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Southeast Wisconsin

I am sure this has been talked about here before, but it is new to me. I have noticed that some of the seeds that I have gotten this year are white and some are tan in color. When I was a kid and my dad grew both winter squash and Halloween pumpkins. I use to be able to pick out what kind of squash or pumpkins they were just by looking at the seed. A jack o' lantern type pumpkin the "old Connecticut Field and Howden" were white and somewhat flat in color. Meanwhile the bananna squash, mammoth chili types always had the tan colored seeds. Twenty years ago when I grew the AG's, all I ever noticed in those seeds is that they were tan colored. Now there is this distinct difference with some of the "new" AG's seed. In my opinion the "Alantic Giants" are very different than what there great, great, great....parents were. Any correlation between seed color and color of fruit? It is my thought that the white seeds tend to produce more of the deep orange color and the tan ones produce the various hues of pink/gray. Anybody care to tell me that i'm off going off into the deep end and I will just blame it on cabin fever?

Another question....I see that some growers have crossed Prizewinner with AG's has anyone ever crossed a Howden type with an AG?

Russ

2/29/2004 9:18:06 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

AG's that are white are missing their secondary seed coat. They might germinated with fewer issues. But there won't be any other noticable difference in growth.

Some of the growers I know can just look at an AG seed & call the genetics. LOL I'm not even close yet.

2/29/2004 10:06:29 PM

So. Maine

Russ, I've grown some nice deep orange A.G. from dark tan A.G. seeds. Pretty much all in the genetics.
Al

2/29/2004 10:11:43 PM

Norton, MA

Ya I agree. But did he say that this is a new development in the last 20 years?

3/1/2004 6:15:37 AM

Syracuse, NY

's'far as i can tell, the seed itself is the very first thing to show the characteristics of the new genetic cross from the union of the two parent plants. it is the absolute first result of the cross, so just as the fruit itself will be unique to a certain extent down the line once the seed is planted, so too is the seed now that it's formed in the present fruit from which it came. i hope i make some sense!
and, i personally don't think the seed coat or color affect the GENERAL outcome of the plant or fruit...
(white seed=big fruit, tan=tiny fruit) naaahhhh...!

3/1/2004 7:25:15 PM