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Georgetown, Ontario

This thread http://www.bigpumpkins.com/msgboard/ViewThread.asp?b=40&p=533751
got me thinking I should cross the two distinct BG lines and see what happens. I didn't get a PB this year for Bushel Gourd (the weather in June was horrible) but I did manage to get the cross I was looking for. I crossed my 135.5 Nieuwenhoff (large pecan type seed) with a 279.5 English (small long gourd type seed) and grew a light green colored 140 pound gourd. I have about 500 seeds from it drying right now and they all look great and mature. If anyone wants to try this seed next year, especially if you believe in hybrid vigor, then send me a SASB with Canadian postage or just include a couple dollars to cover postage if mailing from US.
John Nieuwenhoff, 37 Stewarttown Road, Georgetown, Ontario, CANADA L7G 4S5 BTW the seeds are large but not as corky or ruffled as the 135.5 was so it looks like somewhere in between the two types.

10/16/2015 2:29:26 PM

Williamsburg,KY

I will give it a try John. Will get a bubble in the mail Monday.

10/17/2015 6:44:18 AM

Webster Groves, MO

John,

I believe the next breakthrough in weight gains will be achieved by crosses similar to yours. I'm definitely interested in your seeds. Doug

10/20/2015 11:30:00 PM

Soldotna,AK

John I have a place in my patch for your seed. I have sent a bubble. Thank you.

11/4/2015 8:43:40 PM

Forest Hill,md.

Hi John, I have reserved a nice prime area to try one of these in my patch.Will get a bubble in mail asap.
Thank you,Michael Nelson.

11/27/2015 6:56:59 AM

Forest Hill,md.

Hi John. Thanks so much for the incredible seeds that you were kind enough to send to me.I hope to do them justice in the patch.I have had success with melons and kins and hope to be as lucky with the bottle gourds.In your experience do you treat them similar to kins in the matter of pruning and "tree" pattern and leave only one, or do you let nature go and leave one?I have been lucky enough to grow the MD state record (188 pound) watermelon and my second year on kins coming up.Will happily reserve a very nice 17x20 ft spot for each gourd.. Looking forward to upcoming year.Thank you, once again,Mike.

12/28/2015 7:50:12 PM

Georgetown, Ontario

I don't really prune to much of a pattern but I do try to have just one set as close to the main vine as possible and as far out from the stump as time will allow. I usually don't get much of a plant until into July and try to get something set by the end of July then I just prune around the edges to keep the plants contained in the space they are allotted.Good Luck!

12/28/2015 7:59:04 PM

Forest Hill,md.

Will let you know if luck and good honest work will come through.Thanks for the info!

12/29/2015 3:26:50 PM

Germany

My 140 Nieuwenhoff has been weighed today. First bushel gourd for me. I am very happy with 163 lbs. Thank you John for the seeds!

9/17/2016 3:06:57 PM

Georgetown, Ontario

Way to go! Congratulation. Did you self it or cross with another one?

9/18/2016 7:31:13 AM

Germany

Thank you John. I hand pollinated several flowers, but did not protect them. Most likely that was one of these. There were no other gourds around, so it should be x self pollinated.

9/19/2016 12:44:15 AM

Webster Groves, MO

Very nice weight for growing them the first time. My first attempt at growing Bushel Gourds yielded a giant weighing at 80+ lb. Hopefully, this cross will produce many giants in the future. Did you have good growing weather in Germany?

Doug

9/19/2016 7:43:10 PM

Germany

Thank you Doug. Yes, I am very happy about the result. Actually the weather was quite challenging in Germany, especially in early season. But the fruit was pollinated quite late, I think late July. And in late season the weather was better. Late August/early September was very good. So that probably pushed the fruit. Without the warm period it would not have been so big I think, as it was grown outside, not in a greenhouse.

9/20/2016 5:30:09 PM

Germany

I took out the seeds today. Seed count was good. So I will donate some to the EGVGA and the GVGO. If anyone wants to give it a try, please let me know. andreas (at) egvga.eu

11/10/2016 4:13:02 PM