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Ga.

when Howard Dill started these AG's,,,he had to breed to get these,,so,,I'm surehe didnt start with a million seed,,so each seed had the same genetics,,,right??? So how do these seed that continusly grow large pumpkins have these genes and others dont??? Could it be in breeding with the plants???

8/13/2001 4:36:17 PM

canal winchester ohio

I've always believed that every "great" seed is not as it seems. Take the 801.5 Stelts a great seed & I to would love to have one , but I'm sure that everyone that has put one out has not produced 800+. I've always thought that the seed pocket it comes out of has as much to do with the growth as the good cross. When we pollinate a 6 lober we try to pollinate all 6 lobes, but 1 will get pollinated better than the others. And since each lobe is a seed pocket the better pollinated one will produce better seeds. A good example can be found in the photo gallery, Glen Andrews posted a picture of his squash that has a kinked stem thus producing a odd shaped fruit. Now on this squash there is one segment that is pretty much the way it should be. Now by what I'm thinking this is the best pollinated lobe, thus the best seeds would come from this seed cavity
" Glen please keep me in mind when you take these seeds out"
If anyone agrees or disagrees with this idea let me know.........Paul

8/13/2001 5:41:35 PM

St. George, NB Canada

Each seed from a pumpkin would be unique I believe, the same as each child from a single marriage is unique. Each seed has a half share of the female flower's 1000's of genes, randomly mixed in that seed, and each pollen grain likewise has a randomly mixed share of its parents genetics. Even if the pollen comes from the same plant the resulting fertilzied seeds would be--closely related--but nonetheless different than each of the others.

Having said that alot of the size comes from growing technique: you need the combination of genetics to allow you to do it, the right environment and then the skill/art/luck/obsession to pull it off.

Chances are (and I'm not positive here) fruit growh is a result of successful pollination and the genetics of the parent, rather than the genetics of the seeds. You could have terrific growth and a beautifully shaped fruit and terrible seed genetics. (Say your flower was pollinated by a bee who was visiting your dorky neighbor's patch). The better seeds may come from the better lobe, but mainly I think because they are more fully and successfully developed than the others (i.e. not mishapen, etc.)rather necessarily their own potential. Bill C.

8/14/2001 8:38:14 AM

Deer Park, WI

Optimistic is right on the money. Start with the good seeds, then its up to YOU and ma nature to maximize their potential. The biggest fruit dont produce the biggest offspring. Example- how many 1000lb pumpkins have come from 1000lb parents? zippo. The reason why is a whole nother story. Many of the largest fruit grown come from 700 and 800lb fruit. Unless you are a molecular biologist, you will not be able to measure noticable differences betwixt seeds from different lobes. Lobes are strictly a means of seed organization within the fruit.

8/14/2001 11:27:11 AM

Lebanon Junction , Ky

I'll have to agree with the rest of them.The pumpkins i'm growing are the children of the ZERH1061 crossed with 1061x1006.So if it is genetics I should have a 1000# pumpkin,not very likely ,its only 196#est.and its 35 days old. I'm new at this but that don't sound like no monster.
So i'd have to agree it takes (good seeds,lotta TLC,lotta luck,and knowing alot more then I do about growing them.)

8/14/2001 12:31:54 PM

Ga.

So each ag seed has potential,,just gotta baby it and feed it..

8/15/2001 7:19:27 AM

St. George, NB Canada

Jeff352: almost. MOST ag seed has potential. There are going to be occasional genetic duds. A good way to guard against this is to start more seeds than you really need, all in good conditions. Then keep the best grower, baby it and feed it.

As another new@pumpkins I think 196# in mid august is pretty good. What the heck, might not be a monster, but bet you couldn't carry it around all day either; and you've gotta be planning for next year by now. Bill C.

8/15/2001 8:13:17 AM