From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Eddyz@efirehose.net

This is only my opinion, and I know it's touchy for some, BUT!!!
The color rules need to change, The window of growing a squash is too narrow. There is limited interest as it is, and at the rate we're going, in 4 or 5 years you will only see one or two squash at a weigh off, and pretty soon the catagory won't be there.
The color rules need to be governed by only 1 entity, you can't have the green jacket people rule on a fruit saying it's a pumpkin, and a site class it as a squash, because nobody wins.
Under the Green rules today, you only have a very limited seed base to choose from. This is not good for the future of Squash.
If a site is GPC sanctioned, then the fruit needs to be honored for what the site deems it as be it pumpkin or squash.

12/20/2010 9:59:12 AM

Redmond, Washington; U.S.A.

Agreed 100%

12/20/2010 2:34:15 PM

Honesdale, Pennsylvania

I agree. I have never seen any controversy at a weighoff. The site coordinators and judges do a great job and to follow the GPC color rules is pretty simple. It seems that the Green Jacket thing is what stirs up the pot. Short of having Martha Stewart at every event with her certified color strips to compare against each fruit it must be left up to the judges at each event and then its the end of the story.

12/20/2010 3:35:02 PM

Long Island,New York

Eddy...what should the color rule be?

12/20/2010 4:56:30 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

What color should it be, good question, but I think the color limitations are far too narrow right now, and I'll use Ned's squash for an example.
I think it's a squash, You think it's not. the color is "light" but it's genetically a Squash.
Now, from what I understand, you never seen it in person, nor did I, BUT the judges classed it as a squash.
Pictures can be decieving, In person is best, therefore Judges decision should be final, end of story.
I believe any shade of grey, green or blue, with white stripes, or not, should be classed as a Squash.

Now G, you asked me, so I will ask you, What do you really think. please and thanks.

This is meant to be a discussion, not a bashing, because I'd really like to know

12/20/2010 6:18:57 PM

Long Island

No Eddy- you first. What do you think the squash rule should be for the GPC? Please answer the question. Everyone comes over here to squash board and says the rule sucks...they did it in the 90's when I started...they did it in the 2000's and you and others are doing it now. You all (yes- im lumping you with the rest)never come up with a positive answer...just pick on what others have settled on. I am not the GPC nor have anything to do with the GPC.

Eddy Z- your not happy with the current rule, whats your rule?

12/20/2010 7:17:44 PM

Long Island

Ned- Whats your rule? Monster Grower whats your rule?

12/20/2010 7:18:51 PM

canal winchester ohio

Eddy I've always felt that if you don't keep it all green grey or blue it may dilute the possibility even more of having a true squash line. That's how we have arrived at squmpkins, by folks crossing heavy to the chart "tweeners" with true green squash & the seed stock for greenies has basically died out.
Now if you keep it green grey, blue for squash no exceptions you will force people to do more research before growing a seed & possible push to make a cross that will get a squash.
When you keep it way open for interpretation by allowing more cream of white from the result of pumpkin/squmpkin crosses you will get weighoffs allowing a very questionable squash because it is a good friend of a co-ordinater that wants to help a buddy out. We all know that is done sometimes.
Now if you allow any squash that has been deemed a squash because of questionable judging ( it happens) you could short change someone who might be really trying to purify the stock & therefore we would fall back to seeing a lot more squmpkins at weighoffs.
just my opinion, I could be wrong.
Paul

12/20/2010 7:46:55 PM

Rhode Island

all green-grey or blue and/or a combination of the three is the way to keep the judging fair.i like the current gpc squash color rule.it takes all the guess work out of the judges hands.
unfortunately if you start to add a tad here and there of white? i would be afraid of whats next ? a tad of salmon? orange? cream? the rules could end up a wacky as they were for years.
the gpc has a very solid cant miss rule in place so long as people follow it correctly.
just my opinion
pap

12/20/2010 8:18:48 PM

Ohio

1) Squash will be classified as follows- 100% of the following colors or
color combinations green, blue, and gray. The surface area of the fruit as
grown in the garden, not including the portion that was in contact with, or
close proximity to the ground will be considered. This area will include the
area between the ribs, around the stem, and the blossom end. This will not
include any netting (cantaloping), any discoloration caused by the close
proximity to the ground, or minimal amounts of white striping or mottling
associated with some squash.

