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Illinois

We (new growers) need the help and advice of the experienced growers. Please don't give in to these people that are spewing hate. This is going to be my first year growing giants and I'm going to need all the help you can give me.



Thanks Brad

1/12/2005 9:49:50 AM

Ohio

Hi Brad, just started seeing your post the last 4 or 5 days,what seed are you growing this year?

Brooks

1/12/2005 10:01:27 AM

Illinois

Hi Brooks, I've got:

1125Frantz
1083Frantz
845Nesbitt
1101DMGFord
903Ford
600Frasciano
450estBarrett

These are my top seeds, decisions.................

1/12/2005 10:36:26 AM

Edmonton, Canada

Hey Brad, you can count on 99 percent of growers on this site to do all they can to help.

Good luck!

1/12/2005 10:39:08 AM

C N Y

more info on the Barrett fruit?
cross, grower? i just know somebody i work closely
with and the name Barrett will be interesting to her. eric

1/12/2005 1:06:30 PM

Ohio

Good seeds Brad, real good seeds, if you need some more

1/12/2005 2:12:49 PM

Ohio

Good seeds Brad, real good seeds, if you need some more

1/12/2005 2:12:51 PM

Ohio

Good seeds Brad, real good seeds, if you need some more

1/12/2005 2:12:52 PM

Ohio

Good seeds Brad, real good seeds, if you need some more

1/12/2005 2:12:53 PM

Ohio

Good seeds Brad, real good seeds, if you need some more

1/12/2005 2:12:54 PM

Ohio

Good seeds Brad, real good seeds, if you need some more

1/12/2005 2:12:55 PM

Ohio

I have some you can test germinate,

sorry about all them posts

1/12/2005 2:14:45 PM

Mill Creek West by god Virginia

pal i grew it my name is keith barrett im from west virginia the cross on it was a 901 hebb x self, it busted on me when hurricane ivan came threw here and we got over 14 inches of rain in three days,the pollination was very controlled and it was growing over 20 lbs a day if youde want a few just email me ill send ya some i know im new to this sport but i beleive with the 901hebb genetics this will be a decent seed! thanks burrhead

1/12/2005 3:13:17 PM

C N Y

okay, sounds good. i'll send you some Gerry 575s
(950.4 X 767 Catapano) it'll be easy, because man, i am all seeded-out! we'll just swap those specific seeds, no bundles needed. i am in the middle of trying NOT to go to the seed auctions, too! i like the genetics of the
901 X self--you were right--anyway, you'll have mail in a minute..eg

1/12/2005 5:26:57 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Brad, you are in good hands...These guys will help everyone..wish I had some of your seeds! you've got great genetics..most new people don't find this site till they're in trouble...you've got a great start! Grow em Big!

1/12/2005 5:57:33 PM

Illinois

Thanks guys I appreciate all the support. I'm an avid gardner. I've been gardening for 10 years now. My garden is about 80 X 85. I think I'll plant 5 plants. Which ones would you guys plant and what would you cross them with?
Thanks. Brad

1/13/2005 12:42:52 AM

Atlanta, Georgia

Brad,

What you plant is your decision but If I were you I'd consider how many of each seed you have before you make your decision.

I would definitely treat the 1125 the best because it has a great chance to produce heavy and orange.
It is 869.5 x 1225 which both produce orange pumpkins...and heavy. I would plant it even if I had only one seed and in your position.

Now the 1083 seed you have is the 842 Eaton x 1225 so it could produce even heavier possibly than the 1125 but less chance of orange so I would not plant it if you only have one but I would if you have two of them.

845 Nesbitt would be third choice. It grew up to 1076 Werner and some nice orange pumpkins but it has a slight chance of producing squash so it's my third pick.

1101 and 903 Ford are not proven but the cross looks great on paper! There is no way to predict what will come of them but they could be awesome...

The frasciano seed I don't know anything about...what's the cross?

Keith's 450 x self really doesn't sound like one that I would pick from the list because the 901 Hebb has only produced up to 601 lbs. although it wasn't widely planted yet. Correct me if I'm wrong Keith.

There you have my humble guess but I'm no heavy hitter yet...WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR!
Michel

1/13/2005 3:34:27 AM

Atlanta, Georgia

Brad,
Whatever you do, do NOT use any of those seeds for test germinations. You can use some store-bought ag seeds or ask here and you'll have plenty. I'm certain everyone at bp would agree with me on this one point.

I started out with about 10 805 Pukos seeds in my first year of growing and I use about 5 of those for testing...Boy do I regret that! I wouln't have planted anymore myself but think of the trades I could have made.
Best regards!
Michel

1/13/2005 3:38:36 AM

Atlanta, Georgia

I'm taking English Comp II right now and can't even spell!

1/13/2005 3:39:35 AM

Illinois

Mike Thanks for all the time and thought that went into helping me out. The 600 Frasciano is crossed with the 978.6 Berard ('03) X 1048.6 Companion ('03)

I'm thinking pretty much the same way Mike. I'll plant the 1125 and 1083 Frantz along with the 845 Nesbit for sure. After that I'm not sure, the Fords 1101 and 903 have great lines. The Frasciano is good too.

Then after all that I've got to decide which crosses or selfs to make. How do you determine which to make the female and male? Would you want to self The Frantz 1125 and 1083 and why. ????????????????????????????????????

Now I know why you guys till up half your yards!!!! LOL This is my first year and I'm going to plant 5 plants!!!! and I have plans for a 1500 gal watering system. Has any one seen my stapler??

1/13/2005 6:31:32 PM

Atlanta, Georgia

A few things to consider about pollinations...

Sometimes it's good to make a cross that nobody else has made. It could leave you sitting on a new hot cross.

Selfing is mainly to keep the same charachteristics in a pumpkin. I would self anything that produces consistantly nice pumpkins....such as the 869.5 Calai or 801.5 Stelts or the 895 Hester squash.

I don't think I'd want to self the 1082 because the only pumpkin I know from it is the 1186 Remiller pumpkin which doesn't impress me much by the wagon wheel shape and not impressive orange color. I would cross the 1082 with the 1125 for certain.

The 1125 I would probably self but it's a crap shoot anyway because even though both of it's parents produce nice orange it doesn't mean the 1125 will although there is a pretty good chance.

I would pretty much try to use the 1125 as the male for all of your pollinations given the seeds you have and I would
probably plant the first 5 seeds on your list and as a 6th option the 600.

The most important is to make a controled pollination! If you even have a shadow of a doubt about how to do it properly read up on it or ask someone.

I'm sure a lot of other people might have different choices of what you should plant and why and what pollinations to do but this is just the only way I can go about making decisions with my limited knowlege.
Best regards!
Michel

1/14/2005 12:33:34 AM

Atlanta, Georgia

Brad,
Sometimes there are just not enough males to make the pollinations you want when the females are ready so you just have to use the males you have.
The afternoon before a female will open I go around to the other plants or that same plant and see how many males that will open. I pick those males and bring them in the house and keep them in a big cup with water in it. This is how I control the males. The female is tied shut the night before and then again immediately after pollination.

1/14/2005 12:37:01 AM

Illinois

Thanks Mike, after apearing how many days before the male/female flowers open and are viable? Come onnnnn Spring!!

1/14/2005 6:17:08 AM