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Santa Cruz, CA

We have 2 to 4 pumpkins pollinated on the mains of our 1502 Wallace, 1470 Wallace, 1566 Rodonis and our 1156 Hunt. We've figured wrong in the past as to which pumpkin to keep and which to cull. What would you do if these were your pumpkins? At what pumpkin size would you make the decision to cull?

1502- pollinated 6/16, 4 lobes, crossed 1566 Rodonis, 10 feet out
pollinated 6/22, 5 lobes, crossed 1156 Hunt, 13.5 feet out
pollinated 6/28, 5 lobes, crossed 1470 Wallace, 17 feet out
pollinated 7/5, 5 lobes, crossed 1566 Rodonis, 20.5 feet out

1470- pollinated 6/23, 4 lobes, open pollinated, 14.5 feet out
pollinated 6/28, 5 lobes, crossed 1566 Rodonis, 17 feet out
pollinated 7/6, 4 lobes, crossed 1566 Rodonis, 19 feet out

1566- pollinated 6/22, 4 lobes, crossed 1502 Wallace, 10.5 feet out
pollinated 6/29, four lobes, selfed, 13.5 feet out

1156- pollinated 6/21, 4 lobes, crossed 1502, 9.5 feet out
pollinated 7/3, 4 lobes, crossed 1470 Wallace, 14.5 feet out
pollinated 7/5, 4 lobes, crossed 1470 Wallace, 15.5 feet out

7/7/2009 5:49:57 PM

ordinary,VA

wow some very nice crosses!! save me a few seeds form some of them monsters you are going to grow for me!!!
give it a little time measure each pumpkin everyday see which one is has the best growth rate.
look at the stem on each pumpkin.look at the position of the pumpkin to the vine.look at the shape of the pumpkin.
if you really want to keep a certain cross you made go with that one.
than flip a coin and pray...(works for me sometimes)

7/7/2009 6:23:36 PM

SE Minnesota

do you have any 10 day measurements?? utilize the 10 day and compare growth

but i agree with ed some AWESOME crosse, best of luck....remember the golden distance shooot for that 12 to 16 ft range as a minimum

Jim

7/7/2009 6:44:31 PM

Rhode Island

creek

unfair for anyone to tell you which to keep without seeing them in person.
a good rule of the is do they pass your muster?
i definately would not keep anything under 12 ft though. the best distance would be 14 ft and up.
sfter that? it is all preference. which is growing faster?
is a fruit farther down the line growing better than one before it ? etc? which has the shape you want? which has a good manageable angle off the main? these are important things to consider,
also you have to ask yourself do i wanna be a champion? if so? ya gotta be down to only two pumpkins by now.and to your choosen pick within ten more days. especially if you live in california.

7/7/2009 8:03:46 PM

Johnstown, Ohio

We try to pollinate the same on each plant...If we cross the first fruit on the 1348 Hester with the 1161 Rodonis, then we try to pollinate the second fruit also with the Rodonis. That way we are only worried about size, growth rate, position, etc, and not worrying about which cross is better.

7/8/2009 5:22:04 PM

Santa Cruz, CA

Thank you for the help everyone. I have culled down to two on each plant and as far out as possible. It was hard removing the 57lb start but I did it.

7/10/2009 12:57:35 AM