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Mercersburg, PA

All this talk of selecting seeds for genetic traits in AG's such as OTT, %heavy, length of growing time got me thinking about how much this has been done on the FP side. and, stemming from that, are there known seeds or seed lines that are more PM resistant than others? It seems to me that PM hits field pumpkins harder than AGs, but i think a lot of that has to do with the density of plants that i have in my field pumpkin rows(not talking about competition ones).

1/16/2012 9:31:37 AM

Mercersburg, PA

so, after all that rambling, do you think we could get further ahead with PM resistance and other disease resistance if we crossed a large field pumpkin seed line into a known disease resistant commercial hybrid? thoughts? or do you think it is better to just stay with known genetics and take good care of plants for disease control?

1/16/2012 9:33:44 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

I have found Phat Jacks already are more resistant than other heirlooms...That is what most of the growers are using

1/16/2012 1:11:56 PM

Bethlehem CT

The 137.4 Crews had good pm resistance for me. Anybody else have similar findings?

1/16/2012 2:45:59 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

bb9, just my humble opinion here...but sorta think that your last line of thought is prbly what happens w/ giants!!! Breed for Giants, and fight the battles as they come along!! Peace, Wayne

1/17/2012 7:39:27 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Are you talking commercial or competetion..If your talking commercial definetly go with the hybrids and pay the extra money per lb...Return of Investment will be huge...If you plant cheap Howdens or Field Pumpkin seeds for $10...You will lose alot of yield.

1/18/2012 1:53:29 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Charisma and Gold Rush is what we had good yields for...I always planted two varieties to be sure of a good crop

1/18/2012 1:55:21 PM

Indiana

If you are looking for PM resistant feild pumpkins Harris Seed, Seedway, and Seigers have a large variety of PM resistant pumpkins. Our farm has grown pumpkins for over twenty years and Alladin, Magic Lantern, Gladiator, Conestoga Giant and Appex do the best for us. If you plant a row of PM resistant pumpkin next to a non resistant pumpkin you can tell a difference all through the growing season

1/18/2012 6:08:10 PM

Mercersburg, PA

The Aladdin from harris seeds has looked pretty promising to me. i have used commercial seed that i bought from the Amish the last two years, but i will get a hybrid with PM resistance this year for commercial growth. my "commercial" plants are the ones that i have PM trouble with--competition plants have been pretty good because of less dense vine growth (pruning terts).

1/19/2012 8:48:57 AM

Springfield, VT

You may want to look at the outstanding seed company and their PM resistant lines.

http://www.pumpkinvegetableorganicseeds.com/pumpkins.html

1/19/2012 6:18:10 PM

Mercersburg, PA

the Apogee and Checkmate look real nice from that company--never heard of them, but would like to give a pennsylvania company some business.

1/20/2012 9:21:09 AM

churchville, ny

I talked at length yesterday with Outstanding Seeds, Director of Sales and Marketing, John Hoffman. They are definitely working hard on establishing PM resistant large pumpkins. I especially like Summit and Apogee (originally called Apex).

I also talked to Mark Willis, vegetable manager, of Harris seeds. They have 14 PM resistant varieties and the Apollo was a new edition last year that has done very well.

I spent today ordering seeds for my 15 acre planting in May. In total I will have 16 different varieties of large pumpkins, 11 of medium size and 35 varieties of small, specialty, squash and gourds - hopefully I have enough land and we have a better growing season than last year.

1/20/2012 8:27:24 PM

West Manchester, OH

Harris seeds does have a excellent selection. I hope every year more PMR varieties come out.

5/29/2012 11:30:51 AM