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New York

I'm new to growing giant pumpkins and would like some recommendations on seeds to grow for the 2019 season from 2017 seed stock or older. This will be a project for my five year old nephew and I. He's been helping me with my vegetable garden since he started walking. A year ago he saw a giant pumpkin at a store and won't stop begging me to grow one, thus here I am wondering which seeds to buy!

We will be growing outdoors in zone 6a. The seeds will be started indoors under HPS/flouros in April. I have a 45'×45' plot that needs to get tested and amended for 2019.

I'm looking for four seeds from separate lineage, 1,800lb+ parents, consistent shape/structure/color, and disease resistence are more important for us than world record size. The 45'x45' plot will hold two plants and I will be working on another 40'x'40' for another two. I purchased 1767 Wallace seeds but received a 2015 1975 Wallace seed instead! (I'm not complaining!) Since 2019 will be our first year growing giants we will keep our expectations low and focus on learning and improving. I need four more seeds. Which ones should I look at and why?

7/18/2018 2:32:23 PM

Syracuse, NY

i recently had a rainstorm (yes, RainStorm) and my 1585 Werner was ALREADY going nuts with growth and available females..then the rain fueled 3 unexpected, open pollinations and the whole plant is about ready to make me a afraid of it---i have to prune and bury vines on it tomorrow! either way, i really like this plant and it HAS produced 2 over 2K and one 1900-plusser, so...

highlight, right-click on the following link and select 'go to' and you'll see the results of the 1585 Werner. then go to 'home' and click around a lot; me explaining the navigation would put you to sleep, lol:

http://tools.pumpkinfanatic.com/FruitProgeny.php?FruitName=1585.5%20Werner%202014

happy for your 1975---always wanted one---sounds like a good year---

PS---you do NOT have to BUY all of your pumpkin seeds for your starting years; i am having very good results with my own seeds, created FROM seeds i bought at one time.
however, you can start a seed collection from your bought seeds if you do what are called CONTROLLED pollinations; i'm just sayin' that there'll be lots of growers, including me, that will gladly offer you their seeds for free (maybe for a bubble pack envelope and a nice 'Thank You'), IF you don't WANT to spend hundreds on your first 4 or 5 seeds. good luck in your efforts! By your way of typing, yes, you are gonna be serious! Hey, New Yorker! eg

7/18/2018 10:13:21 PM

Grittyville, WA

If you want bothe parent pumpkins to be 1800+ that really narrows it down. Try a Haist or Wolf seed I think Andy has a big one that had some orange in it.

7/19/2018 10:12:58 AM

New York

Pumpkinpal2 I know the rainstorm you speak of! It hit my garden hard. I'm not too far from Syracuse, I'm on the edge of lake Ontario near Rochester! That wind from that storm almost toppled my sunflower, and the moisture helped start some powdery on my Howdens and summer squash, but we really needed the water.

I took a look at the genetics for the 1585.5 Werner and it definitely can grow big ones! I was planning on doing some controlled pollination, not x self and starting a seed line/collection. If everything goes well with the 1975 then it will be part of breeding program. I would never turn down free seeds! I'd be happy to send you some bubble wrap envelopes, a thank you and some hopefully I'll send you some seeds back next season! It's hard spending money on a seed that may or may not germinate. Just let me know what I need to do :D

Glenomkins, you got me looking at the 1789 Haist and the 1971.5 wolf as a possibility, whom should I contact about these two seeds? I don't need the parents to be 1800+ but I would like a few of the already grown offspring to be in that class.

Damn this reply took forever, I can hear my garden calling for me!

7/19/2018 12:46:18 PM

Western NY

No problem on seeds, we'll take care of you this winter.

Work on building the soil. Still time for a cover crop of buckwheat before putting in winter rye to be ready for next year.

7/19/2018 1:01:47 PM

New York

Andy W. Thanks for the tip was looking at a cover crop, already have 5lb of buckwheat seed for food plots, score! I've heard to use Western Labs for soil testing? I'll be adding horse manure/compost for organics, tilling til loose and mixed and plant buckwheat. Then I'll send out a soil sample, amend however necessary. Then wait for spring...

7/19/2018 2:28:16 PM

New York

My email is themadhatter196@gmail.com to contact me. Thanks!

7/19/2018 2:29:18 PM