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valtierra/spain

Several growers have asked me by email, how do I start with the seeds. I count it here, to talk a little about pumpkins.
To grow 3 plants, I select 25 seeds. All the seeds of a pumpkin are not the same, I plant 5-6 seeds of each chosen genetics, to choose the ones that start out strongest in pots. And I also sow the pollinators, a few days before. In 2021, plant 5 pollinators. (1686, 2468, 2294, 2624, and 2552).
Of the 25 seeds that I put to germinate, I write down in each pot, the one that is born first, the one that is born second, third ... so until 25, if all are born. Every year there are 4 or 5 seeds that germinate badly, or slowly, these pots destroy them. Of the 20 that remain, I put in a hole the number 1-4-7 (first to be born, fourth and seventh to be born) in the second hole the 2-5-8 and in the third hole the 3-6-9, about 5 feet apart from each other. Curiously, practically every year, always the best plant from each well is the one that was born first. I've been doing the same for 3 years and I think I've always ended up growing the numbers 1-2-3. My 2183,7 was the number 1, of the 1911 seeds. The 2552 was the number 1 of the 2183, and the 2356 was the number 1 of the 2183, the 2517, was the number 2 of which I sowed this year. By doing this, you select a possible golden seed, I am not saying that it is the best way to do it, but it is how I do it. The rest of the pots, some I use as a pollinator, if I see that the plant is very good, and the others I give or discard, depending on how they are. If you are looking for a genetics, and if you only sow 1 seed, you run the risk that you will not get a quick seed. In 2019, I had a mcmullen, and a 2183, I saw that the 2183 was better, and I removed the mcmullen ... it was a hunch.

1/10/2022 4:20:03 AM

valtierra/spain

My theory is that the plant that grows faster, that develops the main guide faster, will be the plant that sends more energy forward, towards the pumpkin. The 2183 are generally very fast plants, the 1911 genetics is like that. The guides are not excessively thick, in fact, they are somewhat thin, but the plant flies. Plants that are slow, and develop very thick guides, normally consume a lot of energy to feed the plant, and do not send energy quickly to the main guide, the pumpkin does not develop very quickly. The thin guides at the beginning is not a problem, in 2019 I asked Ron Wallace, and he told me, I will not worry, they will get fat later ... and that's the way it was, and that's the way it is every year.

1/10/2022 4:20:33 AM

valtierra/spain

Many will think that sowing 25 seeds is a waste of seeds, and they are correct. But the bottleneck in cultivation is always the beginning, if you start well, you have the possibility of ending well, but if at the beginning you do it badly, and choose an unsuitable seed, no matter how hard you fight, you will not reach your goal. So I recommend, always germinate enough seeds, surely we all have a multitude of seeds in our refrigerator to give them a chance, do not hesitate, there are unproven seeds, which can be the fastest in the pot, and be a golden seed.
Pollinators, in large pots, give me excellent flowers. Only fed with organic fertilizer for flowering, and with algae and fish. To choose the best pollinator, you have to see the plant in the pot, choose the fastest, and with the most beautiful leaves. And open small pumpkins from those pots, to see which of them has the thickest wall. In 2019, the thickest was 2469, in 2020 it was 2183, and in 2021, the thickest were 1686 stels, and 2552 mendi, and they were the 2 that I used in pollinations. Pollination, it is ideal to cut the males at 18-20 degrees Celsius, and do the pollination quickly. (males tied from the previous day). And cover the pollinated flower with a white cork box so that the temperature does not rise excessively, the ideal that pollination day is maximum 23-25 ​​Celsius and humidity of 60-65%, thus you get a perfect pollination. If there are any where I have been wrong, I ask for your input. Thank you.

1/10/2022 4:20:38 AM

valtierra/spain

Many will think that sowing 25 seeds is a waste of seeds, and they are correct. But the bottleneck in cultivation is always the beginning, if you start well, you have the possibility of ending well, but if at the beginning you do it badly, and choose an unsuitable seed, no matter how hard you fight, you will not reach your goal. So I recommend, always germinate enough seeds, surely we all have a multitude of seeds in our refrigerator to give them a chance, do not hesitate, there are unproven seeds, which can be the fastest in the pot, and be a golden seed.
Pollinators, in large pots, give me excellent flowers. Only fed with organic fertilizer for flowering, and with algae and fish. To choose the best pollinator, you have to see the plant in the pot, choose the fastest, and with the most beautiful leaves. And open small pumpkins from those pots, to see which of them has the thickest wall. In 2019, the thickest was 2469, in 2020 it was 2183, and in 2021, the thickest were 1686 stels, and 2552 mendi, and they were the 2 that I used in pollinations. Pollination, it is ideal to cut the males at 18-20 degrees Celsius, and do the pollination quickly. (males tied from the previous day). And cover the pollinated flower with a white cork box so that the temperature does not rise excessively, the ideal that pollination day is maximum 23-25 ​​Celsius and humidity of 60-65%, thus you get a perfect pollination. If there are any where I have been wrong, I ask for your input. Thank you.

