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Colorado Hail, CO. Elev. 5,900 FT

Everyone always ends up growing a fruit that gets all the attention because of it's weight. Many times, only the grower knows which seeds of his/ hers should have the firepower we all desire. Too many times that "Special" genetic cross ends up overlooked, passed over for the seed from the larger fruit.

Now is the time to let others know which of your 2004 seeds you'd expect to perform the best, before seed requests are sent out. If there happens to be a fruit or two {or more} which you feel has mass potential, please post the fruit{S} you like, and why.

I knew my 303 from 2003 had potential, and I wasn't wrong in trying to grow it, as it grew my 591.6 this year. I doubt anyone would have ever grown it.

This year, most of my unweighed fruits have the best potentials. Listed below are my favorite seeds from my unweighed stuff only...

1} 530 Gancarz= F X 390 Gancarz = M
Orange perfect shaped fruit on female plant crossed with white, Llyod-ish thick shelled fruit from male plant. Both plants lucky to have any fruits also. Female fruit grew on a single 12-14 foot vine with no sides. Male plant grew 7 fruits in 125 SF. Pollinated this fruit on 8-8-04.

2} UNDISTRIBUTED MOMBERT {575 Dill= F X 567 Mombert= M} X SELFED
Perfect shape, super color, long fruit stem, great leaf/ space ratio, roots easily & had a thick shell. Plant wiped out twice, ended up covering 70 SF and one 100-ish LB fruit. Pollinated on 8-24-04, but left on vine until today, and ended up with TONS of viable seeds. Grew next door in sandy unamended soil with little care.

10/23/2004 1:12:36 AM

Colorado Hail, CO. Elev. 5,900 FT

3} 735 Pukos= F X 502 Ciliberto {X 3 selfed}= M
Orange X white... 100 LB-ish Female fruit was real long, looking more like a Mombert fruit than anything. Plant only covered 50 SF before setting fruit and getting dead- headed 4 feet past fruit set. Male plant wiped out twice and the worst, never having time to set fruits till 9-4-04 {perhaps getting a couple viable seeds from one of the two fruits}, as well as only having 100 SF of area when frost ended its 2004 torture.

4} 805 Pukos = F X Garrell Genetics {1092 X Sibb} = M
Grew two "plants/ clones" so to speak, both allowed a single fruit with the same cross. One plant grew one of my 200-ish weighed fruits, the second a 175-200 LB-ish fruit in about 50 SF with about 25 leaves. Male plant was grown in 125 SF barren Eiffler patch wasteland. Plant hit by hail enough to leave leaves shread all to hell and worthless. Grew 3 fruits still on the plant, one about 200-ish, the other two about 75 LB each.

5} Garrell Genetics {1092 Burke X Sibb}= F X 704 Stellpflug
This is the only isolated 935-ish X isolated Mettler 865- ish genetic combination ever created. Mettler plant grew WHITE & waayyy heavy fruit in an 80-100 SF area. Female info above.

OK... out of almost 30 2004 fruits, these are the "unknown" genetics which you'd never knew existed unless I posted this info. Unless requested, I do not plan to send these out as I'll be testing them personally in 2005. If there are any genetic gems you've made, I'd love to know what you've cooked up!

10/23/2004 1:12:59 AM

I'm with Gordon... GO UTES!

I'll take the opportunity...

In four years of growing in my hard climate and hard soil,
one plant stands out, the 1005 Mombert. This plant was
twice the size of any other I've ever had. On it I produced
a 468 which is 1005 Mombert X Self. I figure when you self
something, it is usually more of the same, but a little
more consistent.

Genetic positives: good color, decent shape, aggressive
(almost wild) plant growth

Genetic negatives: stems were short

I did have an overabundance of nitrogen. Part of the plant
growth can be attributed to this, but I had other plants in
the same soil conditions... the 1005 was still amazing.
I think the fruit growth will do much better if I can get
my soil back in decent balance and manage plant growth
better.

I want to get my hands on some of these 801.5 and 846
seeds that have been selfed over a number of generations,
and next year do some crossing, including my own 468.

