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Pittsburgh, PA

Hi everyone. I am looking for input as to 1844.5 Holub Squash that did not produce true green squash. I was under the impression that all 1844's would throw true green squash but from what I recall last year, that was not the case. I know that Lee Zappa planted one that didn't throw a true greenie. I have a couple of the 1844 seeds but I am reluctant to plant them because I don't want to run the risk of not getting a true green squash. I also have the 2118 Jutras and 1807.5 Holub that I can plant (both are selfed 1844's) but I kinda want to try the 1844 this year. So basically looking at my chances of getting a true greenie from the 1844. Any input appreciated. TIA

2/13/2018 11:24:52 AM

Germany

That sounds like you´ve got the problem of having more seeds than room for growing all of them. Any chance you could grow two squash plants? If yes, I would try to start two 1844s for one of the spots and plant the other (1807 Holub or 2118 Jutras) on the other spot. The two 1844s should be planted at least 6 ft from each other, let them show their first female buds before you make a decision which of the 1844s needs to be culled (you could then go with the plant which produces nicely green squash-type females), and even if this fruit doesn´t become deep dark green, you´ve still got a 2nd squash plant.

2/13/2018 11:37:56 AM

Eugene,OR

Mine started out very light green, kind of like lime a herbert & ended up yellow with green stripes. It was big (1578 lbs) but taped bigger. Very fun to grow. I have no regrets that I grew it!

2/13/2018 12:00:07 PM

Eugene,OR

Sherbet, not herbert

2/13/2018 12:00:28 PM

Pittsburgh, PA

I have room for 2 Squash plants this year. I’ll start and plant 4 and cull the weakest 2. Not sure if I’ll be able to wait until they get big enough for female blossoms though. I’m cutting it tight on space. If I don’t get a greenie, so be it I guess.

2/13/2018 3:39:38 PM

Dillonvale, Ohio

If you're really wanting green, I'd stick with the 2118 or 1807. There is a lot of orange in the background of the 1844. I realize those 2 are the 1844 selfed but it was green and selfed to produce green. I feel you (and I) are better off.

2/13/2018 3:59:17 PM

Essex, UK

My 1844 went cream last year. Just bad luck, still an amazing seed and grew me a 1498lbder. I will be growing both the 2118 and 1807 this year with hope of better luck.

2/13/2018 5:19:25 PM

Corryton, TN

Grew 2 here last year 1 dark green other light green from start. May have been white at maturity had I not killed it around 450 pounds. If you have 2 you could plant them across from each other giving more space to manipulate vines till you see if you get a dark one.

2/13/2018 7:08:42 PM

Littlerock, WA

Last year I grew an 1844 Holub seed that grew me a 1600+ pound white pumpkin. When I pollinated it, it was green, albeit a light green. Scott and I exchanged pictured as we pollinated the same week, and his was markedly more dark than mine, so I wasn't too optimistic. I planted 4 side by side and went with my strongest looking PLANT. This season, I plan on growing 4 from Joe's seeds and planting two together on one end, and two on the other end. Once they lay down, I'll cull down to one on each side, then wait until pollination time to see what plant has nice, dark, emerald green babies. I agree with Dave: plant the seeds across from each other and then make culling decisions at pollination time.

2/16/2018 6:11:37 PM

Willamette Valley, Oregon

Scanning the GPC reported data (with some spelling corrections) I count:
16 Green 1844.5* offspring in the squash list,
and
7 white 1844.5* offspring on the AG list. With a couple uow reports of other white ones.

They did all start out as green to green-ish babies, as far as I've heard, which was what we'd predict from the single gene recessive green hypothesis, but there seems to be another gene with a recessive cream that was hiding in some of the 1844 seeds.

If one runs the probabilities assuming the pale:green is 1:3, like a simple recessive would be... The 2118* or 1807*, since they don't seem to show the pale, and were selfed, offspring from either seed family should have either:
a) equal odds of green:cream as the 1844.5 seeds (if they were carriers like 1844.5* seemed to be)
or
b) better odds green:cream if they get lucky and are free of the recessive pale and will then throw all non-pale green.

So on average the best bet to clear out the pale gene would be to grow 2118* and/or 1807*, I think.

Also it's hard to go wrong with the 2118* Jutras 2017 (1844.5 Holub x self). The selfed pollination makes it among the best of any seeds, AG or Squash, for offspring potential. With a combined mother and pollinator weight of 4232 lbs, even it you get "unlucky" and it goes pale you'll still most-likely have a big AG on your hands (and probably take home more prize money than a greenie would anyway!! ha!) Why not plant a patch full of 2118's and see what you get!?

2/18/2018 1:43:56 AM

Willamette Valley, Oregon

I would actually be super excited to see these crosses made this year many many times by different growers:

xxxx grower 2018 (2118* Jutras x self)
and
yyyy grower 2018 (2150 Skinner x 2118* Jutras [xxxx])

2118* x self to keep the green line going.
AND
2150 Skinner x 2118* Jutras : The double world record grandparent cross!! And Hybrid vigor!! The best selection of that yyyy seed would be unimaginably exciting in 2019, where it would throw all pumpkins.

2/18/2018 1:53:29 AM

On a cliff in the desert

If you planted a seed from one of the 1844s that did not turn green and then pollinated it with a 1807 or 2118, would the fruit turn green again or would it be in the next years seed that would have the green gene for the fruit?

3/10/2018 5:25:50 PM

Dillonvale, Ohio

Whatever you pollinate with will only effect future fruit, not the one you pollinated

3/10/2018 9:52:19 PM