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Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Used to be that 1500 looked elusively far away. We are still waiting for many sites to upload their results but we already know of at least six over 1500 & two over 1600.

Are we really getting that much better at growing?

Are the genetics really that much improved?

Or was the weather the cause?

Something very special happened this year. If this is global warming then bring it on. I spent LESS money cooling the house but our state record got hammered none the less.

What opinions have we?

10/6/2007 9:34:32 PM

New Hampshire

yes
yes
yes

10/6/2007 9:41:44 PM

Deer Park, WI

Steve, the question you ask has me incredibly perplexed. Riding down to Nekoosa today, Chris S. and myself were pondering this very inquisition. My thoughts are that growing techniques and weather patterns have not changed that significantly over the last ten years. Yes, we may be investing more in soil health (compost teas, myco fungi, balanced micronutes, etc), and we may be in a weather pattern that better serves a plant's needs, but to add ~700 lbs to the WR over the course of a decade cannot simply be attributed to environmental factors.

Are our seed selection and breeding habits an accelerated form of evolution that has allowed for the enhanced genetic expression of the AG genome??? Maybe; my biotechological training offers no logical explanation as to how this is possible. I would love for Darwin and his contemporaries to take a stab at what is possibly one of the most incredible genetic anomalies in recent history. What other explanation could exist? I have a hard time believe Paula & Nathan Zehr's soil microbiology & chemistry could have been all that different than those lucky bastards (im a little bitter after losing my patch to pythium) who joined the 3/4 club this weekend. Someone please give me something to chew on............

10/6/2007 9:55:34 PM

ordinary,VA

ok my guess.
im going with the world got smaller theory.
and the sharing of information.

this website alone brings growers all over the world together to share top genetics and top growing techniques.

what other sport-hobby can you sit down at your computer and chat with world record holders.top growers who are willing to help you with the ins and outs of growing the bigone!


and the growers themselves.when the pumpkin fever gets into your blood all you can think about is how to grow a bigger,prettier pumpkin.

we think about it.
we dream it.
we plan it.
we live it.

so my guess better access to top genetic seeds.
and the knowledge that the top growers are willing to share.

10/6/2007 10:28:46 PM

Salem, OR

I've been meaning to post this exact question myself. I've been blown away this year, and was especially amazed to see huge pumpkins in the the Pacific Northwest where we had crummy weather this summer--a 1408.5, a 1400.0 and we haven't even seen the big ones sure to show up at Half Moon Bay. Truly amazing.

I think that we really are "that much better." Here's what I'm guessing are the top five factors contributing to larger pumpkins this year (in order!)
1. Myccorhizal fungi. Yep, I'm going out on a limb and ranking that #1. Endomyccorhizal fungi were used in greater quantities and by a much larger number of growers this year and it seems to make a/"the" difference. I'll be using more next year!
2. Better crosses in seeds. Pretty much every top seed is a cross involving the powerhorse ancestory of 845, 846, or 898, (many having all three). Growers also have the confidence to grow unknown (and their own, unproven) seeds, most of which include two or three of these ancestors.
3. More "food factory." Pumpkins are set farther out these days and some growers use the "spider" pruning method, greatly increasing the number of leaves feeding the pumpkin (not so much plant beyond the pumpkin)
4. Cooperation among growers. The big "secrets" are out now with top growers sharing information so that even "rookies" can compete with the "heavy hitters."
5. More organic material. 4" or more aged manure (sometimes fresh--I still haven't decided on that one) added in the fall can make even a new patch pretty competitive. More people seem to be using more manure

I'm sure that a lot of you will have completely different theories and disagree with my "top five," so let's hear it!

10/6/2007 10:38:57 PM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

I think Ed may have stated a big piece of the puzzle. Another factor may be an increasing number of growers doing what it takes to grow big.
It may be a combination of many factors:
...better genetics(or crosses)
...more growers
...better patch/plant management(maybe the plant sizes are reaching the optimimum range for many growers.....with be interesting to see patch sizes of all pumpkins grown over 1400 lbs.
...sharing of info.
I'm amazed at the number of huge pumpkins this year, as well. Should make for some interesting winter fodder. We'll have much cud to chew before next season.

10/6/2007 10:41:40 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

I think it's Karma...pap has said several times, somethin like this...bad people don't grow giant pkns...hope that is close!!! Therefore...good things happen to good people who do grow giant pkns!!!! Peace, Wayne

10/7/2007 3:59:45 AM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

I think Ron Wallace sharing everything he could with everyone who asked last year had a lot to do with it.

10/7/2007 10:23:37 AM

Aloha, Oregon

I think so to PA Punkin` Pharmer


Thanks!

Jordan

10/7/2007 10:42:32 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

The rapid & full disclosure of improved techniques...

That never used to happen did it? Folks would secret their gardening technique from their "competition" but guys like Wallace, Jutras, etc don't keep secrets. They instead keep long hours in the patch. So anyone who will commit themselves the same way can follow them right up to the top.

Yes...the internet (this site particularly) has changed everything.

Seeds, Soil, Sun & BigPumpkins.com forever.

10/7/2007 12:05:16 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

ahhh if the old record was 1502 and the new 1689 isn't that 187 lbs. :)

10/7/2007 5:04:39 PM

Litchfield N. H. 03052

You are both wrong, the old record was 1566, thats 123 lbs

10/8/2007 9:15:38 AM

Berlin,mi.(zuhlke2@hotmail.com)

lol. @ Bill. he has a good point.

10/8/2007 2:07:25 PM

Cornell, Wi

Yep I asked my wife why? Is it maybe global warming, but if this is a way to measure it were all in trouble, this big of a jump must mean its coming way too fast. I agree on mycho, This is my first real year growing and I by no means am a pro, the only thing I did that I can think of thats different than a few years ago is use mycho, Why was only 10 years ago a 800 lbs pumpkin hard to get. I mean here come all these new growers and with a little knowledge they can grow records. The only thing I can say is when joel holland or the dills or eaton were growing 10 years back they pushed to get 800 plus, now I grow 800 my first year and Ill tell ya its not from experience. The only thing I can credit my weights to is mycho and good seeds. I buried mycho at each leave node. I dont know, these good growers forgot more over 10 years ago than I will know in the next 10. I think calcium, mycho, and of course good/better seed crosses are to blame, on top of the fact that everyone has access to computers and everybody now shares their secrets, what took years to figure out, I can find in a matter of minutes. God bless online.

10/9/2007 6:33:15 PM