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Whidbey Island

The fancy, proven seed has produced a vine that is not quite keeping up with the more commercial, unproven one. Both are from 1000 pounders. Would one go with the genetics or the vine size?

5/29/2006 10:53:35 PM

San Diego

always go with genetics, in this case, size doesn't matter:) We aren't growing salad, but pumpkins. Leaf size, vine size, etc aren't a predictor of pumpkin size.

5/29/2006 11:05:18 PM

Long Island,New York

A commercial unproved seed from a 1000lber is likely just as good as a non-commercial unproven 1000lber....if you want to select your plants for fruitsize by selecting by vegitative growth rates then pick the bigger plant by all means. Barring any obvious signs of an unhealthy plant I'd say if the plants are growing ok, look green enough considering your past weather, and show no outward signs of "problems" then its a toss-up and chose whichever one "calls" to you.

5/30/2006 8:16:27 AM

Jericho Vermont

Some of my "proven" plants in my patch are growing slower than some of my back up plants which are not from proven seed stock. There is quite a weight curve to proven seeds that are out there. A seed may have produced 6- 1000 pound pumpkins and also may have produce 50 pumpkins 700 pounds or less. (This is the crap shoot we all gamble with)That being said, I keep the proven seeds over the unproven on account of planned crosses that I wish to grow next season. As Duster has said the size of the leaves or plant don't always give you a sense of the potential genetic size of the pumpkin. Try to keep in perspective why you are growing these things and as Glenn said smetimes you just need to go with your instincts.

John

5/30/2006 12:20:44 PM

Whidbey Island

Thanks everyone. Tonight you'll hear the screams of, well, of one of them.

5/30/2006 9:06:31 PM