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central Missouri

Here are the seeds and crosses I'm planning for this year.

953 Langevin 2002: 869.5 Calai 2000 x 885 Hampton 2001
I plan to self this one.
562 Crosby 2002: 673 Kilbert 2001 x 689 Hester 2001
This one will also be selfed.
535 Reimiller 2004: 795 Rea 2003 x 1260.4 Weir 2001
I also plan to self this one.
885 Hampton 2001: 935 Lloyd 1997 x 859 Mombert 1999
To be pollinated by the 953 Langevin.
798.5 Bhaskaran 2004: 808 Beachy 2003 x self (869.5 remake)
Also pollinated by the 953 Langevin.
764 Wilbers 2004: 641.3 Wilbers 2003 x 801.5 Stelts 1997
This is another 869.5 remake that I plan
to pollinate with the 535 Reimiller 2004
I plan to start the seeds this weekend and have them in the ground about May 8th. I'll be filing, soaking in 3% H2O2 for 4 hours, and planting in 1 gallon pots at 85 degrees.
Does what I'm doing here seem to make any sense? I've second guessed myself so many times I don't know if I'm still doing the right thing.

4/27/2005 2:48:58 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Don't stress out now on the crosses that you planning.

Mother nature can & will throw you a curve here and there.
What happens when you don't have any 953 male flowers show up on polination day?

This has happened to many growers before.

I'd just think about getting those seeds started & where they are going to be placed.
BTW you starting method sounds good, but did you practice this technique yet?

4/27/2005 8:10:29 PM

central Missouri

I've got a test seed in a pot right now, hasn't broken the surface yet after 2 days. NO MALE FLOWERS ON THE 953?!?! Perish the thought! If this happens I may have to try and talk Mike Frantz pumpkin model into visiting the patch. I have to admit I hadn't thought of the possibility of no male flowers, but now that you mention it I do remember reading of that happening in other growers diaries. One of the worst experiences I've come across so far is gt1's 2003 diary. I'm glad Gordon had such a good year in 2004, he deserved it. I have another patch tilled for the kids to grow some of Mike Frantz' seeds, some of his 310's and 255's. One of these will now be replaced with a 932.6 Willemse 2003 (953 Langevin x self).

4/28/2005 2:16:19 AM