12/20/2010 8:28:34 PM

Ohio

i say the squash should be green, really never read the rule till tonight. but i say we stick with the gpc rule. has far has the squash line getting thin, if we go this way. i dont think that will happen. people will try to cross the big pumpkins into the squash line to get the size. then recross it back into a squash. yes, this may take time to get a bigger squash. so in my opinion, LEAVE IT ALONE.

12/20/2010 8:35:00 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

Huff, in my opinion, people are giving up with squash because of where the "Green Rules" are, and will continue the decline. If you want people to grow them, you need to have a more open set of standards.
Back in the day with the Squmpkin, it was tough, but the rules changed for Squash and was extreme.
So I would suggest a back peddling of sorts, but not completely.
G here is my thoughts
I would say that anything 80% or more solid, color, grey, green blue or any shade there of, should be a Squash, with zero accountabilty for the bottom 4 inches of the fruit.
If you classed it that way, the 824 Brunst offspring would all be classed as Squash.
Now I'll use the 824 Brunst as another example, I could grow 2 of these, end up with 2 fruit with varying color (which the Brunst seed throws) one would end up at as a pumpkin and the other as a Squash, and this is by the current rules. That's wrong because the Brunst seed is a Squash, not a pumpkin.
Now G, as for the GPC rules, you don't like the GPC involvement with Squash, But you use their stage to present your Green Jacket. So as much as you may not like what they do or say, You still need them.
I started this post to express my thoughts on the matter, not add 2 cents and run, I hope I answered your questions, so please answer mine, and include the 824 Brunst, and it's colors in your answers

12/20/2010 8:41:48 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

Sorry did mean 90% not 80

12/20/2010 8:46:47 PM

Long Island,New York

Eddy- you seem to have a problem with the separation of the GPC squash rules, the GPC squash champion, and the Green Jacket deal. The GPC was comfortable with the 35% green rule they had and wouldn't change even after the outcries of many squash growers for many years. You had pumpkins consistently winning squash contests because they had late season green on them. If you've grown a real squash you know they are different and should have thier own contest because they havent as yet grown competitive with the giant pumpkins for size. I'll leave the reasoning why that is for the smart people. We the growers asked repeatedly for some recognition like a jacket as the orange guys have. They refused. So--------we made our own>>the green jacket and travelling trophy, independent of the GPC. The GPC does thier thing, we did our own. Its cool, or at least it was.

12/20/2010 9:00:04 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

OK, I'm not a squash grower and probably never will be, but I appreciate the squash purists. I have a few questions and comments without, admittedly, doing any research.

The color criteria for pumpkins is very liberal, whether they be cream, orange, salmon, darkly mottled, or any combination thereof. Pumpkins also tend to grow heavier. Are squash of a different genus and species than pumpkins? If so, then IMHO there should definitely be a color rule in effect. But what about the grower who is successful in putting heavy pumpkin genetics into a green squash line without adding any of the pumpkin color?

If pumpkins and squash are of the SAME genus and species, then why even attempt to separate them according to color? Are "pumpkins" and "squash" not ALL a type of squash?

The debate has generated some very heated and compelling arguments and I'm just trying to understand a few things here without siding one way or another.

12/20/2010 9:03:54 PM

Long Island,New York

Now Eddy, you say I don't like the GPC involvement in squash. Well thats just plain wrong. I wish they were MORE involved in squash. I wish they had cared in 2004- it would have saved a whole lot of work for me and Rocky and Wayne. I wish they cared now...and were here coordinating your request that the GPC change the color rule. But they haven't showed up as yet....will they or will we get a post as usual that says: "The GPC is concerned about the color rule and lack of squash at contests in general and will surely discuss the topic at our winter meetings" ? Eddy- I wish they were MORE involved.

