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Rhode Island

for the sake of the newer grower a couple comments about seedlings

1. the best looking seedlings dont always result in the biggest or prettiest pumpkins
2. genetic history is why you plant it. as long as the first true leaf is developing properly it does not matter if you have seed leaves that are crinkled, split, small, huge, tips missing, or one leaf missing all together.
(if its a plant you wanted to grow go for it)

we gave a grower one of the worse looking seedling we ever saw back a couple years ago. he went over 1300 pounds on that plant.

our 998 seedling this year fits in the same catagory- pure horror in a pot. ----- but shes gonna see patch soil.

pap

5/3/2008 7:07:49 AM

Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

Thanks pap. My seedlings are probably the poorest in terms of looks that I have ever had. Hearing those words from you makes me look at them with more hope! lol

5/3/2008 7:44:53 AM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Got a couple of "mutants" myself pap. But they have a true leaf and will see dirt.

5/3/2008 8:11:42 AM

milford, CT,

Thanks Dick...I was kinda freaking out that my 2 best seeds had aweful cots. The 1st trues leaves are good. I planted both anyway Thursday ....using the idea that as long as the plant is healthy ...I am planting the gentics not just looking for the prettiest plant. OK....I feel better now! Mark

5/3/2008 9:02:29 AM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

Nice post Pap!

5/3/2008 9:58:55 AM

Georgia

Heck I got some ugly kids curly cots and what not..but the first leaf looks good. I love them no matter what a parents love is unconditional.

5/3/2008 10:05:30 AM

California High Desert [email protected]

Good to know. All my uglies are in the ground. Only a mother (or Grandma) could love.

5/3/2008 10:12:10 AM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Thanks Pap, that's good to know. I'm making my final pick tomorrow and my best ones ( genetically speaking ) are the homeliest.

5/3/2008 10:43:23 AM

sevierville, Tn

thanks for that tip. My 1502 cots are crinkled and it looks like more than 2. Just leting it grow, waiting on the true leaves. Got my best spot just waiting for it.

5/3/2008 12:40:45 PM

Sandyutahusa

my 1502 had a club root, grew really slow and didn't make it. I have a 930 Jutras ( f- 1068 Wallace m- 845 Bobier ) that is looking good and doing well though.

5/3/2008 3:24:57 PM

Wi

My 998 is by FAR the most ugly out of the 7 I have in pots now. Thanks for the post Pap...pure horror is the word. My 1231 last year was absolutely flawless. Reverse cross....reverse outcome.

5/3/2008 4:56:43 PM

Newmarket, NH USA

I also have some with ugly cots. I try to look at the root system before I transplant them and base my choice on genetics and how the roots look.

5/3/2008 5:03:41 PM

[email protected]

Most of mine had curly leaves as well except the 1054 Bobier seed, that was healthy and aggressive right out of the box, and looking toward the patch as we speak. I was considering taking the 1054 instead of the 1405, but, after reading this post I want the genetics of the 1405, so growing that instead. Thanks Pap for making up my mind. The 1149.5 had curly leaves too. Not too worried about it now, as most of them are straightening out, just a bit concerned momma hen here. LOL!

5/3/2008 7:23:38 PM

Colorado Springs.Co

My 1178s cots were a unileaf, I gave it a while then made the decision I had to operate and slit them apart with a single edge razor blade. I don't think the true leaves would have formed otherwise. Anyone else ever have that?

5/3/2008 8:03:35 PM

Pinedale, WY

It is funny that pap posted this, because my 1502 has one good cot and one that is just about dead. However the first true leaf is starting to emerge.

5/4/2008 10:41:10 PM

Wi

I'm going to post my 998 in my diary if anyone wants to see the horrid looking plant.

5/5/2008 8:52:45 AM