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Minnesota

I'm just curious why more heavy hitters, any grower has not been planting the 689 or 820Beauchemin. The 898Knauss was it from 02? it is still a hot wanted seed, even cloned last year because it was such a good seed. At the aggc site, the family tree shows almost every heavy pumpkin has the 898Knauss in it once if not twice. Question. Why are'nt more growers, heavy hitters considering the 689, 820Beauchemin, they are 898Knauss grown, pollinated by 898Knauss 4 and 5 times over. The photo album of Jim-B's has pictures of them and they look rock hard, powerpacked. (I hope Jim B don't mind me saying this, I'll step off my soap box now)

12/2/2010 5:11:24 PM

Rhode Island

rich

i can only speak for myself when i say going back with the seeds we choose to plant in my opinion accomplishes little to nothing.
as the genetics move forward we as growers need to move forward as well.
most competition growers sites are set on 2,000 pounds. seeds like the 845-898-etc, etc, from eight plus years back have their place in our glorious history for sure but, i dont believe you can introduce them into todays pumpkin patch and expect bigger results then they were capable of years back. be it male or female usage.

pap

12/2/2010 5:44:25 PM

Ham Lake, Minnesota

...and on that path to the glory of 2,000 pounds, there is nothing like the chase of the 1810 Stevens we are witnessing today. Heaviest ever and rewriting the OTT charts is where its at!

Just one chance can win one at:

http://www.stcroixgrowers.org/Seeds.html

12/2/2010 5:57:58 PM

Minnesota

Well I have a genetics project going with the 689Beauchemin in it, I at least know it is a proven choosen seed by almost every heavy hitter in the past.

12/2/2010 6:51:45 PM

Minnesota

I looked at the 1810 family tree, the 898Knauss was used four times in it, not a bad seed to have in a family tree foundation.

12/2/2010 6:59:38 PM

Honesdale Pa USA

I think what pap is saying is the 898,1068 etc. genetics are already in just about all of todays heavy pumpkins. The best of the old classic lines have been refined over the past few years and mixed with other combination of genetics. Which has led to the huge pumpkins of today. Which with newer heavier combinations will lead to the ultimate goal of 2000 pounds or beyond!

12/2/2010 8:46:42 PM

Minnesota

And I'm saying dammit, the 898Knauss is the best damm seed ever seen in all of giant pumpkin growing, joking joking joking of course. I still see it as, if your working on a genetics projects for a seed you want it to have everything, and your making up the family tree, hand picked seeds you decided on, the 898Knauss is a great seed to have in its family tree.

12/2/2010 9:32:52 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

I think what it comes down to is that we can make the same cross as created an excellent seed, but it's impossible to re-create that same seed. Simply impossible. The 898 caught lightning in a bottle, the individual seed that grew the 898 had an unusual arrangement of genes that it was able to pass on to it's progeny that led to thick walls. That one seed that grew the 898 was definitely a Silver Bullet.

Having said that, the other identical crosses might be excellent seeds. Curious growers should grow them, they're likely a great choice. But.... like Pap said, each generation of seeds is getting better... it almost defies logic, but later generations of seeds are still getting better and are likely better than the original 898. The fact that they're getting better so fast, it's incredible.

12/3/2010 1:03:43 PM