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Western NY

I've put some pics up of my 1407's guts. The plan was to have Pat Moser (grumpkins.com) carve it up. Sadly, this was one unique pumpkin because of more than just it's size alone. The thing was utterly impossible to do sculpture in because of it's flesh. I have been carving (sculpting)in the same type of style as Pat for about 5 years now, and I have never seen this before either. Every once in a while you will hit small pockets of fiberous stuff which is not more than a few inches square However, to have the whole pumpkin made of this stuff is unheard of.

I'm wondering if anyone else out there has encountered it. If you were to cut the standard triangle eyes and nose, you would never have noticed. the grain ran perpindicular to the flesh, meaning you would have to cut with the ribs, not into it to ever notice at all.

I first thought that this was why it went heavy to the chart. Not so, says Pat. he thinks this stuff is actually lighter than normal, and that the thickness is what put it over.

I'd have to blame it on the genetics. The 2 pumpkins I carved this year were beautiful to work with, very "buttery" flesh. It wasn't the fertilizer or other treatments, because every plant had almost the same conditions.

as a sidenote, the later pics show some fungal growth. That's because we actually opened it up (from the bottom) on Nov.2, and Pat just took those pics last week or so. probably not too decomposed for being open for that long.

12/1/2005 1:45:55 PM

Ohio

Andy, did you happen to find any seeds burried in the walls a few inches? Im not talking about your regular seeds hanging in the cavity ,What Im talking about is finding seeds burried a inch or two into the walls sometimes deeper In weird places of the pumpkin where you normally wouldnt find seeds inside a pumpkin. Hope Im expalaining this ok for you to understand,lol.

Reason Im asking is I found some seeds in my pumpkin very deep in the walls where you wouldnt normally find seeds.

12/1/2005 3:16:40 PM

Western NY

yep, i know what you mean. I did notice that one or two were lodged in the flesh pretty good, but not really more than an inch. amazingly enough, i didn't misss any seeds when i took them out from the bottom.

12/1/2005 8:40:44 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Andy, good seed count???...or follow the trend for this year with low numbers? Peace Wayne
ps where are photos? diary?

12/1/2005 10:15:45 PM

Western NY

here's the start of my pics in the diary:

http://bigpumpkins.com/displayphoto.asp?pid=4173&gid=-16717

there were less than 60 good seeds in it.

12/2/2005 8:23:55 AM

Selbyville, Delaware

Andy, what %heavy was the 1407?

12/2/2005 6:42:52 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Mr. W, there have been a lot of different theories floated this fall as to why the trend of low seed counts. Sure would like to hear your take on this trend. Peace, Wayne

12/3/2005 12:55:08 AM

Western NY

the 1407 was 16-17% over the new chart.

my take on the seed thing is the weather. there could be a lot of other individual factors, but that seems to be the only thing that ties everyone together.

12/3/2005 5:51:29 PM

Norton, MA

Did everyone with low seed counts use some type of calcium soak/wrap on the fruits? My 720.6 and 557 had 154 and 188 seeds and were soaked daily. My 311* and 351* (same plant, no care) had 600+ and 845 good seeds with no soaking. AleX Noel.

12/3/2005 7:15:42 PM

[email protected]

I've notice what Andy is describing on regular Pepo field pumpkins but never on a Maxima. Very interesting.

12/3/2005 8:47:08 PM