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Greencastle, PA

I've noticed something. Last years top 2 pumpkins wieghed light, sure the 705 Stelts and 846 Calai are good, but they could be better. The 1140 Stelts was estimated at 1263, the 1109 Skinner was estimated at 1115. Kind of interesting. Also, not questioning the quality of the strain, but they were both desendents of the 567 Mombert. Jus something to think about. I would like to hear what you think.
Tom

9/28/2001 10:49:34 PM

South Hill, Virginia

Maybe it's the charts not the seeds. With so little data collected on pumpkins of that size I don't think the charts could possibly be as accurate as they are for smaller pumpkins. Estimating a pumpkin to weigh 1263 is a shot in the dark since there has yet to be such a beast. Also, since the volume of a pumpkin increases by a power of three (approximately) in relation to its circumference, even a small measuring error could make a realtively large descrepency in weight for large fruit. When you're dealing with teeny tiny pumpkins, like the ones I grow, then a small circumference error doesn't make much difference.

9/28/2001 11:33:33 PM

canal winchester ohio

I don't know if the problem lies with the charts as much as the genetics of the seed. There are numerous 1000lbers that weigh heavy to the charts & not light. as far as the 846 goes Todd's 1109 was the only offspring of the 846 that weighed light to the chart , all of the rest weighed heavy ( welty 947,calai 869 , andolina 740) so the 846 may be bucking the trend. In general offspring of the 567.5, 801.5, & the 825.5 have a habit of throwing pumpkins that weigh light. They do throw some heavy ones but the majority weigh light. Don't get me wrong the 567.5 will probably always be the best seed, but when I go after seeds in the winter I look for crosses with the 567.5 that could offset that . Like the 567.5 X 935 cross which I think is going to be a great cross for heavy pumpkins.
just my 2 cents worth.....Paul

9/29/2001 8:43:05 AM

Pulaski Tn blkcloud@igiles.net

i just dont see how there could be a bad A.G. seed.. i beleive they all have what it takes to grow big. i'm betting its mother nature, the dirt, the water, the feed, and a lot of good luck, what would make a bad seed??

9/29/2001 1:35:22 PM

Greencastle, PA

The problem could also lie in the pollinators, but with the 1140 the pollinator was a in the 567 strain. 567 X 935??? That's a great cross, I would never have thought of making it, I would cross it with an 801 or something orange like that. Also, the 846 was grown on the 801. I'm not saying they're that bad, the strain has produced big ones, but they wieghed light. How big was the 567 X 935? it must have been huge. blkcloud could be right to, the soil could have played a part. Overall, it's probably a combo of growing conditions, the charts that, let's face it, will never be perfect, and the genetics of the plant. I kind of like this pumpkin geniology stuff, it's pretty neat.
Tom

9/29/2001 3:23:34 PM

canal winchester ohio

There have been 5 pumpkins grown so far with the 567 x 935 cross, Joel Hollands 945,657,& 557 . And Kirk Momberts 934, & 757. The 657 & 557 are from 1999 & the 657 grew a 641 that weighed 3% heavy so the cross does work. The 945,934, & 757 were grown last year , but I bet you will see them Quite a bit in the offspring list for this years pumpkins.
As far as "bad" seeds , I didn't say there were bad seeds just seeds that have traits that do not appeal to certain people,( thin walls,dill rings,flat growers, or heaven help us GREEN)no offense Glen. ..........Paul

9/29/2001 3:45:20 PM

Ga.

Whats a dill ring????

9/29/2001 5:15:32 PM

Charlotte, North Carolina

An area around the middle of a pumpkin that is little tighter than usual, kind of like if you put a belt around it since birth and you just took it off.

9/29/2001 9:19:35 PM

Greencastle, PA

I wonder what the 1260 is off of.

9/30/2001 8:15:07 PM

Greencastle, PA

svrichb, now there has been such a monster. increadible.

9/30/2001 8:16:05 PM

Charlotte, North Carolina

That would be one incredible seed!

9/30/2001 8:45:09 PM

Greencastle, PA

it would be funny if it was off of the 723 Bobier. it seems like it gets better every year, first a 1098 and then a 1107, both grown by people on this site, I think we're lucky.

10/1/2001 12:15:14 AM