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Subject:  Old seed contest

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TruckinPunkin

Upper Strasburg, PA

There was definitely some interest in when I posted about it last month. How much should the buy-in be? I’m thinking maybe $20 so it’s not too high, but the pot would make the effort worthwhile.

There are a couple of old seed auction lots in some of the silent auctions right now and I have a ton of old seeds between 10-20 years old, some are remakes of great seeds of their time and some are “lost strains” like some 1026 Holland descendants for example. I’d be happy to share some old seeds with anyone who sends a bubble pack. One of the more interesting ones I can think of is the 759 Needham- 825 Shymanski x 780 Eaton

2/4/2019 2:31:18 AM

Little Ketchup

Grittyville, WA

I think the seeds should be 15+. Part of the challenge... Find a seed that will germinate. The main reason for going back that far though (as you said) it might get around the bottleneck that all the seeds after that are derived from just three or four lineages.

2/4/2019 3:34:13 AM

SmallTownUSA

Alex, IN

I would be interested in being a part of this!

2/4/2019 6:42:36 AM

matt-man

Rapid City, SD

i grow old seed every year.....or at least try...i would be in just to see how everyone else does with older seed

2/4/2019 3:58:10 PM

matt-man

Rapid City, SD

i grow old seed every year.....or at least try...i would be in just to see how everyone else does with older seed

2/4/2019 3:58:31 PM

agteacher

Princeville, IL

Im in

2/4/2019 8:03:14 PM

TruckinPunkin

Upper Strasburg, PA

I’m down for 15+ too. If anyone is interested and needs some seeds of that age, let me know.

2/5/2019 12:15:56 AM

North Shore Boyz

Mill Bay, British Columbia

I’m growing a 1421.5 Stelts anyways, so sounds good to me.

2/5/2019 1:22:57 AM

TruckinPunkin

Upper Strasburg, PA

Can we get a show of hands for who wants to grow 15+ and who wants to grow 10+?

2/5/2019 1:58:16 AM

agteacher

Princeville, IL

In favor of 15 plus. More of a challenge. Would this be a one seed only shot and if it doesn’t germinate you are out or can you start several and pick one that germinates. Wish I hadn’t given away my 898 Knauss seeds. That would have been a good one for the contest.

2/5/2019 8:48:02 AM

Little Ketchup

Grittyville, WA

Here's an idea: handicap the seeds based on the wr at the time. Whoever wins is the person who comes closest by percent to the world record at the time @ their seeds age. So North shore could enter but since his genetics are already proven for 1600 its not really fair to run that against 15+ seed. No 15+ seed has ever hit 1500+. A handicap based on the wr at the time would sort of incentivize the oldest seeds while still allowing the 'newer' old seeds to compete. With this approach even the 2032 Mathison 2013 could be an old seed if the grower was ok with an extra 25-30% handicap vs a 2003 seed. I think its more fun and more interesting the older they are but it might be fun for north shore to try to grow 1700 on the 1421.5 for example, while I try to grow 1500 on an old kuhn seed lol.

2/5/2019 9:53:39 AM

Little Ketchup

Grittyville, WA

Anyhow thats just an idea. Another idea would be a $15 buy in for 15+ $20 buy in for 20+ $10 buy in for 10+. $5 buy in for 5+. I dont want to figure it all out... just throwing ideas out. I will be lucky to grow anything at all this year so I am not sure I am in but it sounds fun.

2/5/2019 10:11:24 AM

pumpkinpal2

Syracuse, NY

everybody just try to grow the HEAVIEST pumpkin they can with whatever seed they have that through pictures of seed packets, seeds themselves and said sprouted seeds of 10 years-plus or 15 years-plus and every increment in-between and beyond, with (as i was gonna be nice about the 2009 1421.5 Stelts and not mention it (Glenn has been very nice to me in a few tight spots)) merely suggesting a handicap based on if a seed was just-close-enough to qualify by less than one year, it could be reverse-prorated and be deducted FROM slightly concerning the prize pool allotment, but only for seeds that are LESS than 10 years of age; interesting idea, though, Brandon, and i do hope either or both of ours get incorporated to some degree.
remember, drag racing started out as 'First one there WINS!' and that was it. now, there are points standings, reaction times, twenty other things, blah, blah, blah;
later---eg

2/5/2019 10:15:15 AM

Elk Grove Harvest Host

Elk Grove , California

The California Pumpkin Growers has an auction for "old" seeds running under "seed auction/raffle". But the only seed there that is 10+ is the 2007 WR 1566 Rodonis (1450 Wallace x 1231 Pukos).Check it out!

2/5/2019 10:55:33 AM

North Shore Boyz

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Thanks Eric, you are always a gentleman and so supportive, such great qualities.

I’m growing the 1421.5 anyways, so it is what it is.

TruckinPunkin, great idea, keep it simple, keep it fun!!

2/5/2019 11:31:32 AM

Little Ketchup

Grittyville, WA

Yes pumpkinpal has wisdom to share. For better or worse I have more ideas than wisdom. Untested ideas should be questioned, and they may not have value. I want to participate but no guarantee of that my pumpkin growing may end up to be minimal this year despite my current enthusiasm so I what I want is actually unimportant... Its up to you all. It will be a month or two before I figure out if I can participate.

