RE: Which are SPLITTERS?
I would agree that the cause of an individual pumpkin splitting at any one
given time are primarily environmental. That said, there do exist lines of
seed that have a reputation for splitting. Given that I have room only for
a couple of plants, I would rather choose a seed line that doesn't have that
reputation. I certainly don't believe that the lack of a splitting
reputation will render my pumpkin immune to a split. However, given that
genetics are the primary determinants of fruit structure, I think that it is
a very valid concept to consider that certain seed lines are probably
susceptible to splitting than others due to their genetically determined
fruit structure.
As a sideline, I'm not trying to be controversial. I'm just interested in
whether any growers on the list feel that they have reason to be biased
against any particular seed because they perceive it to have a reputation
for splitting. I do not personally have a long enough experience with a
large enough variety of lines of seeds to make this determination based
solely on personal experience. Maybe I'm just asking for "hearsay" but it
seems at least a good starting point for discussion, and perhaps marginally
more useful than guessing :-)
Chris Wilbers
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Springfield, MO (Greene Co.) / Zone 6
Growing pumpkins since 1996
Personal best so far: 481 lbs. (1998)
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n*@sofnet.com
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pumpkins@mallorn.com [o*@mallorn.com]On
Behalf Of COMPUTRESE@aol.com
Sent: Monday, April 03, 2000 10:19 AM
To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
Subject: Re: Which are SPLITTERS?
In a message dated 04/03/2000 12:41:58 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
nevus@sofnet.com writes:
<< As I am trying to make my final seed selections for this year, I keep
hearing different folks mention that certain seeds have the reputation of
being "splitters" -- that is producing fruit that don't make it to weighoff
due to splitting/cracking. This sort of statistic would be under-reported
on the AGGC database since it is based primarily on pumpkins that do make
it
to weigh-off.
Perhaps those of you who have studied this issue or who have years of
experience could share with us your top ten list of seeds you consider to
be
"splitters." Is this reputation so bad that you avoid the seed, or just be
aware you are taking a risk?
>>
I'm not sure that the genetic background of a seed is responsible for fruit
cracks or splitting. I tend to think other outside influences are equally
responsible, if not more so.
For instance, pushing growth with too much fertilizer, over watering,
weather
factors or soil/nutrient issues also contribute to fruit split.
I don't think that posting a list of seeds whose resulting plants have
produced fruits with splits and cracks (including stem splits that
disqualify
the fruit as well) is as important as trying to identify what causes the
problem and opening discussion on ways to avoid it.
Barb Kincaid
Zone 9
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