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Alex, IN

I have a question, I dont know if other people have this problem or not but over the past couple of years I have requested seeds from people and recieved the seeds I wanted and also some of their other seeds. Now when I go through my seeds I see that most of the seeds I have I will probably never grow. So what do you guys do when this happens do you wait a few years to see if the seeds you have grow anything then get rid of the seed or do you keep them for 10 years when you doubt they will grow then get rid of them?

I was just wondering. Any advice on what to do with all the seeds would be great.

Thanks,
Mikkal

1/30/2004 3:26:52 PM

Long Island,New York

You hold them and give them to new growers....give them to people who are just curious and wanna try something non-competitive. Heck...you give them to people who inadvertantly make eye contact with you on the street. Hold them to see if someone tries them in the future and pops a biggie...then you'll have them. You will see trends in genetics in 5 years that you dont see now--and you may have the urge to play with those genetics and you'll have them ! You will soon have too many seeds to grow--donate to clubs! Good seeds make great Xmas presents. When a seed hits it big in three years/four years and gets somewhat depleted, many growers will start looking to see what was pollinated by that seed's plant four years ago...and you may have some...if you held onto them.Or maybe a cull/smaller fruit on the same plant? Maybe a selfed version of that quality plant? And there's ALWAYS guys looking to grow older genetics. Who cared about the 888Mombert until the 940's were out of touch?Or the 903Holland before 879's were rare...and that lowly 1016 living in the shadows of the bigger fruit? I say, unless you can predict the future, if you cant grow them now...share them or save them....2 cents

1/30/2004 3:48:04 PM

Sequim, WA

Baked and lightly salted they make a tasty snack.

1/30/2004 3:50:48 PM

Greencastle, PA

so my 123.2's can be put to some use... what temperature? lol.
Tom

1/30/2004 10:47:25 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

Hey Chris, how long in the oven?
Carlos

1/31/2004 3:05:11 AM

[email protected]

Where are the risk takers? It seems that we all covet certain crosses only so long as they're produced by certain growers.

Take the 723 x 846 cross. It's been done many times. Yet only a few have progeny reported on AGGC. Granted they're not all identical. But that would also imply that there's probably one out there that is better than the 842 Eaton. Though it's nice & clean. Sitting around & getting old.

I'm guilty too. I've giving so called "unproven seed" to customers, new growers, even complete strangers who show an interest. And Lord knows none of them are likely to "prove" these seeds worth. If anything, these folks are likely to have poor results & thus further the lowly seeds disdain.

But if I had the room, I'd try to plant at least one unproven seed every year. But would I give it the same effort? Probably not. We have only 2 honey holes.

It's quite a dilema isn't it? Darned if we do. Darned if we don't.

Steve

1/31/2004 6:55:36 AM

Western NY

risk takers? we're out there, but when you only grow a couple plants and you have an abundance of pretty good seeds, it's tough to try something new. i always try to throw in the new or odd seed (usually one of my own), but for the most part, i have been disappointed, especially compared to the "proven" seeds. I grow enough plants that i will always try some unknown seed each year, but my top spots always get the good ones.

1/31/2004 11:53:05 AM

Ontario, Canada.

I have given away many of my own seeds this winter. Mostly to family and friends. Twice I have had to expand my seed storage cupboard due to the generosity of many growers. It is difficult to decide what to plant. I have traded seeds four times as well. Purchased 3 times from seed outlet, once from BP.com, twice from Dills and twice from auctions. Received over 90 packs of seed from 30+ growers. Together with my seeds from the summer I have almost 2,500 seeds. I was worried I wouldn't have any good seeds. Well now I have at least 15 different proven seeds. All this after only three months of bubbling. I have spent a few dollars on some good seed, but to me it is priceless. Thanks to all.

1/31/2004 12:15:06 PM

Montoursville, PA

I started growing late in life. I sure do not have much R & D time. Geese..........I will be pleased to grow those seed that seem to show higher potential. I can grow only two. I thank some of you for helping me make the grow choices.

1/31/2004 12:19:20 PM

C N Y

A N Y W A Y.......i think you should do what i should do---
list them out so that anyone that is looking for specific seeds might find them in your collection....hoping, of course, that the growers don't get offended by anyone just handing-off their seeds. but it's not like you're "trading-up" or something, you just don't wanna waste them. so, that's my idea. or take them to the NF SEMINAR. 'pal2

2/1/2004 7:44:51 AM

New Brunswick

I feed my older seeds .......ones I saved out of my first pumpkins (140 pound plus) to my pet bluejay. He was brought to me when he was in pin feathers. I hand raised him and have had him 1 1/2 years. His wing was injured so he cannot fly....thus impossible to release him. Wild birds and squirrels love pumpkin seeds.

2/2/2004 6:52:55 PM