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Location

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Date Posted

Nova Scotia

What's a "DILL RING"? You mean a sag line internal fracture etc.? LOL

8/26/2025 5:31:51 PM

valtierra/spain

A dill ring is also referred to as a "Sag Line". Oddly, this condition is named after Howard Dill, who developed the Atlantic Giant pumpkin variety. One would think that a pumpkin fruit problem wouldn't name a plant problem after one of the founding fathers of the great hobby of giant pumpkin growing. :)) I'm not sure if it's a good answer. We must create genetics without DILL RING, otherwise we will be doing it wrong in the future. Growing a line that we know gives dill ring, to make a large pumpkin, seems perfect to me. But following that line is not so good.

8/27/2025 7:15:18 AM

Nova Scotia

Hahaha thanks and yes I know the grower from here way back in the late 1980s who first coined the "DILL RING" for some unknown reason and it sure took hold after all these years. And agree it would be awesome to eliminate this trait however I believe growing methods/weather have some part to play in it. Such as sudden big growth spurts. Best of luck! Thankfully he did not use the "DILL" name towards BES!

8/27/2025 8:26:05 AM

Leerdam, The Netherlands

Hi Ruben, was the polinator this year not good? (does it have a sag line?)

8/27/2025 8:52:29 AM

valtierra/spain

It's very good, Iwan, the 2020 paton, that pumpkin has no defects, and the plant is fantastic. but I would like to try more genetics for next year.
Howard :) If you know him better than I do.

8/27/2025 5:35:46 PM

Nova Scotia

Lol Ruben that grower was one of the top growers heavy hitters many years ago, grew his personal best over 1,200 lbs. which was massive at the time from a direct "DILL" seed! And no "DILL RING" by the way. However he like most of us have experienced specimens with that sag line unfortunately. Some luckily made it to the scales, some did not of course.

8/28/2025 8:53:29 AM