From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Esneux / Liège / BELGIUM

Just let me know...
Will you plant seeds from european growers or american seeds?
I have started 10 seeds, and 4 are european seeds (from Germany). One of the american seeds seems to have germination problem, it will be exchanged for a french seed.
It will be 50/50.
And you?

The Belgian Girl,
Sophie

5/4/2004 2:33:55 AM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

At the moment I have 3 U.K. 3 U.S.and 1 French.

Mark

5/4/2004 3:02:53 AM

Knopp, Germany

1 German, 4 U.S.

5/4/2004 3:36:15 AM

Itzetown City

After 2 641 Olsen failed both, I´ve to go only with seeds from our oversee fellows. Ok, I´ve a lot other german seeds, but they are not compatible with my pollination ideas. May be, next year I´ll go with my own breed.

5/4/2004 4:10:48 AM

Wroclaw, Poland (51 N, 17 E)

I will grow 709,9 Frei - European
and 962 Sherwood - American

Maybe also 846 Lloyd from US.

5/4/2004 8:09:45 AM

Cologne Brescia Italy

hello to all i grow 3 from europen seed and 14 u.s.seed

5/4/2004 2:20:09 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

The only European seed I am growing this year is my 1036, I planted three, two are out and nice. The rest of the seeds I am starting were born in US and Canada.

Carlos

5/4/2004 2:37:38 PM

Liverpool , England

USA and Canada seed here..they got better genetic selection to pick from.

Alun

5/4/2004 7:38:55 PM

Ljubljana, Slovenia

I have a classic US seed 636 Dill, which I got from Paolo in Italy and I will also plant his 340.

Hey Carlos, I hardly wait for your diary this season..

5/5/2004 9:45:10 AM

Long Island,New York

Dill and Lloyd are Canadian last I checked.

5/5/2004 2:50:46 PM

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Thanks LI, I did´t know about Dill. So AGs come from Canada?

5/5/2004 4:25:39 PM

Wroclaw, Poland (51 N, 17 E)

Yeah.. Howard DIll is From
Windsor,
Nova Scotia,
Canada

I didn't know about Lloyd whoes seed I am growing...

5/6/2004 3:27:04 AM

Atlanta, Georgia

Who cares where the seeds come from or more to the point what soil they are grown in?

They all come from Howard Dill and the rest is
a crock of crap as far as I'm concerned.

The Americans since the time of Columbus have been planting pumpkins for sustinance and they went a giant leap further to grow the biggest pumpkin in the world.

God Bless America and Thank God that the Europeans are thinking also to grow the largest plants in the world.
It's a touchy subject for me but eventually everything will work out ok.

I truly believe that europe has a climate that can produce as large or larger AG's than in the US. The US growers (and I'm American) have more money to invest in automated systems than the most of us have here in Europe but with time we'll see some results.

Keep growing everyone and best regards and a new personal best!

Why did you start this thread lieber Sophie?
Michel

5/6/2004 8:59:30 AM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

Automated systems,so thats what the secret is!
If I ever grow a big one I'll probably have to eat it before it gets to the weigh off just to ward off the threat of malnutrition.

5/6/2004 6:24:51 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

In America there are much more AGP growers than in Europe; that is a good reason to get bigger pumpkins over there. It seems that is easier to find more dedicated people to a particular objective in life (to collect Elvis pictures, for instance); that is another reason.
But there are another kind of reasons that come from the very Earth herself. Very unknown reasons, Science can't explain yet.
If you look to different kind of plants and animals from the North part of the planet, you'll find some bigger similar species in Northamerica than in Eurasia, like happens in conyphera, bears, deers, etc.
Why? I don't know, but I have seen the Giant Sequoias of Yosemite, the impressive Douglas firs of Mount Rainier, the huge Cedars of Olimpic, the unbelievable Tulip trees and Hemlocks of The Great Smoky Mountains, a Grizzly in Banff and Blue Whales in the Saguenay Fiord (that last doesn't count of course), and I believe there is something in that continent that helps living things to grow bigger.

And didn't you realize that when Arnold Schwarzenegger went to the USA grew even bigger than he was in Austria? LOL

Carlos

5/7/2004 1:35:55 AM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

Hey Michel, I didn't know you were american!
Maybe you are right in Europe there can find a climate that can produce the best in pumpkins. As far as I've researched it, it can be some places of the west coast of Belgium and France, not in Germany, neither in Spain. Sorry.

Of course there are always particular microclimates, and from them can come great things. Unfortunately, mine is anything but mild in summer. Well I will have to change it again this year. WATER!

