From

Location

Message

Date Posted

San Jose

Hi, I have been growing one pumpkin the last 11 years in a small 220 sq ft patch, they range from 600-900 lbs. The seeds I harvest are ALWAYS very large, like over an inch long and
maybe 1/8 or 3/16 inch thick. I can't figure out why they are
so large, as the seeds I grow from Leonardo, Quinn, Glenna,
Joel are just normal sized seeds. This year I grew the 1552 Young and the seeds John gave me were very normal sized. Any
ideas out there?

11/6/2023 8:03:52 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Interesting question and have always wondered this myself. When I first started growing and wasn't doing all the chemicals and correct ferts I do now, my seeds were always massive!
There's so many factors it might be a tough answer to get.

I noticed my seeds getting to normal size like what you described above when I started a good rotation of chemical drenches. I thought maybe it had something to do with this.

Hopefully someone will come on with an good educated guess.

I remember those things just being huge and when I got my first real seed it didn't make since to me.

11/6/2023 9:07:50 PM

Syracuse, NY

I have a Holland 'Over 500 Pounds' seed I must have gotten back in the early 2000s and have just not had the 'heart' to plant it DUE to its hugeness; It being about 20 years old I dunno about it sprouting or even the cross of it but I meant to sprout it but another one DID sprout that was its contender. Its measure is 1-5/16 X 3/4 inch - longer than, butt narrower than, a quarter.
Will make another effort to sprout it in '24 - just because.
Had not thought of thickness, lol. Thick, I'm sure! eg

11/6/2023 11:48:16 PM

East Sussex, UK

The seeds out of my 2006 Wolf fruit were quite small whereas the seeds out of one of my smallest pumpkins (under 200 lbs.) were massive. However, I have also had small seeds out of small pumpkins and large seeds out of larger (over 1200 lbs.) pumpkins. My guess is it is just natural genetic variation. I have heard that pumpkins with 1501 VanderWielen genetics have seeds on the small side and this sometimes seems to hold true.

11/7/2023 8:37:45 AM

San Jose

Well I guess this is not an easy question to resolve. Just
since this happened to my last 10 pumpkins. I know my small patch



Sounds like this is not an easy question to resolve. I think my small patch yearly runs high on Nitrogen, so maybe
that could be the issue? I will make an effort to correct this next year. Not like large seeds are a big deal, just wondering why I notice it every year. Thanks for all your responses. Kurt

11/9/2023 10:23:07 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Remember how tiny that amazing 1495 seed by Dave Stelts grew and they all had that white tip.

What a seed and such a tiny one at that!


Chemicals, nutrients and all the things we add to the soil I'm sure have something to do with the smaller seeds and even pumpkins with no seeds is becoming more and more common.

11/9/2023 10:37:43 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Remember how tiny that amazing 1495 seed by Dave Stelts grew and they all had that white tip.

What a seed and such a tiny one at that!


Chemicals, nutrients and all the things we add to the soil I'm sure have something to do with the smaller seeds and even pumpkins with no seeds is becoming more and more common.

11/9/2023 10:37:43 PM

Syracuse, NY

I'd say you're lucky! Usually, the belief is that AG seeds are large because the pumpkins are large. I remember telling a guy at a weighoff that 'the size of the seed is irrelevant - you and I were microscopic, and look at how WE turned out!' I was heartily patting my
wash boar...err, my gut to indicate how big we had gotten, lol!
Then, a belly laugh from somewhere and a (my own term) Buckle Chuckle
outta me and I went back to readying my fruit for the ride back home.
Ahhh, good times. Never stop searching, though! Perhaps seed size is like the orange in some crosses for years on end of selfing - there for the long haul, as there are many factors at work. eg

11/10/2023 6:35:33 AM