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Clinton, Iowa

Ok I seldom post and I have been wanting to post something so I have some up with this.
If you have grown a seed that is not widely planted or has done pretty well for yourself and has not gotten the recognition that YOU feel it deserves. HERE is the place to make it's case for it. List the seed...why you think it is a sleeper seed....and anything else about it you think others might find intersting
That said I am stating a case for the 2003 1030 Armstrong seed . 845 Bobier X 500 Est Carlson(846 Calai selfed)
We have grown it 2 years ..both times it went over 1000#. 1016# in 2004 and this year 1073#....both years the fruit had it's share of limiting factors and Marc and I are sure we can go alot bigger with this seed....seems to be bullet proof. We are growing it again in 2007. The plant had some major rot issues and the thing still went to 1073 this year...That still amazes MArc and Me...that is why we are doing it again in 2007
DAN

11/8/2006 9:54:45 PM

Good idea for a post Dan,,I saw that fruit of yours and heard the storey,,that is an amazing seed. I need to send Scott an email.

My experience this year with the 364 Webster'04 (1016 X 1036) would show that seed can produce big as well as orange, my 1046.6 was a great looking fruit,with the bonus that it went a little heavy. , a few others grew it this year as well. I know one that had 3 or 4 fruit on the same plant all were beauty's and ran 3-500lbs.
I have high hopes that my cross will keep the great color and the heavy,,1046.6 Bowles'06 (364 Webster'04 X 691 Duchezeau'04)

11/8/2006 11:42:39 PM

Commack, NY

i swear i didnt pay him :)

11/9/2006 8:49:10 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Great topic for a thread... Did anyone notice the 125 Wolf? Grown by two different growers and each went over 1000 with it. Of course, I don't know if that qualifies as sleeper or "hot".

11/9/2006 12:59:10 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

I am holding out hope for my 633.5 McWilliams 04. 804 Carlson X 700-900 Dill. First off, that 804 Carlson grew the 633.5, and a 449 and another 100+ all on the same vine. (I was just learning then). I planted one in 2005, and it was nearly killed and set way back by a mid-May frost. It didn't start setting female flowers until late July, when we got hit with a bunch of 90+ weather. Nothing took until into August, so I ended up letting it go wild. It grew 12 pumpkins that averaged over 200 pounds each. That makes well over 2400 pounds on one plant. I grew one in 2006, but the cucumber beetles wiped it out early. A few beginners have used it and grown some smaller pumpkins, but personal bests. I am going to give it one more shot in 2007.

11/9/2006 1:43:40 PM

Rhode Island

the problem with sleeper seeds is that so few people are willing to give them a try.we all see great seldom made crosses every year,but are reluctant to plant them.

if your a relative new grower with a sleeper possibility chances are you wont have the surface or experience to get full results. so the seed stock may eventually fall off the table

if your an experienced grower with limited space but knowledgeable with the right soil and weather conditions, most times unless it your own seed ,you are hesitant to take up the space in your patch.
so, the question really is. HOW DO I REALLY FIND OUT IF THAT SEED I THINK HAS BIG TIME POTENTIAL REALLY DOES?

answer---you get a group committed to that seed and with multiple plantings end up after that season with a good idea what you have.

take our wallace 1068 for instances . manty of our circle of friends committed to planting it because we agreed it had great potential ( especially after only two people planted it in 2004 and got a 919 and 1253 pounder)
weights from years 2005 and 2006 are now in the history books. including for now one world record.

get some buddies and gang up on that seed you most agree on.

pap

11/9/2006 2:42:41 PM

Antigonish,Nova Scotia,Canada

Thanks for the advice,Dick. What you say is certainly logical.
I think the MacKinnon 1082 might well be one of those special seeds that are worthy of a second look and more plantings. I'm only an "oldie/newbie" but I am certainly planning of growing it this season!.....belated congrats on a super season!
Bill

11/9/2006 3:23:29 PM

Cheyenne, Wyoming

Sleeper Seed - 344 Hoffman 05.

Produced Ron's 815 pound 2006 pumpkin that went 10.2% heavy. The cross is the 1432 Carlson/Peterson X 898 Knauss. The male 898 went 20% or 22% heavy in 05.

If the 344 can grow an 815 pounder in Wyoming, PAP and each of his buddies could grow 1400 pounders from it.