12/20/2010 9:05:26 PM

Long Island,New York

So, you need to work with the GPC to iron out your color issues. The GPC has a first place for squash every year- I think its 1000 dollars.But no jacket. Go for it !

The Green Jacket and Trophy is separate and was developed to award the grower of TRUE GREEN. Thats what we made it for- the full color ones. The Rule we made was to promote full color so the gene pool would get better. Your 80% rule would continue to dilute the color and goes against everything Rocky, Wayne, and I started. So I'm sure you can see how that doesn't fit here? Nobody cared about that but us and our supporters...so we made this award. Its not a GPC Award that we give away at The PUMPKINFEST EVENT.

12/20/2010 9:13:45 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

Eddy makes a good point as to why the decline in squash growers because the window is very narrow however, I believe the solution is not softening the rule, but in increasing the incentive i.e. get the prize money up at the weigh offs and more recognition for the growers.

I believe the current rule is good and should be defended.

12/20/2010 9:14:39 PM

Long Island,New York

As for the 824Brunst seed, if it or any other seed produces the full color squash color then its fine ! If it produces the off-color white ones with the green or the blue-grey clouds of color then is it really a fruit worthy of celebrating the TRUE Green goal of improving the squash color lines? Its not what we had in mind for a positive genetic source for TRUE GREEN. It grows like a giant pumpkin and doesn't look like a full color squash.Now the 1177Haist had it going on! All 824Brunst via the 1028Johnson and all grey-green. While the 1177 may not be the best source of green genetics it passes the color requirementsand was a GPC and Green Jacket winner. Don't forget Eddy- the 616Corkum is 75% pumpkin and the 990 Hebb which figures prominatly in the 824 background is very much 780Eaton pumpkin. So we can debate how much of a squash seed the 824 really is.

12/20/2010 9:27:30 PM

Long Island,New York

The Green Jacket/Squash Trophy Award awards the grower of the largest (by wieght) True Green Squash grower of the year regardless of the Organization affiliation at the weighoff and even if privately privately wieghed (as long as a strict list of requirements are met). The GPC rule may change, who knows. I dont think its helping to reduce the color requirements to gain players. After all--there werent enough squash in 1998 for the GPC to consider an awards structure and that was with 35% green being the criteria.All a 80% rule will do is allow another pumpkin mix to win a squash contest! (which is what got us to here, today!)

12/20/2010 9:34:55 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

We all forget that when Chris Lyons grew the 900* it was supposed to be a pumpkin!

12/20/2010 10:22:24 PM

Lloydminster/AB

Most of the squash I used to see at the local weigh off used to be of the grey green variety, you know the ones with the white stripes that are causing all the controversy. Then a pumpkin throws a dark green squash and now only the offspring of that one are now accepted as "green" enough. What a bunch of crap. That why I don't waste good soil on a class that should be dissolved! Good luck. I know I shouldn't press send but.

12/20/2010 10:36:51 PM

norway , maine

whats this ? http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=57885

i don't know what is but i like it

12/20/2010 10:44:12 PM

Long Island,New York

nice !!

12/20/2010 10:48:12 PM

Indiana

I believe Glenn has the right to make whatever criteria for his jacket he chooses. he organizes and raises funds for it.

That said. Eddy, I believe the current GPC rule regarding squash and pumpkins could be finally solved if white/cream was considered a neutral color. Meaning it can be either pumpkin or squash.

In order to keep the squash entrants in line so that they just dont show a white fruit as a squash, a board of 5 people should be appointed to review entrants that are pure white and have neither green nor orange. I think it is also fair to ask for a picture or set of pictures to prove that it was born green. If it does not have any color to it one way or another.

Basically I am saying that if someone wants to enter a GPC squash with no descernable green or orange characteristics, it should be ruled a pumpkin unless it can be proven that it is born a squash.

12/20/2010 11:07:47 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

G I knew you'd mention the Eaton in the 824, But as John mentioned, what about the 900 Llyons. It's a pumpkin, or was grown for one, threw many a pumpkin.

I started this for the simple reason, it gets brought up to varying degrees every year, this year more than last etc. and will keep being contiversial. My comments and reply's are to get more involvement by other growers. And I thank you all.