1/10/2022 4:20:45 AM

Central Ca

Wonderful information. Thank you for sharing

1/10/2022 6:01:48 AM

Grittyville, WA

Good thinking. Appreciate the insight.

1/10/2022 6:14:07 AM

New York

If the three plants that you put in the garden are the best why not use them to pollinate each other? When you put the three plants in each hole are all of them from the same seed or do you mix different seeds into one hole? Thanks for the great info.

1/10/2022 8:41:53 AM

valtierra/spain

I mix different seeds, for me the important thing is the speed of birth and the speed of the plant, not the seed. I don't use them as pollinators because I apply some fungicide and insecticide for the first 2 months, and the pollen is no longer the same as pollen, in a pot without using pesticides. For me the quality of the pollinator's pollen is very important. Many times we wonder why the pumpkin gives few seeds, I spend until 2018, but in 2019 I pollinate with pollen clean of pesticides, the pumpkins give me a good amount of seeds. When they asked me by email, which seed is better if the 2552 , 2517, or 2356, I answer the same thing ... the plant more quickly in pot and in the ground, then God will say.

1/10/2022 9:12:45 AM

New York

Okay thank you for the information

1/10/2022 9:21:32 AM

New York

How many seeds do you think someone should start for every planting spot they have?

1/10/2022 9:23:00 AM

valtierra/spain

My advice is that if you like a seed of a certain genetics, and you can get 4-5 seeds without ruining yourself, it is that you sow 4-5 seeds. And choose the best of them. If you have different seeds, you can do the same, sow 5 or 6 seeds, and plant the best 2 or 3 from the pots in the well. What I don't like is that if you only have one seed, for example a 2183 or an 1885, and you sow it, and in a pot you see that it is not fast, that it is a bad plant, and then in the ground you see the same thing, I think it is a bad idea to continue with it, if you have a much better plant, it is best to choose the best plant. Look at the best growers for example who grew 2145, or 2009, or many more famous seeds and there are many who achieved few pounds, it may be that, that the seed was not as good as their sisters were, and that is go from the beginning. There is a lot of work behind a plant, we all know it, so it is very important to start very well from the pot, and to grow a great plant from the beginning. Spending 4-5 seeds is not very expensive, the expensive thing is to work all season for a plant that is not extraordinary. If it happens that of your seeds of the 5 that you germinate, there are two very good seeds, and these are the best in pots, you will have a great start to the season.

1/10/2022 1:20:00 PM

Massillon, Ohio

Thank you, Ruben, for taking time to share info with the rest of us! Much appreciated.

1/10/2022 2:46:32 PM

Walla Walla Wa.

This is really awesome info,so kind of you to share this,thanks so much!

1/10/2022 3:15:06 PM

On a cliff in the desert

Thanks for the advice Ruben. I was planning on growing a few plants in pots to just use as pollinators as an experiment and you just confirmed it is a good idea.

1/10/2022 3:30:35 PM

On a cliff in the desert

Thanks for the advice Ruben. I was planning on growing a few plants in pots to just use as pollinators as an experiment and you just confirmed it is a good idea.

1/10/2022 3:30:35 PM

On a cliff in the desert

Now I know why some tomato growers start 50+ plants.

1/10/2022 3:31:15 PM

valtierra/spain

I love to share information, you can ask me any questions here. Salvador, Leonardo, Mathias, Steve Geddes, Ron, Hermanos Paton, and many more growers helped me a lot, it is very important to share what you really know can make a difference. These days several growers have asked me the same thing by email, and if it was better to put one seed or another ... when I tell them to put all of them, and then choose they don't understand me, that's why I decided to put it here.

1/10/2022 4:57:54 PM

New York

Thank you for all the info and help

1/10/2022 7:03:18 PM

New York

I’ll definitely try this this year

1/10/2022 7:03:32 PM

Rmen, very well put. Thanks

So you are letting the plants make the choice for you by proving they are the best?

1/10/2022 8:22:14 PM

Rmen, very well put. Thanks

So you are letting the plants make the choice for you by proving they are the best?

