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Cornelius, Oregon

Color was brought up in the thread from earlier this week and I believe it should be the first topic of conversation.

I will go on record as saying that squash is a tough category to qualify for and should stay that way. Back in the day so many problems occured with squmpkins and puash that it simply drove people to pull their hair out. As a result of so many bad circumstances, the GPC adopted the rule that the inbetween fruit were deemed pumpkins and in order to be awarded the classification as squash, the fruit had to be all dark green to that green-blue hue you sometimes get. At this point we all know what a squash is and if you look at your specimen and have to question whether or not it has too much orange or white in it...then its a pumpkin. I don't know the exact verbiage of the GPC, but to the experienced growers, we know a squash when we see it.

I don't think we, as a squash sub group of the GPC should change this rule. Lets not reinvent the wheel, just make the wheel bigger.

From the genetics aspect, nothing says we can't grow the 'tweeners' and enter them as pumpkins as we develope a new line of squash. But, until they are all green, a few years from now, lets not go down that slippery slope and call them squash. I am but one vote here, but mark me down as all green or its a pumpkin.

10/19/2012 4:08:13 PM

Long Island,New York

Two votes. Im with Brett.

10/19/2012 5:00:13 PM

President - GPC

Me too...

10/19/2012 5:03:03 PM

Wi

Me too.

The GPC rule states 100% green, blue, or gray. White lines in the ribs are allowed and discoloration near the soil is allowed.

This is what scares me most and maybe why I may never grow a squash. If I had say a 1400# squash that developed a little orange spot I wouldn't be happy....lol.

10/19/2012 5:13:28 PM

Cedar City, Ut

there is a lil rule about some flecking as well, but judges can and will determine that,

10/19/2012 5:18:34 PM

Cedar City, Ut

i also guess my vote counts,, so i'm 5th,, lol,,

10/19/2012 5:20:05 PM

Nova Scotia

personally I,ve seen many buttercup squash with up to 25% white which is a natural occurance so i personally think the allowance of say 10% or so white should be allowed. as Chris said many will not grow them because of the strickness. granted keep the yellow out as the whole point of the rule was to keep true squash, but I say there is white in true squash some if not most of the time. a way to keep them green though would be to introduce a howard dill award for them maybe. my 2 cents

10/19/2012 5:25:02 PM

Nova Scotia

ps not flecking but a patch to above post

10/19/2012 5:26:05 PM

President - GPC

We could have a GSquash Seed Promo...I have 848 selfed MacKenZie I could offer.....

10/19/2012 5:44:28 PM

St. Thomas Ontario

Didn't like the color rule at first, but believe it's best for the advancement of 'green'.

A 'Generation rule' or a 'get out of jail free card' (so to speak) would be nice to see on seeds that come from a strong green genetic line.

This may allow inturn for a "small amount"...(repeat;)small amount of non green,blue or grey but give genetics the benefit of the doubt and view a spot or two as an anomaly and not a color trait.

May encourage some of the growers who fear getting dq'd at the end of a long fought season because their squash developed a 'blotch' or they chose to keep their fruit covered for the entirety of the season.

Al Eaton brought a squash 'pedigree chart' earlier this season to the GVGO spring seminar...very kind, and very helpful. There's some great 100% squash genetics out there now going back 5 and 6 generations just waiting for that 'super cross':)

All the best

10/19/2012 6:32:05 PM

Cedar City, Ut

joel,, thats kinda where i'm at ,, a few seasons color,, size on the side ,, kinda thing,, if that makes any sence ,, just my thoughts of course,, curt

10/19/2012 9:01:50 PM

Muddy Waters

I think you will all be surprised how many squash growers are out there.I'm in for whatever the majority wants.

10/19/2012 9:17:00 PM

Claysburg , PA

Brett, interested but have a question . Email me pumpkingrower@centurylink.net

Thanks , James

10/19/2012 9:26:01 PM

Rapid City, SD

food for thought.......so....one grows a greenie......then pollinates with a pumpkin....compromising the integr1ty of a true greenie....to me.....so.....is it a true greenie at that point.....or squashkin.....?

10/19/2012 9:30:44 PM

Muddy Waters

There all Sqaush kins.I may get in trouble here.But didnt they all start out of the same pool??

10/20/2012 8:18:41 AM

Long Island,New York

By pollinating with a non squash or squash with alot of pkn background you jeopardize future offspring for color. The green squash that you got is a "true" greenie. True greenie was a term used to describe a "real" squash color...nothing more...its not a botanical classification of a 100% green squash, just a term used to differentiate between a pumpkin that might have turned squash-color as it aged and a squash thats "supposed" to be that color. The fruit is the fruit...either its 100% (or what the rule calls for) or its not......pollinating by a pkn doesn't change the fruit, only the seed. You should use a different term for all-green, all green ancestors or pure squash.

10/20/2012 9:19:13 AM

Long Island,New York

Yes...it is true that the current squash color rule is difficult at times but its neccessary in order to eliminate white pumpkins that go grey at the end.Will some very deserving green squash be reclassified due to a small orange spot brought on by too much sun...a burn spot...too much shade....or a bruise that recolored?...yes. But the people who put together this rule feel that way more rogue pumpkins will be properly catagorized than squash reclassified---- and it works towards a greater good. We wanted squash growers to be recognized for the squash, or rewarded, or just to compete with squash rather than be topped by reject pumpkins which grow bigger. Its all about a squash catagory with green/squash genetics and growers who grow them.

