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Colorado Hail, CO. Elev. 5,900 FT

Not many postings made on Mallorn, so maybe big pumpkins message board is more happening, and I can get this info here {?} I'm looking for info on what seed you would look back on, and remember distinctly how impressive it was to grow.

I would appreciate your own short story of the best plant you have grown over the years, as everyone can look back over the years and remember one that exhibited amazing characteristics from one or two plants. If you have been lucky, your best plant isn't remembered as one of those
"what if/ would have/ could have/ should have" plants, but either way, it might help others who are trying to determine what to grow in 2004. If you rather send a
personal e mail with your info, please do so by all means, or just post what info you have to share on this subject. Any and all information will be most appreciated and can benefit eveyone!!!

Thanks...

Madman
Marc Sawtelle

2/11/2004 10:13:35 PM

Colorado Hail, CO. Elev. 5,900 FT

Ok... here is my own story. It is on the 810 Dill. It didn't start out like my best genetic ever, but July 18th hail pounded and wiped all my plants out, right down to the stems {even caved in my hail screen}. All fruit sets soon aborted, and I almost tilled everything under. I figured it was better to try to get something salvaged from the season by trying to re- grow sides and teritaries out, and setting fruits to maybe get seeds and a few small fruits to display. The tip of my main plant was luckily shaded and protected on the 810's next female flower, as we had yet another hot dry summer, and about a week after the hail it opened and was selfed. I was lucky to get most plants back in gear in about 3 weeks to the size they were before the storm, but didn't know we would have the same frost and freeze problems everyone else had in the middle of September, so my days were really numbered. Most of my plants still grew 300 to 400 pounders,
which is pretty good under those circumstances.The 810, however, did much more, as it reached 666.6 {yeah, maybe it was a sign of something... LOL}, in that short time. That plant will be remembered as one of my best plants, if not the best ever.

Looking on the AGGC, you might not ever realize how good of a plant that was unless you read
this post.

2/11/2004 10:15:51 PM

So. Maine

Mark, my 810 Dill set on July 19 and weighed in at 978.6 at Topsfield.

2/12/2004 12:50:28 AM

Clinton, Iowa

Ok Ok.. I am posting my best plant of all time...
my one and only 846 Calai grown in 2002. Extremely ..almost painfully sloooow starter..infact it was the puniest of all my starts that year and stayed that way until vine sprawl started. 5 weeks later it was as big or bigger then the others. I would have loved to see what "could have been" that year with this seed BUT the season was such a pisser I'll never know. I let 3 set for seed purpose and all made it thru and were the most solid healthy fruits I have ever grown. One went 804 one went 724.5 and one was estimated at 500#.
I have 4 other plants that year and every one of them went down due to the nasty weather we had that year. The 846 was the only survior in my patch that season. And dispite the aphid attack in late august she still produced some respectful pumpkins...truely amazed I was.
Also I feel I should mention my 2001 986 Hester plant. it was left in and was side by side another christmas tree style plant..this 986 was flagged as a last minute idea. She was covering only 250 Square feet total. 180 square feet on the main vine side and 70 on the back main flag. The main had 100 leaves and the back flag had about 40. in total the main produced a PB 818# and the back main was 450#. this plant was as young and green and tender the day I cut the fruit as it was in early july. Infact even a killing frost never touched in on weigh off date. Everything else in th epatch was burn off flat but that plant wasn't even effected by it. I tried it again in 2002 BUT it was one that perished during the weather conflicts.
That is my story!!!
DAN

2/12/2004 3:17:58 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

In my very limited experience the 650 Lloyd '99 has been the plant that amazed me.
Puny runt initially, dogs/wind knocked the plant over and *out* of the planting hole, main vine broke clean off, pumpkins not set until end of July, and it still grew (4) classic 935 Lloyd-type pumpkins on (4) secondaries only, about 800# combined.
Doesn't sound like much unless you experienced what that plant went thru to get that 800# of total weight.