Carlos

5/7/2004 1:42:02 AM

In the shade - PDX, OR

That is an interesting Point Of View Carlos.

I never really thought about the biological size releavance here in North America.

Thanks for sharing.

5/7/2004 2:47:47 AM

Atlanta, Georgia

Hey Carlos,
Good point but many growing conditions can be controlled
if a person has enough money and desire.
Water can be controlled and even light with the use
of grow lights or shading materials. Temperature can also be controled both
by heating cables and heaters or by misting systems and
everything else. Soil is obviously easy to amend with
time and hard work.

I'm certain that here in Europe the growers are having as much fun growing pumpkins than anywhere else and that's what really matters in my opinion.
I'll be moving back to the states in a few years though
and you can bet I'll be bring my pumpkin seeds with me!
Best regards and luck this year!
Michel

5/7/2004 4:22:28 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Fun. That is what drew me to this hobby. Sport is for the competitive spirit which in the case of Giant Pumpkins is best regionalized. Else the fun goes away.

Best weishes to all of our pumpkin growing friends!

Steve

5/7/2004 6:35:35 AM

Esneux / Liège / BELGIUM

I was just wondering what you have choosen for this year.

Some of us are growing pumpkins for the fun, some other for competition. You know : Big car, big house, big computer, and so on...I grow pumpkin for the fun and for my 5 years old child.

I have choosen my seed to have this year one big (not very big) orange pumpkin. When I hesitate between to seeds, I choose the seeds from the most sympatic grower that have given to me his seed with a part of his love, his work and his hope.

I think I have received very good seeds from top growers that I don't know, and good seeds from new friends... I prefer growing seeds from those new friends : this is my way to thank them, giving their seeds a chance to show what they can do. This is not at all a genetic or a scientist choice, this is a friendly choice.

No competition, just fun. And new friends.

The Belgian Girl,
Sophie

5/7/2004 10:30:29 AM

Knopp, Germany

you have stated your reason very well Sophie. i hope your pumpkin growing season is a very good one.

5/7/2004 11:08:37 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Hi Sophie!

I hope you consider growing the 194 Chapel '03 this year. We will grow one at the school. Plus a special addition I have yet to disclose.

I will be addressing the children on Monday next week & distributing 540 seeds to each & every one of them. It would be very special if I could let them know that a child in Europe was also growing their seeds!

Please let me know.

Thanks & best wishes this year!

Steve Jepsen in CT

5/7/2004 12:29:11 PM

Germany (Kirchheim / Bavaria)

Good seed!
Good soil!
Good luck!
Fun...and..."New friends"!

Best regards and of course "a new personal best to all growers" - Peter

5/7/2004 12:29:53 PM

Atlanta, Georgia

Turned out to be a great thread with complete adult
discussion this time Sophie!

I also am growing some seeds I would not normally grow from my awesome collection but I grow them out of friendship and respect for the growers.

It is a blast when somebody grows your seed.

Owen, Will you be letting us know sometime what plants you are growing? Sorry if you posted it somewhere and I missed it.

Best regards to all and let's hope that monday the weather turns warm again in Europe as they are predicting.
They can't predict precipitation worth a damn here in Germany but they usually get the temperature prediction within 2 degrees or so.
Michel

5/7/2004 1:34:27 PM

Knopp, Germany

Michel, I am growing the 805 pukos, 695 handy, 752 blair and 2 of my own seeds.

5/8/2004 12:30:05 AM

Atlanta, Georgia

I was just thinking of you before logging on Owen...

Best of luck to you this year and I hope you grow one
over 1000 lbs. If anyone here can, it's you.
My soil is much improved since last year but it hasn't
been tested so I'm not sure if it can grow a huge one
or not.

The weather here is cool and wet and not so great
for the small plants but they are covered at least
and my three best plants are also heated.
I may put a 752 Blair in my test patch this year and
maybe we can compare pictures sometime. I germinate
my test patch seeds today and may grow some of yours as
well. What in your opinion is your best seed so far?

Happy Mother's day to you and your wife!
Michel

5/9/2004 3:53:01 AM

Knopp, Germany

Best seed is a toss up...the 638 is a nice cross between heavy and color (996.5 handy x 716 Daletas), and as far as potential for ugly and really big I think the 628 last year (707 toftness x 805 pukos).

5/9/2004 10:03:34 AM

Atlanta, Georgia

I'll put those two in Owen if they sprout and we'll see what happens.
Michel

5/9/2004 1:41:30 PM