From

Location

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Date Posted

Grandfield Oklahoma

Just thought I would share information, this has some decent information on seeds

http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/horticulture/g503.htm

12/31/2005 2:39:34 PM

South Harrison , N.J.

Interesting, the minimum germination temperature is 60 degrees F and the most optimum temperature is 35 degrees higher @ 95 degrees F. Note that the maximum germination temperature is only 5 degrees away @ 100 degrees F. Not much room for error if shooting for optimum germination.

Also I think that the length of storage for seeds (pumpkins @ 4 years) is for optimum germination for just dropping the seeds in the ground and letting Mother Nature do her thing. I think that the germination techniques that most of the growers use at this site could work on seeds that have be stored for many more years than their chart notes.

Just my thoughts. "What is the oldest AG seed that anyone has grown in resent years?"

Willis

12/31/2005 5:05:21 PM

[email protected]

I don't care for the idea of drying seeds outfoors as the author recommends. The darn Squirrels jump into the buckets within minutes while I'm cleaning seeds.

12/31/2005 5:06:33 PM

[email protected]

Willis,

I have seeds in storage from 1976 that I want to try but haven't yet.

12/31/2005 5:07:32 PM

Norton, MA

AG's from then? AleX Noel.

12/31/2005 5:28:18 PM

Pumpkintown, SC

Steve,

Are those the seeds that you were talking about taking to some university for germination help? Was that even you? I think? Always wondered what happened to those oldies, BF

12/31/2005 6:40:47 PM

[email protected]

These seeds do predate Howard's patent by a few years. They are from the former World record 451 Ford '76. Yes Brian these are the same seeds. My associate didn't have time this year & rather than fudge the effort myself I put them into proper storage. There are only 4 seeds & 1 is light. So when the effort is made, it has to be done right in a sterile lab. I don't have the sanitary facilities here to prevent disaster.

1/1/2006 1:11:58 AM

Minnesota([email protected])

Steve,
Are you planning on selfing the seeds, and then crossing with more modern A.G's?

1/1/2006 9:48:53 AM

South Harrison , N.J.

Steve,
That sounds like a great science project. It would be interesting to see what you could get from a 30 year old see with modern growing techniques. Maybe a growers club could help out with this project. Best of luck.

1/1/2006 10:57:18 AM

Minnesota([email protected])

Expanding on thepumpkinguy's post....I wonder if some of the older seeds would do better under current growing techniques. For instance, would the 567.5 Mombert produce a good nunber of 1000 lb.+ if grown in 2006 and beyond, or do you think the seeds of today are significantly superior?

1/1/2006 12:46:43 PM

[email protected]

Our club is blessed with a professional plant propagator. He just happens to work very long hours in the spring as all of us green industry folks do.

I will self the 451 or sib if we ever get one going.

Prior to the Dill's Atlantic Giant patent most giant pumpkins were labeled by region or grower if at all.

Examples:

Coatsville area
Circleville area
Gancarz seeds
Warnock's Wonder was a trade name like Dill's
Mammoth Giant was another trade name

Since 1976 predates a lot of the Gancarz work I don't know how to classify these as anything but unique.

1/1/2006 8:46:00 PM

Northern California

I'm new to this site :)I am planning on starting a pumpkin patch at my sons school this year. I have seeds I saved from our own yard. What do I need to know about the soil, planting with kids, anything is helpful! There seems to be a few gophers around, how bad is that?!?

1/26/2006 3:53:02 PM