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Northern Cambria, Pa.

Back in 2002 I did calculation based on the weights of all world record pumpkins from 1980 to then 2002. The average weight increase worked out to about 4.5% per year so I extrapolated forward and these were the numbers that I came up with.
2002 = 1318
2003 = 1378
2004 = 1440
2005 = 1505
2006 = 1572
2007 = 1643
2008 = 1717
2009 = 1795
2010 = 1875
2011 = 1959
2012 = 2047
We were under the curve in 2005 and 2006 and it appeared that a limit was somewhere in sight but it does not seem so now. Perhaps pumpkins will eventually become too large to move to weigh off sights. Who knows where this is going.

9/30/2007 1:24:38 PM

Pemberton, BC

Who knows is right. 1442,1469,1502...1689?? It sure didn't follow the trend. I was thinking maybe a 1550, which there was, but when someone can erase last years world record by nearly 200 pounds it leaves you wondering.

9/30/2007 2:05:54 PM

[email protected]

Great stuff Larry, But also what about seeds, it used to be that there were only a few great seeds, but now it seems, there are so many great seeds out there, so many untouched
Eddy

9/30/2007 2:12:54 PM

[email protected]

I thought maybe we were near the limit as well, if it weren't for the OTT of your 1469. Thats what made me think 2000 may be possible. I think many don't realize that its the largest fruit ever grown by a huge margin, at least coming into this season, even if it no longer is the heaviest. I'm still stunned by 1689. I've been walking around say, "1689?", all day. And were not done with the season yet. LOL

Will we see a 1469 x 1689 cross next season from someone? Thats 1788 estimated lbs crossed with 1689 actual pounds!!! Dang!!!

9/30/2007 2:15:28 PM

[email protected]

A few years ago it was the "one ton" cross that was the big thing. Next season it will be the ton-and-a-half crosses.

9/30/2007 2:17:41 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

An amazing jump this year! And more weighoffs to come. Maybe there is something to crossing two very large pumpkins(998= 1420 X 1446). Will there be two, or more, pumpkins over 1600 lbs., to cross after this year? I thought that the weight curve would even out soon. Now it looks like the sky's the limit. We'll see. I agree with Eddy....so many crosses with great potential out there.

9/30/2007 2:39:44 PM

Key West, FL

I agree, doesn't appear to be a limit, yet....

I have also been walking around all day saying, 1689....

Unbelievable.

9/30/2007 3:03:50 PM

[email protected]

More on this topic of the future, and Ive been doing a lot of research on this.
What are the 2 biggest things to change pumpkin growing in the last few years? I think 2, and they are a seed and a program.
First is the seed, I really belive the 898 Knauss has far reaching implications.
i belive it is one of the reasons we went over the 1500 pound threshold.
Secondly, the program, I belive the Agro K program, or in some cases, a very close duplication of it, as in what the Wallaces do. I believe there is something in these additives that stimulate the genetics to produce what we're seeing today.
Only my thoughts, and still so unreal, that after all these years and with what we thought was the pinacle of weights, get blown out by 12.5% over last year, so at that rate, we're only 2 years away from 2000.
Wow or as Dick Wallace said "Shock and Awe"
I love this, or could you tell LOL

9/30/2007 3:23:39 PM

Greencastle, PA

The 1469 will see my soil next year. I hope a 1689 will too. However, rather than crossing them, I intend to cross each with the 695 Handy, and possibly cross the resulting crosses the next season. It would work out like this: (1469x695)x(1689x695). The 695 should add some thickness to the walls and ensure that the progeny have a good shape.

9/30/2007 4:11:32 PM

Ontario, Canada.

This is better than when the Tigers started the 1984 baseball season at 35 & 5.

1689 and the jump up the rung is so large, truly Unbelievable. What was the size of the fruit? There are no stats listed yet. It looks like it could have been fairly heavy from the pictures.

Once we start to get more wall thickness into our seed lines
they may file up like watermelons and weights could reach higher and higher still.

I am very happy for Joe, what a great guy too.

Looks like I'm gonna need to get my 998 in the ground next spring.......

9/30/2007 5:55:49 PM

Aloha, Oregon

The year I am to grow the first 2,000 lber is fast approaching.

Jordan

9/30/2007 8:29:51 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

"The year I am to grow the first 2,000 lber is fast approaching.
Jordan"

Please tell me that you didnt just say you were going to grow the first 2000 lb fruit......
Big jump from pkn in a barrel to 2000....

9/30/2007 8:34:39 PM

Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

Fairy tales do exist Tom, William Layton set the Virginia record yesterday with 1138 lbs. Last year his entry was 163 lbs. Sounds like something that won't happen often though but I guess it gives us all hope! lol

9/30/2007 9:50:36 PM

[email protected]

That is an eerily familiar string of numbers. Thanks for sharing that Larry.

Given what I did tonight I'd say we'll always get them to the scales no matter the weights.

Our F350 Super Duty 11,000 lb GVW PLUS a dual axel pindle hook trailer = THREE pumpkins totaling 2000 lbs PLUS an 8000 lb Toyota forklift.

Other driver were nearly killing themselves hanging out their windows to take pictures on I-95. LOL

Let's KEEP growing them bigger. Ford Tough trucks will keep getting them to the scales!

9/30/2007 10:07:14 PM

[email protected]

Another cross that would be nice to see done, by someone who has the resources to acquire the seeds, is 998 Pukos x 898 Knauss. There isn't much 898 in that 998 mostly 723/845 and 846 genes. Maybe Mr. Pukos can do this one? 998 x 1231 could stabalize the line and grow some beasts, I hope someone did that one this year and grew large pumpkins on both. I really like the looks of the 1566 Rodonis on paper, if I can get my hands on one this off season, I will grow it next season.

9/30/2007 10:18:45 PM

No Place Special

I think (?) steve Krug here in Iowa did the 998 x 1231 this yr. Last I talked to him both were super pumpkins!

9/30/2007 11:05:31 PM

Frankfort Oh

lmao@tom,,,,,,good one

9/30/2007 11:17:55 PM

[email protected]

Thanks for the tip Mike.

9/30/2007 11:27:13 PM

Austria

This is interesting stuff. Thanks for sharing.

10/1/2007 5:12:04 AM

Alex, IN

I know some boys in Kentucky that did 998 X 1231 and the reverse 1231 X 998!!

10/1/2007 12:37:46 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

I know someone in Colorado that has perhaps one of the last 898 Knauss seeds left that will be planted next year. And he wants to cross it with some great genetics.......like a 998, 1566, 1502 and will share the seeds. Let me know

10/2/2007 3:08:09 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Also, a 500 Wallace X 1502 Wallace, the 500 went 19% heavy and the 1502 weighed 18% heavy this should make for some heavyness wouldnt you say?

10/2/2007 3:09:41 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Time to re-extrapolate??? LOL Peace, Wayne

10/2/2007 9:53:04 PM