Honestly I'd like to see one governing body handle all the rules, jacket awards and everything. It would be easier.

I also think the GPC rules should run all GPC events, If it's judged a Squash, then that's what it is, and is in the running for the green jacket.

12/20/2010 11:40:27 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Crucify me, but I think this is semantics...squash...it's what we all grow...We call em AG's!!! Orange to Green & anywhere inbetween, is different, IMHO from what G is striving for and that's "True Green" !!! Peace, Wayne
Merry Christmas to awl!!! Chedda, that is a lime!!! (and a BIG ONE) LOL!!!

12/21/2010 1:43:09 AM

Netherlands

1. I think the Green Jacket committee does a great job!
2. The WR giant "pumpkins" in the early 1900s were green.
3. There seem to be genetic influences from the Hungarian Mammoth squash in modern day squash. They are grey and never green.
4. Pumpkins and squash are genetically pretty much the same, so the difference is whatever is decided upon. This is the same for many other types of giant veg including beetroot and marrows. The rules there are very strict and clear. Whenever a grey area (no pun intended) fruit is entered, it is disqualified and the grower generally stops with that strain.
5. Regardless of the rules, some growers will still try to convince Guinness they have a WR while they actually don't and Guinness will probably fall for it.
6. I'm for the 100% rule, because a 80% or 90% rule would be really tough to judge.
7.Because of intensive cross breeding from the 1800s onwards, all of our AGs have a mixed history, though those with green, grey and bluish traits we now call squash, likely came from totally different species in the past, meaning that even squash now have different ancestors, let alone orange "pumpkins".
8. I suggest all cucurbita maxima fruit (incl. AGs) are called squash and all cucurbita pepo fruit are called pumpkins.

12/21/2010 3:58:54 AM

Netherlands

9. Squash are popular in some parts of Europe. One Belgian weigh-off had 50 AG squash entries this year.
10. The green jacket has landed twice in Holland in the past four years. We take squash seriously!

12/21/2010 4:01:28 AM

Long Island,New York

Eddy- The 900 Lyons is included in my very first line of the fourth post-

>>> As for the 824Brunst seed, if it or any other seed produces the full color squash color then its fine ! <<<<

Fortunately for the 900 it has performed more consistently as it relates to solid squash color!!!

12/21/2010 7:08:40 AM

Honesdale, Pennsylvania

I think the GPC rule is fine. Leave the current rules in the hands of the judges. I think a deep breath is needed to remember that we grow these things for fun. I had never put a squash seed in a prime patch slot before and when my son was interested in growing one we decided on the 1177 Haist because we had seen 2 the year before that were grown by Dave Hilstosky and one by Sam Rockwell that were green and went heavy. To look at them they were definately squash. Our 1177 started out lime green developed a huge stem and from day one had the characteristics of a giant squash. I never thought that it was anything but a squash. At Cooperstown there was no controversy, only congratulations from Karl Haist, who came in second with a beautiful (dark Green 915), the other squash growers and the judges and committee. I believe mine was even darker than the Hilstosky/Rockwell squash. It was a great day and to top it off ours went 18 percent heavy at 1082.9 and I had my first 1000 pound anything.

12/21/2010 9:58:33 AM

Soldiers Grove, WI

Personally color is everything and genetics mean nothing. If the fruit is solid green/blue/grey then it is judged a true green squash. If the fruit is not solid green/blue/grey then it is a pumpkin. Plain and simple. This makes things fair. This also helps to isolate the color/characteristics that you desire. For instance, the 900 Lyons grew both pumpkins and true green Squash. Color meant everything and genetics meant nothing.

12/21/2010 12:26:13 PM

Sparta, NC

I am in favor of the current GPC color rules for squash. I think if you change to percentages it will create alot more problems.

12/21/2010 2:04:45 PM

Indiana

no percentages, just make white a neutral color

12/21/2010 3:02:54 PM

Long Island,New York

Tom...so white is a squash color? Do you know any pumpkins that are all white?

12/21/2010 4:09:04 PM

Indiana

If you want seeds to be predictable, adopt my suggestion, you want to cause all of this confusion as far as what to label something, keep it any other way you want.

