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Anamosa, IA [email protected]

Looking at the GPC info page I made a discovery. So far there have been an amazing 13 pumpkins weighed this year that exceeded 1500#, and they were grown on 11 different seeds. This tells me a couple of things. First, the seed you grow doesn't make that much difference. Growers have traded seeds back and forth and gotten the good genetics spread out all around the world. So getting that magic seed really isn't that important. And second, the growers of these giants are for the most part the ones who consistently grow the big ones every year. That tells me that the skill of the grower means more than the seed.

So I guess that I need to study up some more, work more on my soil, and pray that I don't get flooded again. Since my seeds are all crosses of great seeds other growers have given me in the past few years, I have more confidence in their potential. I just need to work on my own potential.

10/13/2009 4:56:55 AM

Rhode Island

genetic traits and a proven history are still the number one consideration when choosing a seed to grow.
i agree there are more seeds available today that will produce big however, if you look back a couple generations most of them have only a few great seeds in their makeup.

10/13/2009 6:42:11 AM

Iowa

Mark,
I have to agree with pap on this one. Yes, not every 1385 or 998 or even 1068 grows a 1500 lber in the hands of every top notch grower, but it is alot higher probability that they will. You have to remember, not every seed from one of these greats has the right genes to be special becasue each seed and pollen grain has it's own DNA. (but there are alot more of these seeds that do) Kinda like how not every kid from the same parents are the same. Now if we were crossing two inbreds, such as is the case with hybrid seed corn, then the results would be alot more consisant. But who wants to self their pumpkins for 8 years! And even then, who says you picked the right two to cross.
All that being said, every grower cracking 1500 lbs does have to know what they are doing and put the extra effort in that most do not.
And definately try your own seed some because you don't know, you may have the right genes line up in some of the seeds.
Ralph

10/13/2009 7:36:28 AM

[email protected]

The management of plants isn't much different from 2006/2009 yet guys like Ron Wallace went from

1502 on the 1068 Wallace in 2007 to
1596 on the 1161 Rodonis in 2009

Knowing Ronny & the weather this past year, I'll wager that genetic variations played a large roll in this improvement. Let's wait for Richard's or Ron's opinion though.

I usually lean toward management practices being more significant than genetics but this past year has me reconsidering that position a little bit.

10/13/2009 9:37:53 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

I'll throw my hat in the ring...

I do believe seeds are getting better, every year they get better. But the interesting thing here is that there are many MANY different seed stocks out there that are excellent. You don't need to get the one or two special seeds... those seeds had their run a few years ago and produced today's seeds. Now, it's hard to find a bad one.

But it still takes a dedicated grower to make them big.

10/13/2009 9:56:25 AM

Ohio

I dont know about you guys, but I like to choose a seed that has done really well for a brand new grower, if a newer grower can grow a seed really BIG, just imagine what it will grow for the experienced grower.
Just off the top of my head for Example, look how many ''new''growers grew Bills Rodonis 1566 seed 'big' last year. And also, look at the 991 Urnea seed, alot of 1st and 2nd year growers grew that seed huge this year in the 1300 and high 1400's, So seed choice like a 991 Urnea does make a big difference in my opinion. Anyone have one of them to trade by the way?,, hahaha I bet not now,,lol!!

10/13/2009 10:01:04 AM

SF Bay Area, California

Some growers out there marvel at how many different seeds are now producing 1,500+ offspring. It is amazing considering that just a few years ago no seed line had that distinction.

I marvel at how many of those proven 1500+ producers have the 1068 Wallace in their family tree. A quick check shows that fully 60% of the 1500+ fruit out there were from the 1068 or a recent blood offspring.... The remaining 40% trace back to a very limited number of blood lines - not so amazing really.

There are quite a few seeds out there now that have the potential to go 1500+ but a 1068 in the family tree juices your odds...

10/13/2009 12:22:16 PM

Bemidji Minnesota

Given how many seeds can produce pumpkins well over 1000 pounds, so many that not all will ever be planted, perhaps there needs to be a new cultivar name for those going so much over 1000 pounds?

How about Titan?

10/13/2009 5:45:27 PM

Sequim, WA

Tsk! Tsk! Show's how little you know about magic! Don't you know that not all magic seeds come from magic pumpkins? Some seeds are born with the magic, and others have the magic put on them. And not every seed in a magic pumpkin is a magic seed. I know it can get very confusing. Especially when you don't believe in the magic. And magic seeds are not enough, you have to add magic to the pumpkin patch. A good dose of sincerity is a nice start. Maybe next season there will be a few believers once I have all the magic put together and working for me. I'll keep working on my magical potential, and you keep working on your plain old potential and I bet we both make some progress, but mine will be magical. And don't go messing with magic or spells and cast one over Don Young so that he thinks he's working in his patch while he's working in yours instead. That would be cheating!

10/13/2009 8:47:59 PM

Somers, CT

I would also include Ron or Don Young in your plans next year if they are not busy. Having them pick seeds and take care of your patch is probably better than good genentics.

10/13/2009 10:11:14 PM

SF Bay Area, California

Ron and Don did their homework... every single one of their 1500 and 1600 pumpkins are from 1068 genetics! I wonder what genetic background they will look for in the seeds that they pick?

10/13/2009 11:14:53 PM

Western NY

I think Ron and Don could have planted a very wide variety of seeds in their patches and still had similar results. They put as much or more work into it than the seed does.

10/14/2009 8:25:12 AM