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canal winchester ohio

I don't grow enough pumpkins/squash to use my own data, but I know posting this might help.
Last year was my first season using Agro-K & doing daily fruit spraying of VC & VCP. Well last season my 410 lb squash had a seed count of appx. 420 seeds with very few immature ones. Sunday we cut open my brothers 371 lb'r ( 862 Conley x self) & there are between 480 & 500 good seeds with a few immature ones. I just started gutting my 385 lb'r ( 664 Liggett x 869 Calai), I'm only just getting into it ( I had to stop to eat...lol) & I already have about 250 seeds & have thrown just 10 immature ones out.
I'm wondering if others using the Agro program have had similiar results. I'm thinking 500 seeds out of a 371 lb'r isn't that bad, in fact I haven't had a seed count that high yet...........Paul

10/24/2005 10:03:32 AM

canal winchester ohio

Just finished my 385. I had 467 good seeds, 14 immature seeds & 2 sprouted seeds. I'll have to contact some of the growers in my area & check their results, especially Buddy Conley's 924 ( 955 Conley x 1008.5 Razo). I don't know why I don't see more pumpkins off the 1008.5 Razo ( 582 Hester x 705 Stelts). Buddy's 931.5 off the 1008.5 was NICE !!!.

10/24/2005 11:07:20 AM

In the shade - PDX, OR

My 2 cents but I don't think that fertilization practices have a direct result on seed count.
It might if too much fertilizer is used and the fruit splits prematurely.

I believe what really counts is pollination practices.
I was speaking to the "flying dutchman" (AKA Jake van Kooten) and he said that he had a 700 seed cound from one of his fruit this year.
I asked how many lobes the flower was and I believe he said that there were 5. Our conversation continued and he stated that he used a brush to distribute the pollen granules.

Timing, temperature, and pollen distribution are all key factors.

Maybe a little luck too for fast burrowing haploids.


It would be intersting to see if anyone could draw conclusions of fertilizer & seed cound #s.

10/24/2005 6:39:36 PM

Western NY

mostly genetic from what i've seen so far. the 895* hester lines have done well on seed counts for me. the 846 Calai lines have had decent counts, but a lot of hollow seeds.

10/24/2005 6:46:36 PM

canal winchester ohio

The fertilizing that I was thinking might be directly linked would be the spraying of the actual fruit with the Vigor-cal/ vigor-cal phos. The idea of spraying the fruit is to thicken the walls & help finish the pumpkin out, but I'm just wondering if this in anyway helps to prevent as many immature seeds. I'm just throwing it out to see if anything sticks...............Paul

10/24/2005 7:17:04 PM

Montoursville, PA

My thinking would be that the whole nuturing program just yeilds stronger plant and fruit no matter the size as long as the maturing days are there.

Even my wimpy 710 harvested way early provided seed that germinated and grew nice off spring. When I say wimpy I mean small and thin. Off the record they were ugly seed.

10/24/2005 7:46:41 PM

[email protected]

I took 780 seeds out of a 281 lb pumpkin last year. None have failed to germinate so far. Nothing fancy for fertilizers either.

10/24/2005 10:09:49 PM

Netherlands

Fertilizers have nothing to do with seed count. The number of seeds is totally genetic and the number is set at pollination.

If fertilization had anything to do with it and produced new seeds during the pumpkin's life, you would see little baby seeds and adult seeds in one and the same pumpkin. We do see underdeveloped seeds but they are of the same age.

10/25/2005 2:32:20 AM

Roselle, IL [email protected]

I have had lower seed counts the last couple of years and I have used the Agro-k program. I think the program had nothing to do with it. I think the hot days we have had during pollinating caused a lower seed count. You probably had Ideal temps during and after pollinating

10/25/2005 1:45:00 PM

[email protected]

I believe George just nailed it. Our hot summer here in CT had a similar effect for many growers.

10/25/2005 4:05:36 PM

canal winchester ohio

Thanks for the responses & I can see the points your making. And Brad I do understand your point about seed count being set at pollination, but my question wasn't based around creating more seeds just filling out what's there.
For example if a pumpkin has 700 predetermined seeds at pollination, I was just wondering if anything could be done to get most of them to mature out. Instead of getting to the fall & having 500 mature & 200 immature.
It's finally slowing down at my place & I have time to ponder useless thoughts :)

10/25/2005 9:12:21 PM

[email protected]

The idea of working with Parthenocarpic AGs has always intrigued me. Look at the 1131 Checkon & all of the other 935 Lloyd progeny as a for instance. Fewer seeds often mean higher weights.

10/25/2005 10:31:37 PM