If the members of the GPC board would like to discuss this with me for more clarity I am happy to do so. No use airing differences in opinion vs facts here in public.

12/21/2010 5:03:34 PM

Ohio

Where can one read the rules set by the Green Jacket Committee, I've read the GPC color rule. Just curious !!

12/21/2010 5:14:48 PM

Long Island,New York

Oh please tom, really.

12/21/2010 5:42:29 PM

Honesdale Pa USA

Maybe the GPC can get Ned a green jacket with GREY pinstripes! lol.

12/21/2010 6:21:47 PM

Ohio

well, i say if its green its a squash. we dont need a percentage, as Tom And John state this will cause more trouble.
As for the decline of the squash at weigh-offs, MONEY. the sites dont pay out.Which is fine. Ned said it best "I think a deep breathe is needed to remember that we grow these things for fun"
Sometimes i think the money gets in the way, i started growing in the late 80s, for the pumpkin show. Havent really taken to many to that weigh-off,(rotted, died, diease)
Was i upset, yes. who isnt but i got over it because its fun. thats why i do it. not the money. just like my race car, i spent alot of money on it. did i win alot LMAO no. i did it because i loved to do it and the friends i have made


Now, if you wanna agrue about what color a squash is supposed to be, then grow a pumpkin. i think squash will be around awhile, maybe not in great numbers, but there.

SO LEAVE THE RULES ALONE
Thank you
Danny Reeb

12/21/2010 7:03:31 PM

Ohio

sorry, one more thing. are'nt pumpkins supposed to be all orange? all the pumpkins i grew up around wwere all orange. not white, cream, peach. do we need to change that rule to?

12/21/2010 7:05:58 PM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

I think white should be allowed on squash. Any combination of green, blue, grey, and white would make it a squash, just no orange. I believe by allowing white coloration new life, and genetics, could be brought to squash growing. The marginal increases in the squash world record in recent years already points to squash growing's decline. Without a rule change, and new genetics, I fear squash growing could die out in the fairly near future.

12/21/2010 7:38:17 PM

Long Island,New York

>>>>The marginal increases in the squash world record in recent years already points to squash growing's decline.<<<<

Well that SOUNDS convincing Kevin but look at this factoid since 2004 when the jacket started:
2004 world record: squash=941, pkn 1446.-
2010 world record: squash 1236, pkn 1810.-

%increase 2004-2010: squash 31%, Pkn 25%.

Pity the pumpkins as they can't keep up with the rate of improvement!!!( even though they are grown 15x more often with way more genetic options?)The statistics do not justify your statement.

12/21/2010 7:57:00 PM

Long Island,New York

ok Im wrong....wr for squash was 990...941 was biggest grown that year....the % increase is accurate- 990 plus 25% = 1237. (took wrong number off my scratch sheet)

12/21/2010 7:58:30 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

That's great info G and an excellent point. In this giant pumpkin world, squash are and oddity for sure. Yes, I grow some green and I also grow some for nice orange too. These too are very hard to get the heavy/ size out of, but fun none the less and always popular! There is very little prize money for the orange beauties, but I think some of us crazies will keep growing them. I just wish I had the time/ money /energy / space to grow 6 or 8 of each!

This has been an excellent thread and I very rarely read every word of a post, but this one I have studied. I can say its really nice to log on and see the number of new posts on the squash thread in the double digits for a change. Thanks Eddy for stiring the pot.

For the record, I want to say that the GPC take the squash category very seriously. Glenn, you asked where is the GPC in all this discussion. You have to remember that we are a committee of the whole and made up of very serious committed AG growers. Typically no one individual on the committee is going to come forward with an opinion on a question like this without exhausting (and i mean exhausting) internal discussion. This colour rule discussion is high on the winter meeting agenda. We plan to review this and have a discussion on the subject at Niagara.

12/21/2010 9:38:49 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

I have to agree with ya John. This is one of the few threads I have read with great interest and have tried to come to one conclusion or another but cannot. I have admitted that I am not a green purist and can only leave it to those who DO grow green. I hope the discussion at Niagara concludes with everyone satisfied.

