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Deer Park WA

With all the recent hub bub about seed hoarding and top growers saying "ask only if you promise to plant" we offer the following:

We have always given the majority of our bulk seeds to clubs (not that anyone really wanted them), and kept a small amount to trade with regular growers like us. If you demand I grow your seed I will not have a really good seed bank to choose from to grow in my 1 or 2 punkin patch once your seed is proven in 3 years or so.

Big time pumpkins are like magnets to the "Joe Dirt" average growers like us that make up the vast majority of our ranks. We see the WR and want those bragging rights promoting the next generation of heavy hitters and buying club memberships.

Most of our fun has been in researching seed genetics, contacting the growers, connecting with them, trading seeds and in the long winter months planning the chosen seed we acquired to plant. It truly is an art frought with in-season perils, please dont limit folks ability to keep this sport grass roots.

Dani

10/21/2010 12:03:59 AM

Nova Scotia

I agree with you Gadberry's.

But I do understand the time and effort that the top growers go through filling all those envolopes. not to mention the cost associated with it dispite self stamped envelopes.

I think that it would be better if you want seed from a particular grow that you send them say a $10.00 money order. This in MHO would offset the inconveinace for the seed giver and still give us lowly 1 & 2 plant growers a chance to get a few good seeds before thay cost a fortune on some auction were we don't have a chance of getting them.

10/21/2010 8:00:02 AM

Harrisville, Pa

I disagree. Why should you hord seeds when your only going to plant 2 plants a year? So you can amuse yourself during the winter? LOL Give me a break. Go collect beer cans, stamps or coins. Not pumpkin seeds. Or if you have to get your fix at least buy them at an auction to support one of the clubs.

10/21/2010 9:39:33 AM

El Paso TX.

The thing you seem to be missing is that the new request is not to make it impossible for you to get that 1 or 2 seeds you want but to actually make it easier to obtain -- If the grower is keeping control of his seeds then 2 or 3 years later under the current send one to everyone scenario he no longer has any seeds to give out but there are hundreds out there sitting in a drawer that may never see dirt !-- If instead he only sends them to those that promise to plant it (sure there will be those that still do not plant it but that will soon make them unable to request seeds since repeat offenders will be on his no send list)- in 2 or 3 years the grower himself will still have seeds available (Since he has only sent those that will be planted instead of stocking hundreds of drawer collections) for those that really want a chance to grow it and they can contact that grower directly and ask for a seed instead of having to track down someone other than the original that has it sitting in a drawer (which helps ensure it is a real seed and not a fake one also !)

10/21/2010 10:00:22 AM

El Paso TX.

Take for instance last years 1725 -- Christy was very generous and sent out hundreds of seeds from it to growers and clubs and only kept very few for herself -- now this year several of them got planted and many of those grew very large pumpkins and the seed will be highly sought this upcoming year but it will be almost impossible to get because probably a few hundred of those that requested the seed and got one did not plant it this year and will now be hoarding them or looking to get a large amount of other proven seeds in trade making it impossible for almost anyone to get one -- If instead Christy had made everyone that got one promise to grow it last year there would be many more that were planted making getting a cross made with it easier and Christy herself would still have many more seeds left in her inventory (instead of a few hundred other growers having it in theirs)to send to those she felt deserving of a chance to grow it (and I doubt she would be trying to extort the amount in trade that those with it sitting in their collection would be attempting to get for it !)- Giving her more control of the seed that she worked so hard to grow in the first place instead of giving control of it to a hundred or so other growers that have nothing invested in it to gain a collection of other seeds from that they then can put away in a drawer hoping to see a few of them become hot seeds so they can trade for an even larger inventory to sit in a drawer somewhere and never plant !!

I think in the long run it is much better for the grower to insist it be planted before sending it to someone than letting them place it in a drawer as a prospective trade seed. Since more of the great seeds will actually see dirt allowing for the next great crosses to be made more quickly and allowing for more seeds from those crosses to be available to GROWERS so the genetics can continue to be improved rather than having the current best genetic seeds rotting in a drawer somewhere.

10/21/2010 10:22:21 AM

Lexington, Ky

I've never been much of a bubbler but I say, let them sit on their seeds. I intend to boycott the auction seeds that are presented from growers that have lost that loving feeling.

I think this movement of "bubbling is too much work" will open the door for lesser known growers and seeds and perhaps a new crop of heavy hitters. I would be honored if my mailbox was full year in and year out.

I have received a handful of bubbles over the years and each and every one of them was a tremendous thrill. Thank you to growers that have provided and will continue to provide the thrill to us little shitter growers.

Thanks to Dani for this post, there are many growers that feel the same.....

