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Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

I'm looking at this for '07. I'm curious who out there has grown this and what luck you've had.

Thanks,

Matt

1/16/2007 6:42:07 PM

Montoursville, PA

There are Knauss genetics in a whole bunch of past and present great pumpkins. While I do not know that seed I do know that the grower Knauss was a most dedicated grower with many fine crosses. Without knowing anything else I would encourage you to grow it out. It likely can outgrow your patch as it is today and your personal skills. That's all I ask of any seed I choose to grow.

1/16/2007 8:44:56 PM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

706 was the reverse cross of the 898 in Len's patch in 2001--Cox 1048 x Brown 1007

1/16/2007 9:30:03 PM

Greencastle, PA

I thought it was open pollinated... Tom Beachy grew a few of them, but didn't get the results he wanted.

1/16/2007 10:17:52 PM

Indiana

I have grown something like 10 of them. Overall I would say 3 were good, the rest were mediocre at best. Fortunately, I did use the best 706 out of the 10 for some pollen so what I think are the best of the 706 genes that I found and used them in my 280 which grew my 998. Colors ranged from white to salmon and ugly. Highest % heavy was less than 10% over, but I would have to look to get an exact number.

1/16/2007 10:34:26 PM

Goffstown,nh

Matt,
I have the 706 seed also with a hand written note from Len Knauss when he sent it to me. It say's "I am enclosing a 706 seed also, the circumference was 129" and according to the chart it should only have weighed in at 499lbs." He also says it was as solid as a rock. Who knows, maybe the 898 is what it is today because of the male pollinator the 1048Cox(that produced the 706)? I grew the 1048 Cox in 2003, take a look in my photo gallery(Jim B) and see what it looked like.(652Beauchemin) Sometimes i think i should plant the 706 and pollinate it with the 898? Something to think about...

1/16/2007 10:53:21 PM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

Jim,

Yes, I have an 898 too and was considering crossing them. Thanks for the info!

1/16/2007 11:34:06 PM

[email protected]

Jim B is one Len talks about having a few of the 706's, but buyer beware, this reverse cross of the 898 has a story behind it.

While there truely was a 706, the pumpkin was sold to a lady in the Wilkes-Barre area (where Len square danced on Sunday nights) for 100 dollars to win a bet with her son on who could have the biggest fruit. She won, obviously, but didnt give Len many seeds back.


This is one of those seeds with a wierd background and history, similar to the strange phenomenon of the Waller 837.

1/17/2007 10:11:40 PM

Goffstown,nh

Interesting fact on the low seed count. Len's note to me did say that Charlie Houghton and i were the only two people at the time that he had given the 706 seed to. Years after Charlie passed away his wife Kathy gave his seed collection including the 706 seed to our club. We auctioned the 706 off last winter.

1/17/2007 10:38:02 PM