full time for the growers someday...ha ha!

I agree that maybe we should penalize the NH growers at least until I move there...maybe give them a 200 lb. handicap like in golf or something.
Michel

2/7/2004 4:22:06 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Thus my theory that growing giants is 90% cultural & 10% genetic tempered about 50/50 by luck of the individual seed draw.

Try dowsing.

2/7/2004 8:04:47 AM

New Hampshire

Little correction Jim B., I grew a 582 that ribbioned early and had to turn the first side vine into a new main. It rotted on the bottom after all that and was estimated at 723.

Maybe Yogi Berea said it best " 50% of this game is 90% mental"

2/7/2004 9:07:18 AM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Jim Ford - If I remember correctly I think Boily's 582 did the same thing.


I think that 15~20% of a pumpkin's seeds are the best the fruit can produce.

There are some obvious seeds that had a higher percentage of superior genetics. 845,846,723 etc. Even so there are some 'duds'.

2/7/2004 5:09:20 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

Yes, my 582 from last year ribbioned early as well and I took it off in favour of the 600.5

Carlos

2/8/2004 2:47:47 AM

Sydney, Australia

I've had 2 dud's this year, an 845 and a 582. No sure things. I think luck is a large factor.... Ben

2/8/2004 4:08:13 AM

ontario

Tremor is right.....I also believe 90% growing technique...10% seed and luck to get that seed which is the one of say 10% in any pumpkin capable of producing a monster...although some seed stocks seem to have a much higher percent....ex. 723 Bobier..845 Bobier..

2/8/2004 8:33:34 AM

Deer Park WA

Our 582 ribbon vined to, seems like that is a trait that is carried in a majority of the 582 seeds, so why not the same for shape, color, size potential?

2/8/2004 12:54:18 PM