10/21/2010 10:27:26 AM

Bristol R.I. USA

I understand why some people want to get a seed from a particular grower. Basically its to get it before it becomes a hot seed...This hobby has become so popular. with the genetics of the seeds, gardening practices, club seminars and literature. I once posted a post that was explaining that seeds should be planted not held on to as a collection. I got more then my fair share of negative remarks. I was taken back because many of the people that where upset with me I have a great deal of respect for. I myself have in the past asked for every seed under the sun to try and get that magic seed. I can see the way I went about could have been better.
I have since changed my attitude about seeds. I myself have made a pledge to myself that I will only ask for a seed if I plan on planting the seed that season. I'm sure that this will make my chances of getting a super hot seed in the future a little harder. I understand that growers want their seeds planted and I'm in favor of anyones decision to give a seed or not to give a seed. Through the generosity of many growers I have come to enjoy this hobby not only growing but the social aspect of it. I really mean that. I wouldn't be against donating a certain amount of money to a growers favorite charity to obtain a Hot seed. I also understand that seed auctions are a way that clubs obtain funding for certain events. I respect the right of any grower to do what he likes with his seeds even if it means I won't be able to plant that seed in the future.

10/21/2010 1:13:30 PM

Southeast

This has been gone over many times before. I agree with some points and not others. The variable that has changed the most is the number of growers we have now has exploded. This certainly changes many of the dynamics. Dave

10/21/2010 4:46:01 PM

Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia

I have only ever asked for seeds that I intended to grow, any others I have got were through friends, through club membership, or through auctions. I can understand why growers have decided not to carte Blanch seeds to everyone, Im sure it would be a huge pain in the ass for a number of reasons. If you only plant a couple of seeds join a few clubs, you will get great ones from them.

10/21/2010 5:10:06 PM

Honesdale Pa USA

I sent bubbles for the first time last year. I asked for the 1725 Harp,1421 Stelts and the 964 Wolf all with a promise that they would see dirt and they did. I would love to grow all 3 again. I have the 964's but it sounds like Christy is about out and she mentioned she wasn't doing bubbles this year which I can understand with the baby so I won't ask. The point is that I asked for 2 of the most sought after seeds of last year with a promise to grow them and I got them. Now I don't think I can get hold of either. I don't have much to trade and won't pay mega-bucks at an auction.

10/21/2010 7:39:25 PM

Northern California Foothills

This has been my first year growing giant pumpkins. I asked for seed from two growers and will be getting seeds from them. I'm all set for next year and will be getting some great seeds from very generous growers. I personally do not see anything wrong with what the heavy hitters are doing. They are what makes this hobby what it is and we should treat them well. I think the taboo about growing your own seeds is a contributor to seed hoarding. People get a great seed,grow it, and then don't get a monster pumpkin so they ask for more seeds to try to get the perfect genetics. Not every giant pumpkin grower will grow a world record pumpkin. So, on top of the seeds they get from growers, they probably have 200+ seeds from pumpkins they grew themselves. We need to keep it possible to ask for seeds from the heavy hitters rather than them selling the seeds to the highest bidder.

10/21/2010 9:14:12 PM

Saskatchewan Fosston Canada

I am one of those guy's that want the best genetics out there.And when i ask for that is because i want them to see dirt 2011,to get big ones and try to put more good genetics into my own seeds.And i am always sending a SABE with stamps and everything.It would not be that much work to put the seeds in the envelope and crop it of at the postoffice,because you are there anyway to pick uo your mail.I am living rural Saskatchewan,so thats the way it is for me.Thanks.
Bossen.

10/21/2010 10:47:56 PM

Las Cruces NM

By the heavy hitters giving their seeds to the clubs, they are simply doing even more for the sport and in the most efficient and effective manner. While I’m sure a few specimens along with proven seed will hit the auctions, fact is, the auctions can’t yet support the 1000s of unproven seeds from each of the heavy hitters. So most of these seeds will hit the promo packs. And at least some of the unplanted promo seeds, once proven, will make its way back to the club for future year’s auctions. It is efficient, because HH are dealing with a few dozen clubs vice the 1000s of growers, and it is effective because clubs will be putting the best of the best seeds in the hands of the grower. The sport is getting bigger and so it simply must evolve twords more effective and efficient means. I’m sure there'll still be trading and bubbles for ages, but it wont be the bastion of the sport as the growth of the sport necessitates it's evolution.

But there is somethig that bothers me in all this. Nobody can argue that heavy hitters continue to suport the sport. But let me ask what the heck do you do to support the sport? Shouldn't it be to belong to a club or two for which you pay dues and by participating in the auctions. Understand, the dues and auctions, in turn, provide the funds to have the weigh offs each year and further promote the sport. If you don’t want to do your part to support the sport, then don’t, but don’t whine either cuz that is just way so wrong!

10/22/2010 12:50:47 AM

Saskatchewan Fosston Canada

SWdesert.
If you are pointing to me,i dont know? Because i am supporting GVGO in Ontario,and i am getting nice seed from them every year.With a membership payment of 26$.Nothing wrong with that.But its nice to have people to trade with too.

10/22/2010 12:08:17 PM

Las Cruces NM

No, not pointing at you! And I poited out trading will always be there. I also get more then enough great seeds from the clubs so I don't know why anyone is complaining (should be rejoicing) about HH deciding on giving seeds to clubs, that is unless they don't belong???

10/22/2010 3:02:19 PM

Honesdale Pa USA

I'm a member of 2 different clubs for several years and realize the value of seed auctions. I think the "promise to grow" idea is a good one to insure the availability of certain desirable seeds. No offense to collectors,they can still buy great seeds at auctions or possibly buy them directly from the growers.

10/22/2010 4:16:48 PM