John

11/9/2006 5:20:48 PM

Montoursville, PA

Adding to the fun here.........the 763.6 Gipe is the Reiss 1233.5 X 978.6 Berard is not a sleeper. It is an uncut diamond. :)

A small group of friends and associates are going to bring the hammer down onto this uncut diamond and see what the sucker will do. I will grow it. My coat size is 44 tailored chubby.

11/9/2006 5:41:14 PM

Syracuse, NY

lol! good luck, doc!
i'd better grow a few of MY own seeds next year and see (more of) what happens. errr, wait, i've only got about
50 mason jars full. maybe when i get to 60 altogether, lol.

11/9/2006 6:01:35 PM

Rhode Island

personally, i really like our 1174 wallace from this past season.
many will have an opportunity to plant it. ill tell you why i like the potential.

1. mother was 1068 nuff said there ( 845x898 )proven

2. 1225 pollinator pappa has a great pedigree in its own background,grown from the 1016 daletas this jutras line also if you go back a couple years will find the 705 stelts alive and well.proven pollinator that also grew scott palmers new england record breaker 1,443 last year.

3. the 1174 taped a legitimate 1020 pounds and ended up 1174
thats 154 pounds over on a thousand pound fruit folks.

definately will be in the wallace patch in 2007

pap

11/9/2006 6:31:19 PM

Vermont

Pap,How can I get a hold of 1174,I had a 974 this year.It sounds like destiny to me,and I live in New England.I certainly could use 200 or so extra lbs!!!In the patch that is! Sleeper all the way.
Scoops

11/9/2006 7:50:53 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

pap, dick, tug, will the 1174 be in the sngpg seed pack? Peace, Wayne....hoping the seed count was high!!!

11/10/2006 12:35:16 AM

Napa Valley, CA

Dan (unkadan) Bowles mentioned the 364 Webster '04 (1016 Daletas x 1036 Companion)....(thanks for proving it Dan).
I have had a number of requests for this seed and I still have a few left for anyone serious about growing big, beautiful and orange in '07.

Here's the link for the pic on unkadan's diary.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=58556

Before the 364 was proven, I gave a bunch to a grower friend who wanted some "color" seeds. I think most of them were not planted. Hopefully I can get some of these back so they can be circulated.

11/10/2006 3:05:12 AM

Riverton, WY

Thanks for the plug on the 344 Hoffman 05 John. I would like to add that the 815 it grew was about the nicest shaped pumpkin I've seen with no sag rings and good consistent thickness throughout...right down to the blossom end. I will be planting the 344 again in 07. Below is a link to the first of 3 views of the 815 just before it's lifeline was severed.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=57531

11/10/2006 7:29:31 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

George,
whether or not to plant your 364 in a somewhat limited patch next year has been the focus of a serious mental battle for me. The results of the 364 have not gone unnoticed. I think I have 4 364's. I will send you back 2 along with my 06 seeds or I can give them to another grower direct. If I plant in 07, then I'll just have to go trading for them again next year. Thanks again for everything George. Interested persons feel free to email me. Jim

11/10/2006 12:50:57 PM

Ontario

I think every grower should try to grow their own seed to prove to themselves their own seeds potential. Many seeds become sleepers due to many reasons.I believe "The grass is greener on the other side of the fence mentality " prevails in many growers decision making. I tried my 767 Catapano '02 ( 723 Bobier X 846 Calai) and grew my first 1000 pounder and then grew 2 more. 1049.5, 1071, 1002.5. It was very satisfying. Everyone should grow their own to prove their potential.Sleeper seeds should come out of the closet and into the ground. Popular seeds are not the only ticket to big ones.

11/11/2006 4:58:10 AM

Lexington, Ky

Mike Helberg of Ohio set a great example this year of growing your own seed.

Jamie

11/11/2006 6:33:15 PM

Abbotsford BC

This is in response to Auger--I totally agree.

Having your own seed to play with is a great learning experience and a big advantage. For one, I learned that by squeezing and dissecting them you could get a better idea of what was inside. This is not something I could have understood had I not had my own seed to dissect and test in germination experiments. I am starting to learn that you can use physical characteristics and germination to help infer how well a seed will do--at least it is better than picking at random. Planting 10 seedlings and choosing the best is a definite advantage over the single seed scenario.

Will I plant my own seed next year? Definitely, I believe it has good potential, so why not.

11/14/2006 6:04:09 PM