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Midway, UT

Trying to do some last minute decisions on what seed to plant in the next week or two? Jump on www.pumpkinlink.com. It is the largest FREE database of pumpkin seed genetics available with pumpkins from 80 lbs to 1689 lbs and their genetic crosses. Have a couple of seeds and you can't decide which one to plant? Look at what progeny those seeds have produced on www.pumpkinlink.com to help you decide!

Now a word to the wise. Seeds from higher weight pumpkins may seem interesting but doesn't necessarily guarantee giant progeny. It is the genetics in a seed that count and not the weight of the pumpkin that the seed came from. Take the 227 Leland (723 Bobier x 1370 Rose). Thad Starr asked a grower if he could have the seed because he liked the genetic cross. The grower told him not to plant that seed because it wasn't worth anything. Thad knew something about genetics and with a little luck and experience went on to grow a 1524 lb pumpkin from that seed. Do your research from the best information and go on to grow a big one!

4/16/2009 11:48:30 AM

Midway, UT

For those growers who aren't familiar with the funny numbers and names related to pumpkin seeds this is how it all works:

The number before the name is the weight of the pumpkin that the seed came from. So for the world record pumpkin, 1689 Jutras, the 1689 represents a pumpkin that weighed 1689 pounds. The Jutras portion of the name is the name of the grower, in this case Joe Jutras. Now the genetic cross of the 1689 Jutras is 998.6 Pukos x 1225 Jutras. It is typically typed out as 1689 Jutras (998.6 Pukos x 1225 Jutras). What the seeds in the brackets represent are the crosses that made up the seed in the 1689 Jutras. In this case the female or the seed that the 1689 Jutras grew from came from the 998.6 Pukos. The male or the pollinator of the 1689 Jutras was the 1225 Jutras.

Now it is important to know that when you pollinate the female flower on your pumpkin plant the male genetics do not effect the genetics of the pumpkin. The genetics are only passed onto the seed. That is important to know when deciding what seed to plant because once you make a cross the genetics may change for the better or worse. Proven seeds are those seeds that have proven for "the better" where the progeny have shown to grow big.

Have fun doing your research on www.pumpkinlink.com and grow big!

4/16/2009 12:02:25 PM

Albert County, New Brunswick,CANADA

I am a first time grower of pumpkins but have a great nose for gardening with a plot that has been supplying vege's for our family over 40 years.Also I have been reading all the literature I can get a hold of.
I have room for one pumpkin plant plus I want to give it all the attention it needs. A grower from Ontario has kindly sent me some seeds(thank you Lonnie) and from those seeds, I was planning to plant- 475.5 Bourne (F -1689 Jutras , M - 1248 Ford ). Have I missed something with this choice?

4/16/2009 4:47:41 PM

Going Green

According to the link Arvadaboy (Jamie) is recommending the 1689 Jutras grew 10 major pumpkins in 2008 and 70% of them were over 1000 pounds, whereas the 1248.6 Ford had one know progeny (the 669 Payne) There will be many more people who will grow the 1248.6 Ford in the future and we will have a more accurate record of its ability to produce pumpkins over 1000 pounds. The combo of genetics is a crap shoot at this time. However, I think most would agree that the 1248.6 has good genetics in the 897.5 Davies x 664.5 Liggett. I think that you should plant the 475.5 Bourne and make it your own. Also you need to research what others have grown in your area and suceeded in the plant making weight gains each year. What I am trying to say is that certian seeds seem to be more successfull for area growers than others year after year.

4/16/2009 10:02:38 PM

Going Green

Jamie...that is an excellent site! Thank you!

4/16/2009 10:18:23 PM

Going Green

I did a little more research on the 1248.6 Ford and discovered a few seeds that were not listed as progeny on the web site....they are the 1357 GHAYE 1248.6 Ford x 1502 Wallace, the 1270 Marsh 1248.6 FORD x 1041 MCKIE, the 1161 REVIER 1248.6 Ford x 1207 Young, the 1042 ZUHLKE 1248.6 FORD x 1041 MCKIE, and the 851 Kochanny 1248.6 Ford x 1385 Jutras. The 1248.6 Ford is one heck of a good seed and the combonation 1689 Jutras x 1248.6 Ford may just be the seed to launch us into new heights or should I say weights! Grow em big!

4/16/2009 11:33:30 PM

Woburn, MA.

Pumpkin-eater it sounds like Lonnie hooked you up with some good seeds. Good Luck & growem big!

4/16/2009 11:33:36 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

m3...I think the 1248 Ford grew a 1400#er? I could be wrong, ? 1427 Knopp...maybe??? just a guess tho?
Jamie..."the better" is different cause folks are "different" some grow & cross for color!!! or shape? Prbly not tho!!! LOL Grow em BIG!!! Peace, Wayne

4/17/2009 1:48:18 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Sorry all...1427 Kopp 07...1248 Ford x 1175.5 Bowles...21% Heavy!!!!!!!!! At least that is what it says on my lil seed pkg!!!

4/17/2009 1:50:35 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

My line up has just changed!!!! LOL Peace, Wayne

4/17/2009 1:51:29 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Now...1248 or 1427??? Peace, Wayne ???
PS...does this make the 1175.5 a superior pollinator like the 1450?
PS...thanks Jamie!!!

4/17/2009 1:58:20 AM

Albert County, New Brunswick,CANADA

Thanks for the replies and vote of confidence. I was maybe expecting that I might be thought a little selfish by not spreading the genes around by self pollinating one plant. I think one plant will be a handfull enough and I have already made some sound preparations. I'm sure Lonnie will be happy as well with the thumbs up,but he probably already knows that.

4/17/2009 7:29:43 AM

Ontario

Thanks for posting the link to this great site Jamie....it is very helpful. I have a couple of seeds from 776 Kuhn 05... 1058 Houghton x 845 Bobier...but do not see that it has any progeny on this site. Any chance you know any more about this seed...

Cheers...

4/17/2009 9:05:19 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

I chewed through a lot of stuff and I picked the 475.5 Bourne for what I think it can do, it was in #3 slot in my original sprouting lineup. If you grow that seed, I don't think you will be disappointed, mine us up now and doing well for a sproutie trying to open the cot leaves. Crossing the 475 back to itself should be an good move!

4/17/2009 11:16:30 AM

Midway, UT

Although www.pumpkinlink.com has over 8,900 seeds on it there are still a lot of seeds that arean't available yet because I just don't know of them. If you know of seeds that need to be listed simply email them to me and include the source that the data. The next phase of the site will allow growers to add unlisted seeds themselves (which will automatically link up with any progeny). There will also be additional data included like year grown, dmg, est, etc. There is one new tool now where you can upload photos of your pumpkins for everyone to see your pride and joys so please go on and upload some pumpkin photos.

4/17/2009 7:50:35 PM