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Kentucky

Will seeds from pumpkins grown close to home perform more favorably or is it just a matter of the amount of work that goes in combined with a little luck? Thanks all.

11/11/2018 1:38:31 PM

Colorado

Doesn't matter. Base you seed choice on your goals whether it size,shape,color, % heavy.One seed line prob. isn't significantly adapted better/worse to your climate that a local seed.

11/12/2018 1:23:15 AM

Somerset,Ky

1,489 Van Hook goes big in KY

11/21/2018 8:33:12 AM

Deer Park WA

We believe that seeds quickly adapt, for better or worse, to their growing enviroment be it temperature, soil, moisture or fertilizer. Growing in the same conditions "climatizes" the next generation. Thats why we try to grow our own seeds and self / sibb.

11/21/2018 11:54:56 PM

Germany

Growing seeds from locally grown AGs (some of those which did pretty well, of course) could at least give you an advantage of growing seeds from pumpkins which already proved capable of coping with your local weather conditions.

11/22/2018 3:30:44 AM

Colorado

I grew seed from greenhouse/England,two from Washington state,wisconsin and Colorado last year. You couldn't tell where they were from.Youre better off picking one whos ancestors are from Illinois and have the 2145 and McMullen in their pedigree IMHO :)

11/22/2018 4:24:20 PM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

Gads,
With all due respect. Believing something, and having good reason to believe something are different things. Do you have any reasonable proof(scientific, etc.) to believe that seeds quickly adapt to an environment?

11/23/2018 2:00:56 AM

Morgantown, WV

I've grown lots of seeds from different regions thinking along the same lines. I personally don't think it makes any difference. The seeds we are growing have been immensely re-crossed to each other for many generations now, and while there is a lot of diversity in looks, the mechanics of the plant are generally the same as they've always been.

It has more to do with the conditions that you provide than it does the seed itself if in the end we're talking about same species. There are people with snow on the ground 2 months longer than me that still out-grow me every year. It's not because they have more cold-tolerant plants, it's because they're doing things like mitigating night time temps better.

It takes many many generations for a plant to decide to start moving outside of its normal "ideal growth" pattern or physical needs like temperature or PH, and that comes more often with a rogue plant that survives somewhere it shouldn't, and then begins to slowly repopulate an area. I think that we provide similar enough conditions for these plants, that even if a little unhappy for the year, it grows in a broad enough range that it doesn't need to further evolve its tolerance to climate.

That said, I think Pumpking is also correct in that choosing proven seeds from your area is a "safer" bet that choosing from a region with a different overall climate if you feel deep down it makes a difference.

Are you the type of grower that likes a safe bet, or do you like to take chances to try for the lucky one?

11/23/2018 9:43:25 AM

East Tennessee

I wonder how many times any of “the heavy hitters” in the golden zone up north have tried a seed from the south with good genetics?

11/23/2018 10:26:29 AM

Deer Park WA

Hi Doug14, we have grown for 20 some years now in two distinct Washington climates and soil conditions and while I dont have clinical scientific studies to back up my assertions of the climatization effect on AG prodigny. Take it or leave it as my personal observations and experience that genetics do indeed morph and acclimate to their unique micro-climates over a short period of time and it impacts the future generations "expectations". My expierence has been this happens quicker with AG than say potatoes or corn (pumpkins are smarter)....

I am probably wrong and just like justifying and promoting self / sibb practices!

Great thread though,

~Gerry

11/23/2018 8:24:25 PM

Georgia

Diversity is what I enjoy most about this hobby. Everybody does and is entitled to carry their own set of beliefs. Unless you think you can grow pumpkins without water or sun, then you might be on the right track or maybe not. But that is part of the fun, figuring out your own plan of attack.

Let us know Rich how your plan works out next year.

11/23/2018 8:57:52 PM

Guelph, Ontario

Gerry Perhaps. But it would take many generations with selecting best growing plants and with your own plants only. No bringing in of plants from other breeders. But I'm still skeptical, as this sort of result requires a large gene pool, in that there are a lot of gene variability in the plants. Can't select if options are limited. Not a situation with AG as they have been so inbred and selected over a long time, so genetic availability to select from is extremely limited.

11/24/2018 10:38:29 AM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

Yes an interesting thread. Thanks for your reply Gerry.

11/25/2018 2:03:33 AM

Pemberton, BC

I will chime in here with my experiences as a seed potato grower. We have our own tissue culture lab where all our potatoes are started. We replant for 4 cycles (years) starting with as little as 60 pounds the first year to as much as 300 tons or more by the 4th year. This 4th generation or Elite 2 as we call them is the product we sell to other farmers to be replanted.

After 4 years you would think the traits of a potato would be pretty firmly set and for the most part they are. That said differences in shape, color, tuber set etc... can be amazing from one area to the next. We have shipped potatoes all over Canada, the US and as far as Cuba, as I say they are pretty stable and frankly we wouldn't be in business long if they weren't but there are exceptions especially in shape and color. A bright red can become pale pink, a square blocky chipping potato can become long and tubular and this change occurs on the very first planting away from my farm in British Columbia.

The changes are very subtle but if it can happen that fast in a potato I don't see why it couldn't happen that fast in a pumpkin. I haven't grown pumpkins for a few years but my PB came off my own seed. The parent was a Van Kooten and Jake grew in a very similar climate and soil type as myself here in BC. My best plants and pumpkins always seemed to have JVK blood in them, so I believe there is some merit to the thought that a local seed may be more stable at the very least.

11/28/2018 7:36:45 PM

Bethlehem CT

That is interesting, Chad.

11/29/2018 6:58:26 AM

Guelph, Ontario

With tissue culture, there are mutations involving primarily nuclear genes. The frequency depends on the particular tissue used to start culture and methods used. The cold hardiness and plant energy characteristics are primarily in mitochondria genes, which are less susceptible to this mutation. I suspect very little variation in mitochondria genes in AG, as so inbred. AS AG are so pampered in terms of starting seeds indoor, and planting out when temperatures are right, and then protected during early growth, there is almost nothing to push selection.

11/29/2018 5:44:19 PM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

look at Wisconsin seeds grown in Wisconsin.....

11/30/2018 10:23:51 AM

UK Gloucestershire

Some great information here.

1/30/2021 11:37:26 AM