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Germany

In 2012 Ron Wallace grew the 2009 and the 1872, which then were the world´s heaviest pumpkins. This year we have the 2032 Mathison and the 1874.5 Mathison on top of the GPC list, which means the same feature of the same grower having grown the two heaviest (official) pumpkins of the season and those two pumpkins beating the weights of the previous two heaviest. In addition to the fact that this new pattern of world records makes it very very very hard for others to compete, I think it clearly shows that success depends on so many variables such as soil prep etc. (i.e., on the grower) and local climate, whereas only a limited contribution comes from the genetics of the seed. Why? Because the first parameters directly relate to the same grower and the same patch, whereas it seems highly unlikely the the same grower in the same year picks the best seeds out of the seeds available. It seems highly unlikely that Ron Wallace had the best 1725 Harp seed and the best 1789 Freak seed started in 2012, and that Tim Mathison had the best 2009 Wallace seed and the best 1554 Mathison seed started in 2013. (...leaving Beni Meiers split pumpkin out of the equation, which would then appear to having been grown off the best 2009 Wallace seed so far.)
Similar features can be found in the GPC list with names of other growers, who achieved great pumpkin weights with a diversity of seeds (Daletas, Fulk), thus underlining the importance of the patch consitions.

Just my thoughts. What´s your opinion?

10/14/2013 2:54:32 AM

Netherlands

This is not a first. I believe Joe Jutras grew a WR pumpkin and WR LG in the same year and Christy Harp a WR pumpkin and an almost WR tomato in the same year.

It is more climate related than anything else, given that everything else is in optimal shape. The same growers a year later did not produce the same results, while I'm sure their soil and seeds were just as good.

It is for this reason that certain areas will never be able to compete at top level and due to climate fluctuations, one region will not constantly do better than the rest.

It is interesting to hear Eastern growers complain about poor growing conditions this year, while their poor conditions would be the best conditions we have ever had in The Netherlands.

10/14/2013 3:45:26 AM

Muddy Waters

Soil,weather,seed! You need all three.Ron & Pap had it, Tim had it.Whos next??? I think a lot of us miss getting the soil right.Then if the weather is wrong,your done.Even with the silver bullet seed.Your done.I think the soil/nutrients is most important aspect here.Then cross your fingers on the weather.Then double cross your fingers for that silver bullet seed.Im sure there is several silver bullets in every kin.So 2014 watch out.Here comes the SUN!!!!Good Luck to AWL!!!

10/14/2013 7:22:55 AM

Lodi, California

Tim hasent ever taken a soil or tissue test in his life,,,,, according to the local growers. I do believe that soil is the key thing in growing a world class pumpkin,,,, which is why i'm kind of confused as to how Tim has had such a good year without a single soil test.

P.S. Tim still has another going to HMB!

10/14/2013 9:07:42 AM

Wi

1810 Stevens (#1)
1675 Hopkins (#3) in 2010
Grown 2.5 miles apart.

There is no question weather is what makes world records.

10/14/2013 10:46:06 AM

Georgia

Yep the Climate your growing in makes the diffrence. This can be shown by state and country records.

10/14/2013 1:32:08 PM

Midway, UT

Agreed with everyone. Weather and soil are key. But I'm not sure Ron gets over the one ton mark last year without the genetics in the 1725. The results from the 2009, 1623 and 220 this year show that seed has a "grow" gene in it that was above average. Those seeds were grown by different growers in different climates. I've seen what a clone of Ron's 1725 could do this year in Colorado and it wasn't an average plant. This year I grew by far my biggest pumpkin ever which split on my in August and my smallest pumpkin ever. Same patch, same fertilizers, same watering, same weather but the one pumpkin wanted to grow and the other one never could get going.

10/14/2013 1:35:42 PM

Colorado

Everything has to fall in to place to grow a W. record. The factor that is up to luck is the weather.Look at eastern u.s. this year. The weather was not prime this year and the weights were off.Napa must of had a great last three months.

10/14/2013 3:06:53 PM

Rhode Island

in my opinion it takes a combination of things to grow a world record. always was and always will be.

seed --- check -you need the genetics to start with
soil --- check -it needs to be right and full of power
skill --- check -need to know what to do- when to do it
sun --- check -great weather or your just average

it sounds simple but ask any of our hobbies top growers and they will tell you that even with the best of everything your sometimes lucky to get a 50% success rate.

pap

10/14/2013 4:29:37 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

These are excellent observations. When a grower has one WR, they usually have several monsters. I can think of examples of this all the way back to Geneva Emmons, and old-timers can probably go back further.

10/16/2013 9:25:36 PM