10/23/2004 1:55:48 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Thanks Marc. A very good thread indeed. I tend to like fruit that couple heavy or thick walls with pumpkins of size and large circumference while at the same time matching two seed lines. I think it is also important to assimilate the plants climatic heritage to maximze its growth potential. Lastly, trusted comments from the grower himself are hints that can lead to a possible progeny that can flourish in your garden patches. Still fairly new to this game it has been a humbling expierence to watch many larger fruit march to the scales on weighoff day. Although I have many fruit from the 04 season only one has truly been an exceptional labour of my second summer.

I believe this objective has been met with the
781.5 Landry 04, 1156 Larsen x 1301 Eaton.

The combination of the male 1156 Larsen at 22% heavy, with its 898 Knauss background and mixing in the highly successful female 1301 Eaton along with its own 842/1236 parenthood. The 781.5 was only a tad heavy to the chart but grew without trouble. The 1156 was an excellent plant that kept on going strong to the end. It was placed only in a cold frame in early May and continued to outshine three other greenhouse plants by early June. I believe it may be an excellent plant for more chilly regions of the upper mid-west and areas of the plains were chilly nights are a common occurance. At one point in late May it suffered some frost damage that did not slow it down at all. Needless to say I have high hopes for this seed and encourage all to investigate its potential in cool weather climates.

10/23/2004 7:24:05 AM

[email protected]

Only 2 crosses here this year but 1 is unique in that it's never been done so far according to AGGC.

845 Bobier X 842 Eaton = 281 Jepsen '04 grown on clone (cutting).

842 Eaton X 845 Bobier (Jim Kuhn also did this year)

The cutting fruit was set on July 24 & was one of two fruit on the 140 sq ft vine grown in partial shade. She produced 681 seeds that culled down to 660 solid tannies. I've never seen so many well developed seeds in such a small fruit. She was 3% heavy.

The other fruit was an open pollination, under 200 lbs, & sold by a local garden center.

10/23/2004 9:43:30 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

977 Hester = (846 Calai x 898 Knauss)...the 898 Knauss pollinator grew the 1104 and we all know what the 1104 did this year.
This plant grew in my crappy front yard for a genetic cross only with the 580 Weir (reverse of the 1260, same plants, goes heavy as well, 846 x 845). The Hester was perfectly symetrical, huge with 22' rear "mains", and grew a 36' front main when I terminated it before it ran into the woods. It grew a 528# with absolutely zero care except for 2 pest/fungicide sprays. The yard soil sucked...5.1 pH and everything else way deficient....grass doesn't hardly grow in that yard! It tolerated heat, had short stems and leaves so wind and thunderstorms didn't faze it, disease plowed thru all my other plants except it, and it cranked out females and males with a vengeance. I kicked myself all Summer for not planting it in the patch because it was one of those rare 1:500 seed that was easily capable of 1000+ in proper soil even with a newbie. The cross is great with maternal 846 on both ends....(846 x 898) X (846 x 845)
.....and the 580 grew a nice fruit itself (435#) for a very late pollination.

10/23/2004 10:32:38 AM

I'm with Gordon... GO UTES!

Hey guys,

Just a word on syntax... to prevent confusion, this is how
we ought to list things:

weight grower year (plant_grown_on X male_pollinator)

So, always list the female first. For example, the one
I mentioned would be:

468 Warren 04 (1005 Mombert 02 X Self)

Kahuna3, I was confused a little by your post. If the 1301
was the female then you should list that one first. Great
cross by the way!

Regards, Cliff

10/23/2004 1:00:56 PM

[email protected]

