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Rhode Island

THE BREEDING CHOICES OF SEED STOCKS TO PRODUCE THAT MAGIC CROSS CAPABLE OF GOING NEW WORLD RECORD OR BETTER HAS BEEEN DISCUSSED,DISECTED,RESEARCHED BY SOME OF THE HOBBIES BEST EVERY WINTER, THEN DISCUSSED SOME MORE.

MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT MANY CROSSES ARE ALREADY AVAILABLE TO GO WR.
ITS THE SOIL, THE WEATHER AND THE WAY WE GROW THE PLANT AND PUMPKIN THAT WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

Ever ask yourself why QUINN,JOE,RON,THAD,JOEL,ALAN,DAVE,(to name just a few of the leaders in our hobby) Always seem to play with a lead rather than have to come from behind?

Yes, weather does have a huge influence on your seasons outcome, picking the right seed is always important however, putting these two elements aside for a moment ? lets examine why under normal or simular growing conditions these guys are always on the cutting edge of their hobby.

Reason#1
They spend countless hours researching anything and everything that has to do with soil biology.
additives,growth microorganisms, root zone innoculants, and most importantly? the right way to use them, the right time to use them, and in the right quantity to be effective yet not over done. (having the product is only part of the equasion, you need to use it properly)
Reason #2
They spend as much time on insect and disease prevention ( drenches and sprays) as they do on plant and pumpkin growth.
Taking care not to use something that will have a negative effect on the life of the soil and its living occupants
Reason #3
They are totally committed to being the best at what they choose to do. if these guys were in a tiddly winks tournament they would still research how to best flip a plastic chip and beat out the other guy.

I BELIEVE THAT THE SEEDS ARE AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW TO ATTAIN A NEW WORLD RECORD. ITS THE SOIL AND SOME OF THE NEWER PRODUCTS BEING DEVELOPED THAT WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

PAP

3/8/2009 3:55:20 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Agree with you 1000% Pap. I have gardened for decades, but over this past winter have learned more about soil, beneficial and harmful buggies (microbes on up) pest control, weed control, and all the great recent products (including some incredible organics) I would have never otherwise looked at. Plus better compost, vermiculture, and more....Growing Pumpkins should expand all your horizons !!! If not you're not growing!

3/8/2009 4:54:51 PM

Ohio

everyone knows why Dave is a ahead of the game, his uni-brow is closely related to the caterpillar, as soon as his brows thicken up he knows cold weather or winter is coming soon, thats one advantage he has over the normal growers, and that is he never gets hit with a frost with out warning that could ruin everything. He knows winter is coming 3 or 4 weeks before we do and also when its going to end.
Some guys just have the advantage I guess. and thats something you just cant teach , ether you have it, or you dont, and Dave has it.

http://www.farmersalmanac.com/blog/2007/10/02/caterpillars-and-a-rough-winter/

3/8/2009 5:16:48 PM

Woodburn, Indiana

LOL. awesome

3/8/2009 5:38:12 PM

Greencastle, PA

You're absolutely right, Pap. The best evidence might be the 723 Bobier; it had the potential to grow over 1400 in 2000, but it only reached that potential after #1 and #2 became standard practices.

I would be interested to hear what Joe Pukos was doing in 2000 and what Andy Wolf was doing differently in 2005.

3/8/2009 6:15:52 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

I wonder how much the luck of the seed draw comes into play. Such as one 1068 Wallace seed compared to another. Do you believe in a "silver bullet" seed.
I agree with Dick....the grower's knowledge, skill, and effort are very important factors.

3/8/2009 6:30:58 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

I believe weather has just as much effect on size as genetics and soil. If you get cold wet weather like Iowa had last year from planting until July, there is no way you can catch up what you lost. And it will take time to get your soil dried out. After June 21 you start losing sunlight and can never make that up.

3/8/2009 11:06:46 PM

Rhode Island

ya know the iowegian has a very good point. it follows up on why i said in my origional message regarding weather as being one of the major factors. pls see my suggestion posted on the gpc message board.

3/9/2009 10:15:05 AM

Colorado

theres been a lot of posts about seed shortages with some of the top pumpkins.Truth is the hobby has never had the dept of great crosses that are currently available.So many that quite a few will never get discovered.back to paps post-unless you have a great seed,soil,weather ,timing and no disease you wont get a monster pumpkin.

3/9/2009 10:36:03 AM

Sequim, WA

We have no shortage of quality seed choices to grow a world record. The genetics have been there from the start. Does anyone really believe that the seed stocks have improved that much in recent years? If so how? Selection? That has been part of the process all along. Yes, some seeds are better than others, but it is the seed, soil management, plant management, weather and luck. Jake Van Kooten is an excellant exmple of a grower who has made the most of all those factors. Weather has not always served him well and probably kept him from achieving a world record last year. He has the seeds, knoweledge, plan and will. If he doesn't achieve a world record some day it will be weather and luck that prevent it. I believe if all other factors come together you could take a seed from the mid 90's and grow a world record with it. Soil that can produce a world record pumpkin would probably produce a world record beet or carrot or melon just as well if the seeds have that potential and the grower is motivated manage the plant in the same way we manage the pumpkin plant. The biggest advancement in growing giant pumpkins in recent years has been the understanding of the properties of the soil and nutrient uptake. How many people are still using Ironite or Miracle Grow it any great extent and having any success with those products? pap is right, the seed only goes so far, the soil and the way it's grown along with the weather make the big difference. Knowing this my expectations for the coming season are not that high. My soil prep has been far from adequate, but I've been studying and when I can put all the controllable factors together, one of these days, look out.

3/11/2009 2:00:34 AM