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Atlanta, Georgia

I have no idea how everyone on the list will take this but what the heck...

Nic Welty and Don Langevin have expanded on pumpkin general knowlege in Don's new book and I'm particularly interested in pumpkin genetics and am starting to study Plant Breeding and Genetics full time at college. (I'll have much more time to prepare my patches and grow pumpkins this year!)

Since there are many genetic theories that I cant understand (yet) and maybe many of the other growers here don't understand wouldn't it be nice to be directed by people who have more understanding of genetics to help you in making the proper crosses with the great or not so great seeds you have?

I would like to see a group of specialists in the field making these kind of recommendations, have growers then try them and then have the information available to make further scientific evaluation of the data.

In Don's book they talk about many problems in making advances in pumpkin growing due to growers insisting on continuing to plant seeds that produce pumpkins with Dill rings and that if growers could get together to help
purify certain pumpkin lines that we could grow pumpkins larger in less time than if we just continue the way we are going.

I have a great seed lineup now and a test patch with room for an additional 66 pumpkins if I give them each a 20 x 20 foot patch. Boily has a huge patch in Australia that could help speed up making crosses if we somehow get together with him or others down there to team up with us and make giant pumpkins evolve at twice the current rate. The problem is now that I really don't know from my seeds yet which crosses might produce the best seeds.

Any ideas or comments on this idea?
I think it's time to try to get ourselves organized if possible.
Michel
[email protected]

11/19/2003 1:04:15 PM

Western Pa.

What? And take all the FUN out of it?

11/19/2003 1:30:03 PM

That State Up North

I have had a plan for this for a couple years now, just haven't had the time to begin such an undertaking. The future is unceartain, but stay tuned over the next couple months I may have time for such an undertaking. Without the correct genetics our pumpkins would be tiny, but with the proper genetics and attention everyone could grow a 1500 pounder.
The bigger the pumpkin, the more fun it is!

Nic Welty

11/19/2003 1:47:35 PM

Atlanta, Georgia

Not everyone has to agree with a systematic approach to pumpkin breeding but I don't think anyone needs to slam it either. Before Columbus sailed most people thought the earth was flat.

Any serious genetics discussion can now be carried out in the new topic on this board called
AG Genetics and Breeding.

11/19/2003 2:41:52 PM

Western Pa.

Lighten up Michel, I posted only in jest!

11/19/2003 3:55:22 PM