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Morris, Connecticut

I'm going to be growing a test patch of 20 plants next year in an attempt to test out some of my crosses and also look at the potential of some unproven seeds. There are way to many quality seeds out there that never get planted and I'm hoping my efforts are a step in the right direction. These plants won't get as much care as my 5 competition plants but they will be on water, pest, and fertilizer scheduals. Pruning, weeding, and training will be done if/when time permits.

I have ton's of potential seeds that I'm considering planting but also wanted to get some input from other growers. I'm specifically looking to plant seeds with a high potential of producing fruit with good shape, nice color and thick walls.

With that idea.... What unproven seeds do you guys think have the most potential and why? Which seeds would you grow if you had an extra spot or two in the garden? The more input you can provide the better.

thanks,

Adam

12/16/2003 9:28:45 PM

Choctaw, OK

700 emmons 2000. 815 checkon x 940 Mombert 98. Both parents had over or near 10% heavy and the 940 grew the 996 emmons that year. The 700 hasnt been tried more than once to my knowledge...heard it wouldnt set fruit. I have always been interested in trying it.
casey

12/16/2003 10:02:32 PM

colorado

922.5 Emmons, 1056 Dueck, 1064.5 Needham, 627.5 Hester....I think these would be fun for you to grow!

12/16/2003 10:06:03 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Adam...I did 17 plants at a seed patch this year, 38 total pumpkins. It looks good on paper, sounds good to talk about, *very* hard to do in actuality (if you have a job)
I commend your spirit and enthusiasm.

BTW...my 307# would be a good 'un...(709.5 McCallum X 951 Castellucci...19% heavy a month off the vine)

12/16/2003 10:08:26 PM

canal winchester ohio

Checkon 879 01 (Checkon 815    X Sibb)
Gibson 808.5 02 (Kuhn 712X Calai 846)
Kilbert 634.5 01 (stelts 801.5 X Calai 846)
Rose 585 01 ( corkum 616 X lyons 900.8)
That last one is for us squash fans :)

12/16/2003 10:17:48 PM

Wisconsin

Just out of curiosity, how can you do a adequate test of a seed with that many plants. The true test of a seed is growing it under proper conditions (proper soil prep, several yards of manure, watering, disease control, hand pollination, etc. etc.). Anything short of this and the seed won't reach its potential. I am not sure what this test will prove.

12/16/2003 11:14:47 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

Good shape, thick walls and deep orange colour: 795 Ceja 00 (723 x 801.5). It worked that way for Jean Louis Duchezeau in France.

12/17/2003 12:15:30 AM

Norton, MA

803.4 Davies 02. Plenty available on seedoutlet.com First year out grew a 766 885 752 699 (or 669) and unknown others. 766 Davies was in my opinion most beautiful fruit grown. Look at it in grower diaries then capecodsteve.

12/17/2003 6:16:37 AM

Morris, Connecticut

Thanks for the input, keep it coming... I'm really interested in looking at seeds that have never been planted before. The 803.4 Davies, 795 Ceja, 1064.5 Needham, 922.5 Emmons etc. have all been grown in the past to some extent.

Jim R- to answer your question, I think an adequate test of seeds can be done given that all of the plants will be grown under the same conditions and given the same treatment. Statistically speaking, this would be a sound scientific procedure. Sure the plants won't be given optimal conditions but, if all is held constant, superior genetic crosses should show their stuff regardless of the site conditions. It's a given that this plot won't produce world records, but if one plant produces a 700lber with this level of treatment it's a good indicator of potential.

Southern - thanks for the input. I realize what I'm getting into and think I can manage it. I'll have considerable help from my brother on this project. At the same time, if it doesn't work out, who cares. The only loss is a few seeds that would likely never be planted.

Adam

12/17/2003 7:19:18 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

Ya got a point there Adam about the loss. Good thing you have help, I did it solo. Good luck and keep me informed, I'd like to know others experiences because I one day may try to work out a mangeable test patch again...In the final analysis it was worth it, I got some nice crosses I always had been curious about, to prove out for a couple years.

12/17/2003 10:17:35 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

PS. I wasn't kidding about my darkhorse...709.5 McCallum X 951 Castellucci. That's a 1260 Weir x 2 lineage line, it was grown for the cross, not size.

12/17/2003 10:19:41 AM

New Hampshire

Hate to be self promoting ,but going to do it any way. My Ford723est is the 582 x 1186 Whittier. That equals out to 75%-582Hester and 25%-723Bobier. The 1082 Curry was a thick solid fruit crossed back to the 805Pukos that produces thick friut. The 723 was a nice orange the 1082 was a creamy-orange. Jim Ford

12/17/2003 10:34:32 AM

Webster, NY

Adam, how big is this test patch of yours? It must be hugh to be able to hold 20 plants.

12/17/2003 10:39:37 AM

colorado

Ok then, 829 Welty, 752 Blair, 590.5 Blair, any 2003 Neuville cross, 822 Hester, 481 Hester, 21 Beachy for starts? Thanks, Steve

12/17/2003 6:22:14 PM

Indiana

Adam,
I think my 21 would be a good test for those smaller genetics :-). I dont have very many, but 946.5 Geerts x 935 Lloyd for kicks?

Tom

12/17/2003 6:31:24 PM

25 plants.... must not be much to do up there in vermont

12/17/2003 7:26:44 PM

[email protected]

Burlington? Good fishing. But no time for that with 25 plants. Yikes!

Kyle's Darkhorse. LOL I like that cross. Perhaps it's only dark until it's ridden.

12/17/2003 8:32:28 PM

Morris, Connecticut

I'm actually going to be growing in Connecticut next year. I'll be moving south in January. Guess I'll have to change my "location" on this site.

My growing area is a 10 acre field that has been in agriculture for more than 50 years. I'm planning to rotate the patch annually around the field. The initial patch will provide about 600sq.ft. for each of the plants. Total area is around a half acre.

Adam

12/17/2003 11:30:59 PM

[email protected]

Adam, Where in CT? It gets warm here. State record = 840lbs. -Steve

12/18/2003 5:50:46 AM