From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Dresden, Ohio

My neighbor bought a pack of 10 giant pumpkin seeds from Lowe's and planted them in 2007. The only preparation they did was tilling the garden. The only care for the plant was watering every other day.

They used their bathroom scales to weigh the pumpkin and it was 85 pounds. Very round and very orange. They are giving me the pumpkin as long as I give them a handful of seeds to plant. I'm going to take the seeds, if any, and start drying them out tomorrow.

I'm curious as to your thoughts on what potential seeds like this may have if planted in soil that is prepared well and if the pumpkin is taken care of properly next year? Thanks.

11/29/2007 8:20:06 PM

Rhode Island

jeremy
if your goal is to just grow a few porch pumpkins then by all means use those seeds.
if you truely want to grow a pumpkin as big as possible then id look elsewhere for your seeds.
store bought seeds do not have the same potential as seeds from pumpkins that were grown from a controled pollination system
pap

11/29/2007 9:27:25 PM

Dresden, Ohio

Pap, thanks for your input.

I've already started preparing my patch for 2008, and I'm hoping to weigh in a big one at Barnesville.

Was it just a fluke that they grew one 85 pounds with those seeds?

11/29/2007 9:50:25 PM

Minnesota

Try the seed exchange message post, there are offers for free seeds, these seeds are much better than the seeds you get from lowes.

11/29/2007 11:13:21 PM

Dresden, Ohio

I have received seeds for next year from generous growers on here. I was just curious as to how often people are able to get a pumpkin like this from seeds from places like Lowe's, and if it's just a fluke.

11/30/2007 5:10:29 AM

Dummer Twp - Ontario

If you want some seeds contact me at [email protected]

11/30/2007 5:29:33 AM

Portsmouth, RI

Jeremy
I grew a similiar shelf seed this year(gurneys) and I grew a 350lbs pumkin so it's not a fluke.
Bob

11/30/2007 5:42:44 AM

Somers, CT

Jeremy, The big IF with the Lowes seeds is that the seeds are not traced or verified and can come from anywhere. I saw a pack of AG seeds in Ocean State Job Lot. Those might be good because the RI growers throw away all the seeds that do not produce anything under 1400#. Someone probably found a big bag at the dump in Smithfield and packaged them for sale.

11/30/2007 8:45:36 AM

Westford, MA

I had a (lowes)268lb Kearns "07 (open) round,nice orange even cantaloping, Just wish I had done some fall prep,and hadn't left the 122lber on the same plant.
I had so many abort I didn't want to get skunked, so I left just about anything that polinated on.
I also got 1 plant from lowes seeds that put out 2 very round Salmon coloredfruit, Home scale 83# & 112#. Both way too close to crown.
I'll probably grow the 268 again, just to propagate my 1st Officially weighed AG, and hopefully some REAL seeds,
to see what I can do.
Note to self. ONE per plant!!!!

11/30/2007 10:12:56 AM

Newmarket, NH USA

Jeremy your soil is most important get a test done and make sure your ph level is between 6.5 and 7.0 this to me is most important. Do exactly what the soil test reccommends and you wont believe it. I went from 300 lbs my first year with low ph to 740 the 2nd year with good soil ph.After your soil is right then go for seeds. Matt

11/30/2007 4:02:31 PM

Dresden, Ohio

Thank You for all that have offered seeds. I already have seeds for next year, but I appreciate the offers. I only have room for two plants next year, and just wondered if the seed would be worth my time.

11/30/2007 4:35:14 PM

Dillsburg, PA

I heard Home Depot seeds are better:)

11/30/2007 5:39:02 PM

Cincinnati,OH

Jeremy if your bringing a pumpkin to Barnsville you're going to need something far far better than a Lowes seed.

11/30/2007 6:05:26 PM

North Smithfield, RI USA

IN RI,,,, All dump seeds go to the Johnston Landfill !

11/30/2007 6:10:30 PM

[email protected]

I think the Lowe's seeds are right from Howard Dill so while they're probably not "world class" I'm sure they CAN go big if given the proper care.

12/1/2007 12:18:48 AM

Dummer Twp - Ontario

Ya never know when the dills might slip in a beauty and lets not insult one of the men who we owe all of this craziness too and who paved the way for us to grow pumpkins in excess of a 1000 lbs

12/2/2007 5:45:06 AM