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Cincinnati,OH

I was looking at pumpkins that went heavy this year and someones name kept coming up.
1335 Daletas 05 +15.3 (695 Handy)
1183 Daletas 05 +19.0 (805 Pukos)
1150 Daletas 05 +12.9 (1180 Daletas)
1086 Daletas 05 +18.7 (1247 Handy)
1075 Daletas 05 +7.3 (898 Knauss)
1057 Daletas 05 +17.5 (723 Bobier)
1045 Daletas 05 +13.3 (1104 Hester)
What a year!

12/19/2005 8:38:06 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

He was using "heavy" genetics. That's quite impressive! I really like that 1150 cross(1180 X 898).

12/19/2005 10:21:49 PM

Ontario, Canada.

It appears as if Steve, has his technique and the soil working pretty darn good.

12/20/2005 7:43:42 AM

Western NY

from what i have seen, it is 95% genetic, and maybe 5% to do with the soil. but that extra 5% can be nice.

if all those pumpkins were grown in the same soil as the 1230 and 1016 were, i'd be more inclined to believe that he hit the jackpot with several seeds that were likely to go heavy anyway.

12/20/2005 8:21:59 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Steve, has had very thick walled fruit the last three years. Before 2001 most of his fruit were merely average to chart. This is a pretty consistant track record for the past three years. I was wondering if he modified any of his growing practices since then.

12/20/2005 8:39:22 AM

[email protected]

Are we sure Steve's tape didn't get left in the patch & shrank a little?

12/20/2005 10:52:35 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Maybe, he is growing a triploid hybrid.

12/20/2005 11:01:32 AM

Napa Valley, CA

I have heard that Steve gave his regular patch a rest in '05 and grew at a different site.

12/22/2005 1:36:49 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Joel Holland, is another grower whose progeny are very heavy to the 05 chart. I believe it is possibly more than genetics alone maybe causing this effect. Please take into consideration the findings from A & L this summer that indicate lower PH levels are required in organic soils.

http://www.al-labs-can.com/guides_soilanalysis.html

I wish we had soil tests for these sites that grow such monsters. The uptake of calcium is dependant on many things. These growers could have the mix very close to perfection. I'm very interested in the relationship of PH and heaviness in OM soils >10%. Even though it appears many of us believe we have adequate levels of Ca in such soils we may be deficient.

12/22/2005 9:16:28 AM

Sioux Falls, SD [email protected]

triploid hybrid??

12/22/2005 2:36:10 PM