10/20/2012 9:26:19 AM

So. Maine

Brett , you have my vote here , AL B .

10/20/2012 9:31:28 PM

South East

The color rule keeps squash small and stands in the way of progress in weight.

What if all pumpkins had to either be pure orange, white or pink with no green in it? i doubt the 2000 lbs barrier would have been broken. That rule would have killed progress.

A lot growers wont even try squash because its a russian roullette, one orange spot and it turns in to a pumpkin.

So the rules are perfect for judging weigh offs.
and the rules are perfect for keeping the squash line green.

But do we grow to keep lines pure and of one color?
I thought we grew for weight? the heaviest?

And if rules rule out arguments and error but at the same time kill progress,,how good is that rule then?

top weight:

6 0ver 1000 this year 2012 1221.5
9 over 1000 in 2011 1486
6 over 1000 in 2010 1082
4 over 1000 in 2009 1236
5 over 1000 in 2008 1177
12 over 1000 in 2007 1154.5

Besides the 1486 jarvis no one ever made 1300 lbs. On average only 7 fruit over 1000 lbs in the gpc listings since 3007. 361 pumpkins over 1000 this year alone. 42 squash over 1000 in the last 6 years....
523 lbs behind on the pumpkin world record.

With these kind of numbers and a color rule on top. Who would even wont to grow squash?

Just some food for thought.

10/21/2012 12:18:06 AM

60C Bayview Rd.Castroville,Calif 95012

Brett,same here all green Im in,Jeff J.

10/21/2012 12:24:22 AM

Claysburg , PA

I still want to grow a GREENIE , count me in it is only green .

Don`t like greenies , grow a pumpkin.

10/21/2012 8:30:06 AM

Muddy Waters

It's a game of numbers the weights are small only because there not getting grown.I will grow them if the one orange spot shows up I will have a big heavy kin.I am from the old school where the 1495 Stelts would have been a squash,not true green but a squash.If we get a sponsor to put up a nice purse.the masses will grow them & watch the weights soar!I would like to cross my 1478.5 with a 1495 Stelts or a squash & put the heavy back in the cross.I may not do it this year as my space is limited.Maybe I should grow one squash & cross it into the 1478.5.Any thoughts on why I shouldnt do this??or Should??

10/21/2012 9:59:58 AM

Muddy Waters

Yes we need to encourage Squash growing.I love a Squash!I will try to keep it positive or not post my remarks.

10/21/2012 10:03:39 AM

Leerdam, The Netherlands

Oh I love green! and if it takes a tweener or two, so be it. green will show, green will rule.

Iwan

10/21/2012 12:34:08 PM

Netherlands

@ Tina and Frank

There were quite a few 1000lb squash grown in Europe the past few years not listed on GPC, but your point is made. A 1300-1350lb squash was grown in Belgium this year but went down just before the weigh-off.

The problem is all AG pumpkins are squash. The whole colour thing is actually a farce. We have just decided to split them up based on colour and colour can do weird things.

The questions is, do squash growers want their squash to keep up with pumpkin weights? If that is the case, scrap the colour rule and the heaviest AG wins, regardless of colour.

Instead, we have chosen for a restriction, based on colour, and within that restriction we try to grow the heaviest. So I am with Brett.

10/22/2012 3:21:33 AM

Cornelius, Oregon

I know I probably have most of this information somewhere, Iwan, Orange with Envy, Big J, Frank and Tina,Wait til next year, Matt-Man, Lookajook, Mr T, Chris S, LIpumpkin, what are your email addresses?? Please shoot me a quick email to let me know. I am getting a group email set up as a base for the 'membership'.

10/22/2012 12:11:31 PM

Cornelius, Oregon

By the looks of it, the majority of the votes will be to maintain the current GPC rules regarding color.

Now then, I will start a new thread regarding the grey areas of this established rule so that we, and the judges for that matter, are better preparded when that oddball arrives.

10/22/2012 12:55:59 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

I have stayed out of this so far as I havent had a lot to add. I believe the The current rules are the best for squash. These rules are also currently adopted by Guinness and its hard to argue with these guys....trust me.

I for one have had my fair share of squmpkins, but this is necessary in order to go forward. Most geneticly true green squash I have grown that were classified pumpkins at the weigh off, produced mostly true green fruit. I always label these seeds as squash, but im sure to disclose possible colour challanges.

I have had growers ask me for a seed that will guarantee them a true green squash. the problem is that many of the seeds out there that will guarantee a true green offspring have limited size potential. A good example of this is the 848 mackenzie. Will grow you a real nice true green squash, but the upper end is limited. If you want to grow something to challange 1486, you have to live on the edge.

10/22/2012 4:45:41 PM

Muddy Waters

All this growing is living on the edge.Lets do it!

10/22/2012 5:42:24 PM

Sparta, NC

I think the current color rule is what we need to stick with.

10/23/2012 6:30:41 PM