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Kalamazoo MI

I have a few nice size pumkins this year from seed i got from generous people on this site. Can I save seed from them, is it worth the risk? I didnt hand pollinate any of them it was all done naturally. If it makes any difference my two best pumkins are almost touching each other and are almost the same size. I was hoping to have my own seed so I didnt have to get it from others but I didnt get out to the farm enough to hand pollinate, thanks

9/13/2010 1:26:58 AM

Colorado Springs.Co

I have an open pollination pumpkin, I won't extract the seeds. Could have been crossed with the many hollyhocks or morning glory's in the area. I'll have to see what seeds I still have in the stash or pester the growers here for a controlled pollination proven seed. I only have room for one plant so I can't take that chance.

9/13/2010 1:43:10 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

You can if you want but you won't know what you might get because they were 'open' pollenation. Get more seed from someone, you can save and dry out a few of your own for practice in germinating seed... but go with known seed,

9/13/2010 1:43:24 AM

New York

No, C. maxima will generally not cross-pollinate with anything other than C. maxima, much less Malvaceae or Convolvulaceae. In simpler terms, Atlantic Giant pumpkins can only be pollinated by its sister cultivars. Given that thousands of seeds are traded every year and there appears to be no shortage, I wouldn't bother saving seed unless either 1) you're reasonably sure there is no chance of unwanted cross-pollination or 2) the plant or fruit displayed some highly sought-after genetic feature, disease/insect resistance, or adaptability to local climate.

9/13/2010 6:46:38 AM

Kalamazoo MI

Thats what I was afraid of. One interesting thing is about the disease resistance. I havent seen much on that. I am still learning and would prefer disease resistance over size, just to ensure a pumkin every year. The 2 that i have had very little attention since july when I had to have my leg in a cast. They have done great while other plants and pumkins have died. Maybe these plants were more DR then the others. Now I really wish I had pollinated these.thanks for all the advice.

9/13/2010 10:11:08 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Any time I get stuck growing out an open pollinated pumpkin for whatever reason, the seeds get roasted and eaten. Controlled crosses only in this patch.

9/13/2010 1:16:39 PM