2/5/2019 8:53:10 PM

Orangeneck (Team HAMMER)

Eastern Pennsylvania

If anyone sends me one of the following seeds I would be willing to enter the “contest”

1016
1230
772
846

2/6/2019 9:22:07 AM

pumpkinpal2

Syracuse, NY

Evidence that i am NOT a morning person, lol---so nice of y'all with your replies. I can go back to bed for a few more hours now knowing that there ARE some really nice people out there---mostly right HERE! I am doubting that I'll go from an average of 600 pounds since 2006 to a 2,000-pounder from ANY seed, but, I am intending to step outta my 5 randomly-sized patches and grow at least one plant on NEW soil with NO history of any pumpkins, and THAT change could make all the difference---from 2001-2004, it was EASY to get to 700+ pounds; I'm looking to bring back that enjoyment, simply by planting 50 feet to the left, (times 5) lol--eg

2/6/2019 10:27:02 AM

TruckinPunkin

Upper Strasburg, PA

I have a 1230 Daletas x 801 Black cross that I did back in 2006. I could send some of those

2/7/2019 7:13:14 AM

pumpkinpal2

Syracuse, NY

So, now I'm wondering about the criteria for what seeds are valid for entry into the running(?) - like, it seems to me that a for-this-competition seed should have a track record of having been grown by NUMEROUS growers years ago, given-up on and nearly forgotten about as a viable record-producer and then brought back again in an effort just such as this; by the way, TruckinPunkin, Thank You for taking this idea under your wing and making it thus far a reality - for once I opened my big mouth and something really GOOD may come of it! later----eg

2/7/2019 10:19:04 AM

pumpkinstoo?

I believe there is at least one 2003 seed with offspring over 1500 and 1600 pounds

2/7/2019 8:41:24 PM

Little Ketchup

Grittyville, WA

oh good point i was only looking considering the old data for the old seeds

2/7/2019 9:42:32 PM

Little Ketchup

Grittyville, WA

*looking/ considering

2/7/2019 9:43:51 PM

Gadberrys

Deer Park WA

I`m in with our 834* (895.5 Hester × Self) from 2013 if this is a go and I can get one to go....

2/7/2019 10:16:48 PM

TruckinPunkin

Upper Strasburg, PA

Yeah- watch Ron pull one last 1068 seed out of the freezer and take all of our money lol

2/8/2019 2:10:27 AM

big moon

Bethlehem CT

I bet the 1068 could go 2000 pounds, given the right situation.

2/8/2019 7:46:17 AM

pumpkinpal2

Syracuse, NY

Wow, Glenomkins, i really shot my mouth off at your idea about a 'complex' handicap based on the WR at the time of the seed's age---that is a really clever idea and i just must have had a rough night or was in a hurry to reply to what i SAW without absorbing what it SAID---there are a lot more details to running a competition of any kind than i could ever keep track of, and if i have any smarts at all, they are what have kept me being a COMPETITOR, if even that, lol---carry on--eg

2/9/2019 3:26:25 AM

Little Ketchup

Grittyville, WA

It’s not like I’ve never spoken my mind before, lol... no worries.

I just wanted to comment that I am excited to dig through my pile of seeds I’ve got some 07 08 and 09 seeds... if my 15 year seeds don’t sprout, I’ll be amongst those who will be considering growing a 10+ year seed.

Some guy with 2106 under his belt has an 845 Bobier. That would be cool to see. Worth it to me to lose $20 if I get to see what happens when a 2k grower uses an old seed. Gonna email you, truckin.

2/9/2019 5:05:15 AM

TruckinPunkin

Upper Strasburg, PA

That 845 Bobier better get planted. If it sprouts, it has a good shot at winning. I’m curious to know the original source of that seed though. There were an awful lot of those available through P&P many years ago that may have changed hands a lot.

This competition should be as open as possible due to the nature of old seeds having a lower germination rate. Not only that, but I have germinated old seeds that subsequently rotted before sprouting because they didn’t have quite enough juice left to break through. Honestly, I think it would be cooler to see someone take a chance on something more obscure.

Anyway... I started the more recent thread because this one was starting to go off on tangents and I wanted to re-focus. Shall we?

2/9/2019 7:35:54 AM

Gadberrys

Deer Park WA

I vote for 15 year old minimum requirement.

2/9/2019 12:23:17 PM

pumpkinpal2

Syracuse, NY

i'm just glad i started saving when i did! now, about money, on the other (empty) hand), lol---eg
PS---Tom, i think i've seen your name in my seed book a few times and i did have TWELVE 845s at one time, when they were $5 each! you may have been further traded one from one of my tradees, lol---eg

2/9/2019 4:20:18 PM

The Pumpkinguru

Cornelius, Oregon

Hey Gads...I still have the 895 Hester 00.... just sayin'...LOL Let me know what you guys come up with for rules and I might be in too.
-Brett

3/2/2019 7:31:26 PM

Total Posts: 32 Current Server Time: 3/28/2024 9:30:10 PM
 
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