1/10/2022 8:22:14 PM

Pittsburgh, PA

Great read Ruben. Thanks for sharing. You are one of the few top growers that still share here on BP and it’s much appreciated. I normally start 4 seeds for each spot I plan on growing. Seems however that I’m picking for more short stocky plants when your advice states looks for a faster runner. I will heed your advice and change up the way I judge my seedlings going forward. Thanks again.

1/10/2022 11:09:17 PM

valtierra/spain

yes spudder. They tell me which ones have to go to the ground. Those that are born first, and those that go faster on the ground. I measure the growth of the main fence every day when they are in the ground. These last 3 years, the fastest have been the 1911 that grew the 2183, and the 2183 that grew the 2356, 2552, 2517 and 2081. in that order. I am sure that the plant that is faster, and grows more the main guide, surely it is because it sends more energy forward, which is the important thing when it comes to fattening the pumpkin. Jay, In the past I also thought that plants with thick vines were better, but I think I was wrong. The guides end up getting fat in the summer, here what you have to do is fatten the pumpkin, there is no competition for thicker vines.The best is a very fast plant balance, and normal vines, neither too thin nor too thick.

1/11/2022 1:38:27 AM

Brooktondale, New York

Thank you. I am new to growning, only three pumpkins in my life. With a back ground in science I have been struggling with this question for much of the last year. I guess it boils down to how your approaching pumpkins. Are you growing for the fun of it or selecting out a genetic traits? Each can be enjoyed for different reasons depending upon how far down the rabbit hole you live. From a genetic standpoint selecting phenotypes is the best way to improve a stock. The reason I have been thinking about it is because I do not understand the use of terms in auctions. A set in poker is a pair, a lot means many. A single seed is a set? and a lot? I would like to thank everyone for growing such an amazing pumpkin culture. Thank you for sharing your observations.

1/11/2022 1:48:08 AM

Grittyville, WA

I wish the pumpkin seed packs at auction came with three seeds!!! Yes, at the auctions you are sometimes bidding on just one seed.

1/11/2022 5:05:15 AM

Ironton, ohio

Rmen, first off thanks for sharing has been a good read. How large of pots are you growing your pollinator plants in, and are you starting them the same day as your in ground plants?

1/11/2022 8:05:20 AM

Bethlehem CT

Very interesting, Thanks for sharing Ruben.

1/11/2022 8:25:44 AM

Georgia

Berggren, a set in poker is three not a pair. Some things are just what they are. It is a pair of scissors and a pair of pants. I am assuming that you were going for a "Steven Wright" type banter. Like why do we park in driveways and drive on parkways...etc.

1/11/2022 9:25:40 AM

Brooktondale, New York

Sorry for the omission of the "not" in front of the word pair. Late night post after a long day. I was not really going for a banner, just a confirmation of common word usage for further understanding of expectations auction transactions. I now realize my response may distract from the information that was presented so clearly. In the future I will be more aware. This topic sparked a lot of emotion because I did not understand planting a single seed. The selection process is then spread over multiple growers after a year of cultivation. In the end I realized not every grower has the same aspirations. That's what fuels diversity. The clarification of seed vigor vs fruit, ultimately removes years of mental anguish. Once again sorry if the tangential content removed any focus from the real gift that was offered in this post.

1/11/2022 1:49:39 PM

Syracuse, NY

Those terms, Berggren, will be used loosely across the auction domains; It is not super-unified, but you'll become more adept at seeing them and knowing that usually, 'Lot' is used as the main term and then perhaps 'Sets' is how many 'divisions', even if JUST one seed and ultimately the seed quantity ('1 Seed', '3 seeds', etc.) is displayed to save us from any confusion, lol.
Herein: Lot #(s)/# of Set(s)/# of Seed(s) - can all mean or describe essentially what is included in the 'parcel' at hand. No, THAT word is my own, lol.
There can even be a Lot #1A, 1B, 1C...Rare, but they scare me a little, lol! For a view of the diversity of all the auctions (esp. ones that say 'Details' or down farther as 'already been held'), you can go here:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=138

...and in particular:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Attachments/Anoka_auction_2022.pdf

...which even has the 'Sets' denotation highlighted - getting better!
I guess the 'Sets' term is growing on even ME and is becoming the norm, lol---The highlighting is a nice touch! So, go ahead and study, buddy and have fun with whatever you find out---eric g

1/12/2022 4:51:57 AM

Colorado

Ruben what do you think is happening during pumpkin growth.Is the plant pushing nutrients to the pumpkin or is the growing pumpkin pulling nutrients from the plant. Or some of each.My guess is youll say pushing which fits your aggressive main growth as a indicator of strong pumpkin growth.What are your thoughts.