2/12/2004 6:50:42 AM

[email protected]

Only one season to report on Marc. But the 821 Garrell (845 Bobier x Sib) demostrated the "erect tip" that I have learned is characteristic of the 723/845. The last 12-20" is always pointing skyward. As such it seems to have a reputation for being prone to breaks. I don't think this is really the case. But rather the grower must exhibit caution, patience & diligence when staking the tip & should probably try to make those adjustments in the heat of midday when possible. Perhaps twice daily.

2/12/2004 8:29:20 AM

I'm with Gordon... GO UTES!

I have only a few years experience, but so far those plants
that were weakest as far as leaves and vines go, grew my
largest fruits. Then my best "plant" grew smaller fruits...

Go figure.

For me the 831 Zunino grew my biggest fruit, and it was on
an absolutely puny plant, only 5 feet out on the main! The
plant had only 3 vines, the main, and two side vines that
came out near the stump.

2/12/2004 10:36:12 AM

Norton, MA

What'd that weigh? Alex.

2/12/2004 5:47:22 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

Gonna weigh-in here. Ive planted the 828 Breznick last 3 seasons. #1, the seed always germinated. #2 the plant was always a vigorous grower and didn't ribbon or resist laying down as it grew. #3 it always provided plenty of fruit set oppurtunities. #4 gave me a personal best each successive season, 614, 737, and 783 last season...all Orange and round! Won some great seeds this offseason thru raffles and the kindness of heavy hitter. It's been a great ride so far and I want to thank Mark for his seed generosity, and hope I'm not looking back after this season wishing I'd grown the 828 again.

2/12/2004 8:21:44 PM

Farmington, Utah

@ for me. One was a 550 Dill. IT grew for me my first 500+. It went 545 and was 150 something pounds over the charts and on a small plant. Next is the 845 Bobier 00. This plant was heavily damaged by verticillium wilt. I thought that for sure the plant was going to go down at any time. It ended up being 752 this last season. I will grow the 845 again this year.

2/14/2004 9:20:07 AM

Colorado Hail, CO. Elev. 5,900 FT

This is great guys! If more people add in some of their observations and results, I'll explain why this info is so important, as there is a point to gathering this data!
Marc

2/14/2004 12:35:59 PM

Long Island,New York

You mean 968Hester right Dan???

2/15/2004 12:39:26 PM

I'm with Gordon... GO UTES!

Someone asked what my fruit on the 831 weighed...

Its almost irrelevant because of my salty soil and
harsh climate, but the fruit weighed light at 332.

2/16/2004 10:15:44 AM

Western NY

i have very fond memories of my first 815 andersen being an extremely agressive plant. however, i must make two notes - it was my first year growing competition plants (therefore nothing to compare to), and the fruit split at 535 pounds (was headed for around 700). other than that, i loved my 723 bobier plant. nothing special about it, except the fruit just kept on growing - a personal best for me at 917 pounds. the only other one that comes to mind is a seed from my 917 i grew last year which was keeping pace (plant-wise) with the 846 calai until around the time of fruit set. then the disadvantage in soil conditions set the limiting factors on that plant.

2/16/2004 1:44:27 PM

C N Y

1230 Daletas--very robust plant, large everything, thick stems, prolific bloomer! with the biggest, tallest and, for some reason i want to call them elegant, blooms!
i wish i had done better with it, and next time i will!
1230 X 845 '00 will be soon available on seedoutlet.com, as soon as i can get them sent-out to Brent Richey.
the fruit was only 156 pounds, but had plenty of seeds in it, and i still have many--there, that's my project for the next couple of days.....jeez, i forgot to mention my #16 cull from '02 (815 Checkon X Gerry 300 '01 (1140 X 845)):

this plant was nothing short of being a no-brainer, which worked well for me--lol--uniform, sprawling plant, thick main vine and big spaces between the secondaries, like 2 feet anyway,
as well as extra-long stems and color that wouldn't quit--
plus a 510.5 on it that was pollinated a month late
(8-2-03) and could have easily been over 800 pounds in my opinion....okay, enough about me n' my own plant.... 'pal2

2/17/2004 7:02:17 PM