Great Post Marc
Well I believe we made 14 great crosses. We had a very crappy year, The best I could do with outside pumpkins was 300 + or - pounds.
1) the soon to be famous 21 Beachy crossed with the 723 Bobier
2) the 869.5 Calai x 808 beachy and reverse. Both plants are the same genetics, now reinforced
3) 920 Cole X self. Intended to remake the 810 Dill, but lost the 715 Dill in a bad wind storm. have kept a cutting and will try again in the spring
4) 1002 Carter(735 Pukos X 846 Calai) crossed with the 735 Pukos
5) 1002 Carter X 237 Beachy (same cross as 846 Calai)
6) 1002 Carter X 920 Cole This one should be awsome
7) 1002 Carter X 723 Bobier
8) 237 Beachy (846 Remake) X 723 Bobier
9) 708 Larue (same cross as 1016 and 1230 Daletas) x self
The next 3 crosses were made and grown in green houses. There was no ferts used and the plants were enhanced with CO2
1) 1016 Daletas X Beachy 705 Stelts remake) grew to be 529.5 weighed heavy.
2) 735 Pukos X 723 Bobier Weighed 555.5 and was also heavy
3) and the last one the 723 Bobier X 735 Pukos weighed 598 pounds, and also had 2 other selfed pumpkins on the 723
Didn't make the 1000 pounds but next year on 1 of my crosses
Eddy

10/23/2004 5:58:48 PM

Colorado Hail, CO. Elev. 5,900 FT

Interesting info guys... Kyle, I'm not too sure though about your 977 Hester. It grew your 528 pounder, and it does sound like you also got one of the better genetics from that seed. I'm curious if you selfed it or what, cause I'm confused a bit on that. If that is the case, what plans do you have with that genetic next year? I have a great idea if you have time for a phone call. I was hoping someone would grow an 846 X 898 and self it, opening up some really great potential crosses next year.

Eddie, You really did some stuff I'd like to mess with next year. My 696 Hoomis {another 567 Wallace self} just happened to not be the the correct seed choice this spring, lol! That was one of the most interesting plants I've ever grown, I just didn't put the right seed in the dirt it seems. Your # 3/4/5 & 6 crossed happen to be perfect for some of the genetics I'm creating, sounds like we need to talk again also.

Please everyone, don't be shy, Post and promote your stuff.

10/24/2004 1:36:01 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

1260 Weir x 580 Weir
572 Andrews x 1260 Weir = (1260 x sibb) X (1260)

10/24/2004 1:58:17 AM

Indiana

Marc, I dont have enough time to do all the crosses...LOL

Tom

10/24/2004 2:25:42 AM

Cheyenne, Wyoming

753 Pappas (898 Knauss X self) X 1097 Beachy.

Beet

10/24/2004 10:52:30 AM

In the shade - PDX, OR

I like all of Steve Davies crosses for '04.

'Nuff said.

10/24/2004 7:52:55 PM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

926 Hunt/04 (1097.5 Beachy x 842 Eaton)
839 Hunt/04 ( reverse cross)

We all know what these two seeds did this season....Phil

10/25/2004 7:49:00 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

I agree with Eric....Steve Davies is becoming one hot grower on a roll!

10/25/2004 8:11:45 AM

Colorado Hail, CO. Elev. 5,900 FT

OK Tom; ...LMAO... How about listing just 3-5 of the ones that come to the top of your head? Is that asking too much?

I realize now that I've grown several plants at a time how it can be. I can only imagine growing all of the 474 plants that you grew this year. I would hate to imagine how much time it takes to get seeds from 474 plants! 20 something fruits were more than a handfull... 474 is unimaginable!

10/25/2004 11:13:30 AM

I'm with Gordon... GO UTES!

474... Did I read that right? Do you employ a whole army of
farm-hands? Holy Moly Batman!

10/25/2004 5:23:15 PM

French River,P.E.Island, Canada

500 David Hebb X 801.5 Stelts
741 Eaton X 801.5 Stelts
801.5 Stelts x 500 David Hebb

10/25/2004 8:22:58 PM

Knopp, Germany

Marc, just looked at the heirarchy of your 303 est on the AGGC and noticed they are showing the 826.5 Shymanski 04 as the female seed. My guess is that they meant the 825.5 Shymanski 96, am I right?

10/26/2004 3:53:55 AM

Colorado Hail, CO. Elev. 5,900 FT

Yeah, 825 is correct...LMAO...I'd sure like to know how the hell I grew Marks stuff so quick!

10/26/2004 5:28:18 PM

Greencastle, PA

the 1446 Eaton should be a great seed... I like the crosses I made this year with the 1061.5 Ciliberto and 963 Stucker... Steve Davies has had nice crosses for the past 3 years

10/27/2004 10:54:44 PM