1/13/2022 1:13:46 AM

valtierra/spain

I believe that it works the same in all plants. The sap travels through the vines, towards the growth areas, as Joe Aits explained well, I believe that you always have to have growth areas close to the pumpkin, so that the entire plant sends the energy there.
The sap has a certain speed, there are studies with the SFM1 Sap Flow Meter, in trees, or other plants. Here is an extract that I have written down for years, it is interesting:
The transport of the processed sap
Processed sap and raw sap provide the entire plant with the nutrients it needs. The processed sap contains mostly sucrose and other nutrients manufactured in photosynthesis; it circulates through the Liberian vessels of the phloem at an average speed of approximately one meter hour./3 feet hour
The hypothesis of pressure flow explains the displacement of the elaborated sap, it takes into account that the movement of fluids in the phloem is directed by the use and production of sugar. It proposes that the difference in hydrostatic pressure produced by osmosis causes a flow movement of the elaborated sap from the sources (mature leaves and roots that store substances) to the sinks (apex of a root, an expanding leaf, a flower and an organ reserve in formation).

1/13/2022 6:14:08 AM

valtierra/spain

Sucrose and other nutrients manufactured by the cells of the chlorophyll parenchyma enter by active transport in the companion cells of the phloem in the veins of the leaf, and once there, they move by diffusion to the sieve tubes. Inside the sieve tube, the increase in solutes causes the entry of water by osmosis from the xylem vessels. As water enters, the hydrostatic pressure increases within the tube that pushes the sap made by the phloem.
Upon reaching the sink, the sucrose is pumped into your cells and will be used in the formation of reserve molecules, such as starch or cellulose, which is a structural molecule. As sucrose decreases in the sieve tubes, water escapes into the xylem vessels, and this causes the hydrostatic pressure to decrease.

Cojoe, I prefer fast plants for two reasons. 1.- You do the pruning much earlier, especially the secondary ones behind the pumpkin, and I try to have growing areas in front of the pumpkin, in the guides near the pumpkin, so all the sap has to go through the pumpkin. When I prune all the tertiaries that come out of the secondary that is attached to the pumpkin, I try to keep the main one growing, so that this area, which is newer, sends the sap through the pumpkin, towards the growth areas of the main I came after the pumpkin, I do not know if I explain.
And the second, the one that I explain here, that fast plants, I firmly believe that they have more sinking effect than pumpkin, send the energy with more force forward. To calculate how much sap enters the pumpkin in an hour, if there are growths of 2-2.5 pounds per hour on the fattening days, that is a lot of sap, I believe that the speed of 3 feet of sap per hour, can be Right, in the main vine it can be a lot more.

1/13/2022 6:14:17 AM

Colorado

Thanks,that gives me a better image for effective fruit set timing and plant pruning.

1/13/2022 11:47:35 AM

Indiana

Ruben do you have a image of your vine pattern you use that you could share? Thanks.

1/13/2022 5:16:43 PM

valtierra/spain

Todd, is in 7:17 minutes in the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_VdzZnHXs4&t=292s

1/14/2022 3:11:07 AM

Indiana

Thanks

1/14/2022 5:00:31 AM

Quebec

Great post Ruben! Really like the video. You guys take weigh offs to a whole new level looks like a lot of fun.
One thing I have found about fungicides and cracks in the pumpkin or vines.In the past for me they seemed to do more harm than good. I now use use an air pump that is used for making teas to put a concentrated air flow on the damaged area and keep it dry and open to the sun works better for me I feel the pumpkin juices will help the plant heal itself but the fungicide may kill the ability of the plant to heal. What do you think?

1/14/2022 10:30:07 AM

valtierra/spain

I use peroxide, and an air compressor running in that area several hours a day, the same system as the Paton brothers. that works very well,

1/14/2022 12:32:46 PM

Sonora, CA

Ruben, how big do let the plants in the hole get before selection? What watering system do you use. I seem stuck at 1242 pounds as personal best. Going to try your method. Thank you for sharing—it means a lot.

1/14/2022 7:00:40 PM

Sonora, CA

Ruben, how big do let the plants in the hole get before selection? What watering system do you use. I seem stuck at 1242 pounds as personal best. Going to try your method. Thank you for sharing—it means a lot.

1/14/2022 7:02:11 PM

Central Illinois

This goes with CarlaSue's question, what do you recommend for growers using soil cables when growing extra plants to cull

1/25/2022 7:26:20 AM