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southwest MO

I guess I dont understand the whole seed trading thing?? I've been vegtable gardening for many years... Ive got hooked growing watermelons and pumpkins 3 years ago...(Just long enough to screw my patch up!!) Ive grown seeds from just a couple close sources that where given to me. After finding this site and advancing my knowledge over the last couple years I decided to get some different seed stocks, that I like based on size, looks, color etc...I contacted 6 growers on BP that had diarys, and I could see the pumpkins I liked. I sent out 6 bubbles and to date have recieved 6 bubbles... All from the growers themselves. From these 6 growers I recieved about 41 packets of seeds.(Thank you all very much).Many of the bubbles came with colored photos and small naratives with the packs as well as a quick hand written note. Figure avg. 2 seeds per pack... That puts me to 82 seeds. I honestly did not figure to be 100% on my seed gathering efforts. I now have 10 TIMES the amount of different seeds I can plant. (I have room for 4 plants) These seeds PARENTS include 845, 723Bobier...898 Knauss...1068Wallace...846, 869.5 Cali...1225 Jutras...1260.4 Weir... 670 Diagle...1101, 904 Northrup...1370 Rose...ON and ON. Im sure the vast majority of seeds I have are capable of growing a pumpkin bigger than I have the ability to grow. Like I stated earlier, don't under stand the trading thing unless you are trading your OWN STOCK.

2/6/2007 10:08:17 AM

Pumpkintown, SC

Some people grow more plants, have more diverse seed desires, like to make special genetics crosses, prefer older seeds, unproven seeds...etc

2/6/2007 10:40:00 AM

Danville, CA ([email protected])

It is the extra seeds that you have and may not be able to grow that come into play. Of the 82 seeds that you have, you may really like 6 for 2007. Then at the end of 2007 you may send additional bubbles and so on until your stock has grown to many, many seeds of which you realistically can only grow a few.

Then in 2008 you find that a vintage 2006 seed is doing really well and producing all of your favorite qualities. Since it is now 2008, you may not be able to get the seed from the grower as his stock has been generously shared throughout 2006 and 2007 and he retains only a few seeds for his own growing needs. So in order to get the seed, you either need to A) buy the seed from someone who has it or B) find someone who has the particular seed that you want and also wants one or more of the seeds that have received but have not yet planted. In the latter case, you trade these seeds and both parties are happy.

More seasoned growers may have received a couple of the famed 1,068 Wallace back when it was unproven and "easy" to get. Or maybe got them from a club or auction or ..... For whatever reason, the recipient did not grow it as they favored another seed that year. Now, for whatever reason, they have decided that they would prefer a 1,502 Wallace or 1,370 Rose or .... so again the two parties trade.

My .02 but I think it has worked pretty well so far. But as Ray pointed out in another thread, caveat emptor and know thy source.

2/6/2007 11:21:37 AM

Sioux Falls, SD [email protected]

Right boy. . .
You'll never grow all your seeds, but:
*some don't sprout
*good to have backups. . .recover from early mishaps
*friends will often ask if you have seeds
*and, as Petman explains, you don't know which will prove to be hot after couple years

2/6/2007 12:44:09 PM

southwest MO

You folks make very good points... I guess I am just nieve to think I will never need anymore seeds with the amount of good genetics I already have. I guess I am also nieve to think that in a coulpe years I will have mostly my own stock of seeds from my pumpkins to grow...If I cant grow a self satysfing pumpkin in a few years with the seeds I have, what makes me think I can grow something more satisfying from a new batch of seeds? I am however so impressed with the generousity of others I've contacted on this board, they have earned my loyalty.
I guess alot of it comes down to your approach to the hobby.
Dave

2/6/2007 12:45:28 PM

[email protected]

For many it is a fun recreation in the off-season...like baseball or Yu-Gi-Oh cards. There is no harm in trading as long as honor remains at the forefront.

2/6/2007 3:12:10 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

I don't trade much. A few times I've sought out a trade after contacting the original grower, and learning they are out, or down to a few for their own personal use. Sometimes it takes 3-4 years to get an idea of what type of pumpkins a seed will produce, and by that time the grower may be done giving them out. A satisfying trade to me, is where both traders are pleased with what they received in the trade.

2/6/2007 4:11:15 PM

Minnesota

I have the same issue as Boy genius. I bought seeds last year from P&P and had alot of fun with those. Now with people I've met and this site I have more seeds than I know what to do with!!
Doug, I'll trade you anything you want except my 1253 and 1502!!!
Actually, My goal is to some day create a Garden Giant that those in the world of Giant Pumpkins want to trade for!

2/6/2007 5:47:10 PM

C N Y

man, just cross those two seeds right there and
no matter what size fruit you get, the cross will be great!

2/6/2007 7:17:35 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Amen Tremor.

2/6/2007 9:04:25 PM

Nashville, TN

Yes, the generosity has been quite impressive by the GP/GS growers on this list! I've got quite a seed library now.. Many times I've asked for varieties with this trait or that trait, and growers will not only send samples with those traits, but also other samples of their's.

Sometimes those unexpected samples ended up being grown, some just stayed in the seed library, some ended up forwarded to other growers who requested them.

When you can grow a over a dozen - to 2 dozen per season, you can try out a lot of different varieties! Sometimes you see traits that are unexpected, but very interesting!

2/7/2007 10:00:35 AM

Frankfort Oh

IT ,,,,doesnt seem to me ,,,,no matter what is ,said ,,how people are going to look at things ,,,,,,,,,so like i said before ,,,,,the seeds i gave ,,were seeds i traded last spring ,,,,,,,the hands these seeds ,,could have gone threw ,is endless,,,to say ,like someone has already mentioned ,,,,,,,,,,,,What is done is done ,,,,,i cant prove anything and nither can no one else ,,,,,,,,in this matter ,,,,,,,,,unless you know ,,,,,,by them telling you they did such a thing or saw them do it ,,,,its your word against theres ,,,,,,and Robert if you didnt give someone a bad seed then, dont worry about it ,,,,,,,but to say you didnt give me seeds ,,,,,and lie about it ,,,,,,your not makeing things any better ,,,,,for your self ,,,,,and as i said ,,,,,,,DUE to the respect of the imformation ,,,,,,ive been told to due ,,,,,,i will not comment on this matter anymore,,,,,,,
THIS IS MY LAST POST ,,,,,ROB

2/7/2007 8:25:07 PM