12/21/2010 9:56:42 PM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

Based on the data from the last 5 years I would say my previous statement is true.

The last 5 growing seasons:
Year S P
2006 1131 1502 6 Sq over 1K, 2 over 1100
2007 1234 1689 13 Sq over 1K, 5 over 1100, 1 over 1200
2008 1177 1536 5 Sq over 1K, 1 over 1100
2009 1236 1725 4 Sq over 1K, 1 over 1200
2010 1106 1810 6 Sq over 1K, 1 over 1100

If you look at the numbers for squash in 2006 versus 2010 it looks to have moved backwards. This years largest was smaller than the WR of 5 years ago. The number of squash over 1K stayed at 6 and the number over 1100 dropped back to just 1. Just a small sample of pumpkins shows 3 pumpkins over 1400 in 2006 versus at least 65 pumpkins over 1400 in 2010.

In the last 5 years the pumpkin WR is up 20.5%, the squash WR is up 9.3%. In the last 4 years the pumpkin WR is up 7.1%, the squash WR is up 0.1%.

12/21/2010 10:22:41 PM

Leerdam, The Netherlands

isn't it so that if you scratch a real squash you get a real dark layer just beneath the surface!? (no matter how grey or blue it is) and that when you do the same with pumpkin this will be bright orange (no matter how bright orange, salmon, white or yellow it is!!!

could this be the ultimate check when doubt exist!?

Iwan

12/22/2010 4:24:10 AM

Germany

My knowledge of the squash colour rules is limited. So could someone look at http://www.bigpumpkins.com/displayphoto.asp?pid=6868&gid=1 and tell me, wether it would be judged as GPC- Squash, as Green-Jacket- Squash or not ?
Thanks, Benny

12/23/2010 4:52:08 AM

Long Island,New York

Green Jacket Squash !!!
( and a very nice specimen too!!!, damn shame.)

12/23/2010 6:48:30 AM

Germany

thanks Glen for the compliment, shape was really great. This green rock was my great hope for new pb-squash, was a sad moment when I saw the stem split (589 Preis* dmg.( 684 Preis* x open)

12/23/2010 6:56:58 AM

Claysburg , PA

Benny, that is a awesome greenie . Do you have any of them 684 Preis* seeds left ?

James

12/23/2010 6:59:27 AM

Germany

James, email me at bernhard.preis@web.de

12/23/2010 12:19:23 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

Benny,

This is a great example of a true green squash showing acceptable striping and mottling. This differs a great deal from a squash with white patches or stripes on the outer ribs.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=97627

This one was ruled not squash.

12/23/2010 2:30:23 PM

Long Island,New York

We should not be calling white patches- striping. Its not the striping refered to in any "color rule" Ive ever heard. If you look carefully at the other pictures especially of the blossom end of that fruit you'll see proper "striping".If you look at the other pictures in your diary from the wieghoff and beyond you'll see what looks like white areas- areas without good squash color. Enough that the judges ruled pkn on it. I would agree with the judges and that admittedly large wonderfull accomplishment would not/should not pass the color rule for the Jacketor the GPC as written. Its a squashy mix but not true green imho.
So, if the opinion expressed in your post is an official GPC example of an acceptable squash by the rules, then anything going for the green Jacket would have to be reclasified after the wieghoff which is doable, but will get messy....and confusing. You'll also want to modify your rule to allow the white patches- they are NOT stripes. I guess the question you might wanna mumble under your breath while you ponder the ruling is "if a knowlegable grower wanted to add squash color to his project line of fruit would the 1132 be the one he should use?"

12/23/2010 5:33:37 PM

Long Island,New York

As soon as the 2011 diaries get up I'll post a slew of pictures of squash and comment on them. I'll number each picture and comment.....you all can comment back when I post the thread and give opinions and ask questions and straighten me out. This is a coordinated effort that should include all, an appropriate squash rule will benefit all growers who want to grow a squash, and I trust the GPC is there for the growers.

