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San Diego

Over the last few years, weights for pumpkins have skyrocketed. Here is a fun topic? Why? Is the "main" reason from improved genetics? Or is it from new growing practices and an increased amount of growers? I think both can be contributing factors, but which one is the "main" contributor? A lot of the bigger pumpkins these days are from newer seeds, but many from older seeds as well. Take the 723 bobier, we have had a few 1300 lber's from it the last couple years. It has been around since 99, so the genetics aren't changing, but the weights are getting higher. Makes me wonder, how much is just from the improved growing practices and information boom. What does everyone think? Jimmy

1/22/2005 8:01:05 PM

Puyallup, WA

Jim....the arguement of genetics vs. environment has been going on for hundreds of years. Statistics can be found to bolster each side of the aisle. I am sure that the deciding blow will not be dealt here on the BP.com Message Board.

1/22/2005 10:39:57 PM

[email protected]

Yes.

1/23/2005 2:36:26 AM

Ohio

Stan, so can you get to your point?,LOL

1/23/2005 4:40:28 AM

Clinton, Iowa

My best Guess Jimmy..(seeds on the way buddy) is that tech. are always getting tweeked....and soil is always improving) that combinations.....add up to bigger and better pumpkins....one tech that has really changed it plant size.....just look in the course of 5 years...we have gone from 1200 square foot plants (or bigger) ...to 300 to 500 maybe 600 are best...that alone could be the biggest contributing factor..... Just my 2 cents
DANNY

1/23/2005 8:57:02 AM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

I have to agree with Dan. Also, one of the main reasons for the increases is this site and all the newly formed pumpkin clubs. Information on new tech, soil enhancements and seed genetic is being passed around to all growers willing to listen. Also, the number of growers has increased significantly, therefore a more diversified number of seeds are grown each year. This allows us to see what other crosses are capable of doing.

Phil

1/23/2005 9:37:49 AM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

The other day I worked out the year on year av. weight of fruit from 723 seed,I've lost that bit of paper now but it started out at about 820lbs and steadily went up to 971lbs last year,doesn't quite work with the 846 though 2000-852lbs. 2001-772lbs 2002-818lbs 2003-852lbs 2004-879lbs.

1/23/2005 9:47:48 AM

[email protected]

Hmmm....Different genetic sets prefer different maintenance programs.

1/23/2005 10:27:04 AM

Joliet, IL

i believe shared knowledge is the key, whether it be via
computer or the increasing amounts of growers clubs.
the NH guys have proven this for sure. knowledge of growing
techniques, soil, insecticides, disease control, and
genetic traits exhibited in certain seed crosses.

there can be no doubt that over the last 20 years that
the genetic make up of todays seeds has a higher potential
to produce heavier pumpkins. similar to the proof of breeding dogs or any animals over a period of time.
when man enters the equation and selectively breeds any
species for specific trait characteristics, the future
generations will result in producing these traits more
consistently over time.

but to say the % jump in the past 5 years weights was
more genetic than environmental would be a tough pill
for me to swallow. i think shared knowledge has caused
this recent jump. i am a relative newbie, so this
rambling doesn't carry a lot of weight, so to speak. lol.

1/23/2005 1:54:44 PM

Cologne / Germany

5 years is a good range to prove something.
Let´s say you started a X x Y in 2000, other growers tried it in 2001 and it turned out to be proven. So you used that seed again for backcrossing in 2002 and it was also successfully grown by others in 2003. Now you had 2 proven seeds that you crossed in 2004, and wait for even better crosses in 2005.
In the same time you improved your knowledge and built up your soil to its peak level. The number of growers raised, so the amount of crosses.
It´s like raising the "pumkin tree". But I think the power is in the crosses, not that genetic changes happened.

1/24/2005 5:48:26 AM

Brillion Wisconsin

Maybe its global warming...not. Wisconsin had one of the coldest summers in recorded history and still the weigh off had 800,900 and 1,000 lbers.

I believe the steady increase in pumpkin weight has to with the steady increase with this giant pumpkin growing sickness.

Most of the people that I have meet through giant pumpkins will stop at nothing to grow a monster pumpkin. No expense is too great and no task is too challenging.

From setting the alarm for 5 a.m. to get that prime female pollenated to tilling in soil amendments after the sun goes down. The growers of the A.G. pumpkin are a unique bunch that are constantly raising the bar.

Sure genetics play a role in the increased weights but I believe its the constant attention, devotion and dedication we give our plants/soil thats producing increased weights every year.

1/24/2005 6:07:47 PM