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Amherst, WI

Last year I planted the 731 Stucker (801 x 801 sibbed). The plant was huge, over 1400 sq. ft. I crossed four different male pollinators for four different pumpkins on the plant. The problem is none of the seeds from these pumpkins look like they matured enough to plant. Very few, anyway. These pumpkins were anywhere from 58 - 87 days old, so I think they had enough time. If anyone could cast some light on this, I'd appreciate it.

12/14/2002 11:12:44 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Do a germination test on 5 seeds, that should give you a good idea of what will grow.

12/15/2002 2:32:50 AM

Amherst, WI

Most of the seed coats were empty, and I'm curious why that would be. Anyone?

12/17/2002 9:05:46 PM

Ga.

Randoo,,,my 455 was 53 days old,,,all seed were immies...Brians 455 was 60 days old,,think he said over 600 viable seed...Go Figure..Interest me to as I want to produce seed as well....

12/17/2002 9:33:02 PM

Amherst, WI

I wonder if any of the more experienced growers read the new growers forum. Now I don't know if I should ask this on a different board or not. Jeff and Shannon, thanks for at least replying.

12/18/2002 9:36:43 PM

Caceres, Spain

I bet they use to read everything!

12/19/2002 12:18:53 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Another dilemma Randoooo...did anyone get viable seeds from a 731 Stucker...then the next problem is if they did, did they come from the same ovary as your seed? or was the stucker 801 cross a sterile line genetic wise. Wish there was a book on this subject...does each seed need pollen to mature,whats the trigger for the pumpkin to grow if it's pollenated? 1 seed good...1 ovary hit...couldn't tell ya! I did see a post somewhere where someone was studying curcubit hybrids they must have a book!!! Chuck

12/19/2002 8:22:16 AM

Deer Park, WI

It is very hard to pinpoint an exact reason as to why seeds did not properly develop. There's really no concrete answer to the question, hence the avoidance by most to post a reply. Here's a couple possibilities- localized soil mineral deficiency. Maybe there was something missing in the soil around the plant that caused improper seed development. Not likely, but a rare possiblity. Another possibility0 since you used four different pollen sources, you can probably eliminate the pollinator as the problem. That leaves a genetic problem with the females on the 731. Check around for others who have grown the 731, and find out what they harvested from the seed cavities. I guess the thing you have to consider is that just like people, every pumpkin seed we grow is different. very different. We have not gotten to the point where we can predict what a fruit/plant/seed will look/act/perform like. Commercial hybrid seed producers have accomplished this thru many years of research on various crops. However, we do not have that luxury with AG's. In the mean time, the best we can do is guess.

Chuck- Yes, each ovary (seed) needs one grain of pollen to grow. Why does a pumpkin grow if the ovaries are pollenated? Because all those developing seeds in the pumpkin act like a giant vacuum to the plant, so they suck nutrients, water, carbohydrates into the fruit in an effort to mature the seeds. The whole purpose of a pumpkin is to produce viable seed for reproduction.

If you have a chance, check out my article on pollination/fertilization at my website. It covers a lot of what i went thru here.

12/19/2002 8:46:40 AM

Amherst, WI

That's interesting, apparently, the 731 seed that I planted was destined to not produce any mature seed no matter how it was pollinated.

12/19/2002 7:58:14 PM