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Ohio

Here's a question, and also something I have thought about and talked about for years, lets just say your name is Joe Pukos, Ron Wallace, or even Joe Jutras or any grower that has say 10 of the same best proven seed in the world. Now if you was them and if you had the seeds, would you ever consider growing nothing else in your patch(lets say 10 plants) of nothing but 998 Pukos seeds? Or maybe all 1068 Wallaces or even 1385 Jutras'seeds?

What kind of weights would you think you would have if you planted one of the best seeds in the world 10 times in your patch in the same season?,,lol. Ever wonder why this doesn't happen? I know I do,,lol. Id bet your chances of growing a world record would be better wouldnt you? Seriously!!,,ha!
This year Im going to(semi) try it with the 985 Werner Seed, maybe not 10 times, but its going to be planted atleast 3 times and if I get another seed 4 times.
This is just something I have always wanted to try and wondered about what would happen. Don't you think your chances would be really good of popping atleast 4 maybe 5 out of the 10 pumpkins to over 1500lbs??,, and dont get me wrong your soil has to up to par. So what is you guys/gals feelings on this? I think this will end up being a fun interesting thread,lol

Brooks

2/13/2009 3:28:12 PM

Greencastle, PA

Brooks,
This is an interesting topic. I would't do it because different seeds seem to grow better in different environments. Having more ancestors represented in your patch would likely give you more genetic diversity and consequently a better chance of growing a pumpkin to its max.
Also keep in mind that there are plenty of seeds that may be as good as the 985 or 1385, they just haven't been proven yet.
Tom

2/13/2009 4:12:58 PM

Denver, CO

And that freak hail storm that just wiped out 10 1068 plants would be enough to bring a grown man and several small boys to thier knees!

2/13/2009 4:27:48 PM

Western NY

A couple years ago, I had thought of planting all my remaining 1407's. I think I had 5 or 6 at that time.

I think if i'm in the position where one of my seeds grows a nice 1500 (or 1600)+, I will likely do it. Here's why: First, I assume that statistically, you have a "normal" distribution of seed ability within a pumpkin. Therefore, I would think you have a better chance at that "silver bullet" by planting 5 or 10 of the same seed, than you are 1 each of 5-10 different seeds.

2/13/2009 4:36:52 PM

Upstate S.C.

Brooks, The only problem I have with this is, I belive you are rolling the dice. I mean the chance's of all of them doing great are good. But if WHAT if they all do bad, well then your season is OVER....

2/13/2009 5:44:36 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Interesting question Brooks. The 985 has done very well, and growing 3 or 4 of them might give you a good chance for a whopper.
One risk would be a bad weather year, and none of them would live up to their potential. Or you could have a great weather year, and challenge the world record....who knows? You could grow two this year, and one or two next year, and hopefully one year would give you nice weather. But then again maybe the seeds you plant on the best weather year could be the ones with the least potential.
You'll have to ultimately make the decision Brooks. You have to weigh the pros and the cons, and then maybe go with your gut...or maybe what you're most excited to try. It's easy to second guess ourselves in seed selection.

2/13/2009 7:27:04 PM

Midway, UT

I say go for it. There are a lot of great points on why not to do it but great seeds will come along again so why not give yourself the best chance this year? Follow your gut and if you have any reservations than hold one seed back for next year. That 985 gives you a 59% chance of growing one over 1,000 pounds and a great shot at a really big one. There are only 5-6 other seeds that give you a better chance so unless you have a few of those (i.e. 1068) then go for it.

2/13/2009 7:39:01 PM

Colorado

I think it would be a great experiment.If you dont have any loss of plants to disease etc. could yield some interesting information and possibly a giant pumpkin or two

2/13/2009 8:12:22 PM

Columbus,ohio

I agree with ghopson...It would eaisly bring to grown men to the ground crying if there patch full of 985's or 1041's got with something such as a wind storm or deer,or worse.

2/13/2009 8:30:41 PM

Picton,ON ([email protected])

Didn't the Wallaces do this in 2006. I thought I remember reading they planted like 5 1068's!

2/13/2009 10:27:27 PM

Rhode Island

for a couple years 2006-2007-out of ten to twelve plants ron and i always put in 3 to 4 of our 1068.
needless to say we did very well with several plants each year.
i feel that if ya gottum -growum. now that the 1068 supply is almost dry we can only do a couple for a short peirod of time.
im tempted however to do that with the 1502 wallace or the 1385 jutras (because i do believe there is strength in numbers and both seeds have proven thmselves)
there are so many good crosses available today however its difficult to plant only one or two seed stocks.
but you are correct brooks. your odds of a really biggin go
way up when you put in multiple plants of the same seed stock.
look at 2006. ron had a wr 1502 and i ended up with 1450. may never have happened if we only had two of the 1068 seeds in the ground.

good post brooks
pap

2/14/2009 12:34:27 AM

Gold Hill, Oregon

go for it!!!

2/14/2009 3:44:56 AM

Ohio

I think for the guys that are seriously after the world record, or for grower of the year this would really up their chances tremendously, but your right, it sure would stink losing 10 1068's, or 10 998's to a hail storm,,lol. But thats the chance you gotta take, even them HH's rely on luck when they grow in this hobby, and thats one main thing you have to roll your the dice on. So that said,, anyone got a extra 985 they want to trade?,,lol

2/14/2009 4:43:57 AM

Brooks, your a guines. Go for it and hope you get a big one!

Martin

2/14/2009 7:27:17 AM

Corryton, TN

Don't worry about the weather. If you only had one you would plant it. What planting them all at one time does is level the field for comparison among the seeds. No two sibs have the exact same potential. By evaluating all under the same conditions you increase the odds significantly that you can choose THE superior genetics. Think what could happen if you took the best possible sib cross (possibly after cloning) and crossed it with another top line, bred the same way. I think this could cause the 1 ton mark to fall!!!

2/14/2009 7:47:55 AM

milford, CT,

Brooks...are you going to 985 x sibb them all?...or would you make different crosses. Thanks for starting this post..I have been contemplating possibly doing a similar idea and the feedback in this post makes it worth revisiting..Mark

2/14/2009 3:45:54 PM

Eastern Washington State

Brooks your idea is interesting but my reasons are probably different than most others here. It's the nature of this hobby that we rarely have the opportunity to look at replicated experiments to evaluate a particular seed stock. This could be such an opportunity. I mean there have to be so many good seed stocks out there that totally go unnoticed because they aren't grown enough times by the right people. Side by side comparisons of say 4 985 Wernera, 4 1402 Bosworth's, and 4 somebody elses' would really give the community an idea of how those stocks really stack up against one-another. I'd say pick three seed stocks and go for it. I hope you do it. It's trying something new for just one year and is as good a strategy as any. I would totally do it if I had the time and the ground to grow weights worth discussing. brian

2/14/2009 4:31:58 PM

Napa Valley, CA

Hey Brooks.... a hypothetical question (just playin' the devil's advocate here)....
If you were sittin' there with 2 piles of seeds in front of you, with 10 seeds in each pile.
In pile one is the 1068, 1385.5, 985, 1207, 1502, 1041.5, 1142, 998.6, 1407 and the 1566.
In pile 2 are 10 of the 985's.
Which pile would you plant? ......(pile one is probably Pap's '09 line up....lol.

2/15/2009 5:07:01 PM

george,,brooks has some 1312+1's in his pile don't forget:-)

2/15/2009 5:23:26 PM

Napa Valley, CA

Dan, no doubt about it..... that 999+314 will be a great seed!

2/15/2009 5:29:58 PM