12/23/2010 6:29:16 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

I think my post was was misinterpreted. Benny's picture was that of an acceptable squash. The Picture I posted was unacceptable. I in no way meant that my fruit should be considered acceptable as a squash as far as the colour rule is concerned. However, this fruit is still a genetically a squash and most of the offspring show excellent true green colour.

12/23/2010 9:55:05 PM

Oswego,ny

maybe just clarification is in order,
how about have example pictures posted with the rules so one could compare a pumpkin to be judged with past rulings

As for the interest and size concerns, to me it's all about incentives.
Everyone wants a shot at a big prize . Monetary or recognition , take your pick..
Many weighins have no squash category ,all have very diminished incentives.
Also I have yet to have someone stop at my roadside stand and want to buy a giant squash, but after weighed and seeds are collected ,my neighbors non-judgemental beef cattle love them just the same..lol

Perhaps an award for conformation similar to howard Dill for Orange might help the "true green" genetic?

12/26/2010 8:33:58 AM

Oswego,ny

lol....*SQUASH* intead of pumpkin in my first sentence.
"comare a squash to be judged...."

12/26/2010 8:37:12 AM

President - GPC

This is all great dialogue and I believe room for the GPC to involve itself governing to a common sense and over all rule to include squash . I applaud EddyZ for his motivating posts and everyone elses inputs and opinions as well. There is a lot to consider and hopefully enough here for the GPC to expand upon and include. I am one that believes there should be more to our hobby than just pumpkins pumpkins pumpkins.

Like everything else out there in corporate land we should expand to embrace the needs of the many, for the sake of growing our hobby bigger. Great stuff Eddy. I am one to help rally a motion to the GPC to consider coming up with a general consensus on squash color rules and pay it due appreciation with proper recognition and the support it deserves at our weigh offs and convention. Expansion of our sport is good for the hobby in my opinion. We start small and it grows bigger, we all win.

12/26/2010 12:27:02 PM

Long Island,New York

I see the ability to create political rhetoric was a requirement of the new post....lol....Wiz....just curious...where do you stand with the color rule?

12/26/2010 1:06:17 PM

Oswego,ny

For what it's worth. I was just remembering what my plan was last season..I took a huge "swing for the fence" and planted a 1310 pitura and 1012 pitura...hoping to beat the odds and get a huge greenie.I struck out ,aside from being damaged from hail and small anyway I wasn't upset that the color didn't qualify ..next year. do I play it safe with a proven tue green* seed or take a chance ? who knows?maybe both? TO me the challenge makes growing fun.
What got me started growing squash was a pumpkin from my own pumpkin seeds that would have qualified under the old rules.and caused a little confusion at a weighin...such is life.
Nothing more gratifying than seeing a real greenie set in july ....Guess I'm on the fence on this one.

12/26/2010 6:09:38 PM

President - GPC

Glenn, I think the color should remain unique unto the squash, no orange, salmon, white....well...I've grown them...and one doeZ get white toward the ground dependant upon how much dirt or sand thats been pile around, that should not disqualify a fruit. Nor should white specks, no the lines....Im gonna have to check out...Ive grown pure squash, 848, 1236, that wonderful 527 Jester....I want to grow again, but I will refer to others and rally towards a consistent rule thats fair but unique as the greenieZ themselves. They need to be preserved not diluted. Yes we want them to go heavier, but not in my mind be a squmkin.... Im open for debate, there Glenn. HowZ that? Lets grow em BIG.

12/26/2010 8:37:44 PM

President - GPC

Hester....damn my fingerZ.....they have a mind of there own too sometimeZ>.....lol

12/26/2010 8:38:36 PM

Long Island,New York

Sounds open minded, fair, and experienced. What more could anyone ask for. Thanks.

12/26/2010 8:56:47 PM

Wallingford,CT

Changing the color rules is not the way to encourage/support the growing of green squash by the GPC. If the GPC wants to positively influence the growing of true green squash then it needs to require prize money parity as a requirement for GPC weigh off sanction. The 100% color rule as used by the true green squash growers is the only rule that works 100% of the time. Anything else is a sham.

12/30/2010 7:23:54 AM