RE: My Wumpkin?
As several have already said...you should definitely take your fruit to the
weigh-off and be a participant. I've been to a weigh-off where the smallest
Atlantic Giant was just over 100#. Its not about who wins, its about having
fun and learning to do better next year. Your biggest competition should
only be with yourself from year to year.
About the squash thing...ALL Atlantic Giants are technically squash! Some
weigh-offs (probably most at this point) differentiate based on color. This
is an item of contention in some circles and something that will probably
never be fully resolved. I personally like to grow both pumpkins (orange)
and squash (green), as well as any other good color genetics I can get my
hand on (variations such as red, blue and white). Some growers experience
the dreaded 'tweeners known as squmpkins. These really make for big
arguments at weigh-offs that differentiate between the two classes,
especially if it is a big one!
Have fun at the weigh-off! Learn as much as you can. I know you will be
among some top growers there in Elk Grove!
-Gus
-----Original Message-----
From: Toby Atencio [m*@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2003 1:27 AM
To: pumpkin list
Subject: RE: My Wumpkin?
Ok, so my pumpkimelon/wumpkin is actually a squash with fancy shmancy
stripes. Thank you, Gus, for pointing out that the pumpkimelon effect
wouldn't show up until the seeds of this fruit produced fruit of their own.
I suspected something like that, but I am a rookie after all...and thank you
also for pointing out that sometimes pumpkins produce squash seeds. I was
not aware of that at all! You have renewed my faith in Mr. Dill!
Thank you also to others who emailed me directly and on the list. I have
only been on the list for about 1 1/2 weeks and I feel like I'm getting a
better education here than if I took a post-graduate course in pumpkinology.
And I WILL be at the weigh-off at Elk Grove this weekend!
So the estimated weight of my squash is 210-221#. Is that good for a
squash? would I be wasting time if I tried entering it in a weigh-off? Now
that I know its a squash i'm disoriented. I haven't read up on squashes at
all, so I don't know what a biggie is yet...
Toby
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2003 07:42:05 -0400
From: "Smithhisler, Paul" <Paul.Smithhisler@dnr.state.oh.us>
Subject: RE: My Wumpkin?
My take on your pumpkimelon...
First off, the fruit does not generate the traits of its pollinator
until
the seeds are grown. Therefore, if your watermelon and pumpkin did
fornicate, it would only show up in the kids. Right now, 'Mom' is just
getting bigger since she is pregnant.
Of course, that could only happen if watermelon and pumpkin were the
same
genus and species, which they are not. The giants, so far to my
knowledge,
can only cross-pollinate with cucurbitae maxima.
This leads us to your fruit. Be careful calling it a freak of nature
as us
squash growers tend to be touchy (LOL...leave her alone Glenn). Many
of the
Atlantic Giant seed lines have squash genes that can show up rather
randomly. I don't think Howard Dill sent you a squash seed on purpose.
The
genetics he chose just happened to produce the squash this time out.
You
might grow ten more of the seeds from the same fruit (that he sent you)
and
get pumpkins each time.
Just enjoy having the biggest squash in your neighborhood. They can
make
for the most unique jack-o-lanterns at Halloween!
- -Gus Smithhisler
Columbus, Ohio
- -----Original Message-----
From: Toby Atencio [m*@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2003 2:51 AM
To: pumpkin list
Subject: My Wumpkin?
Hi folks
I am living in the Sacramento area of California and new to pumpkin
growing.
This year I bought some seeds from Howard Dill and planted them
following
most of the guidelines I found on the internet for growing "big
hummers."
When it came to pollinating, though, I simply let the bees do their
business. I figured that there weren't any neighbors for about a mile
around that planted pumpkins this year, so mine would probably self
pollinate. So now I have to ask the question to all the non-rookies
out
there...
...is it possible for my pumpkin to have cross pollinated with my
watermelon
growing only 15 feet away? My "pumpkin" has to be over 100 pounds, but
its
dark green with light green stripes, just like a watermelon! We have
been
calling it the "wumpkin."
I actually like my plant; its quite novel! I just have to know if my
wumpkin
is really 1. a pumpkimelon, 2. a strange squash (meaning Mr. Dill blew
it
when he sent me seeds from a 900+# pumpkin), or 3. a major freak of
nature.
Does anybody know what is growing in my garden??
Toby
If you email me directly, I can "invite" you to view a couple pictures
of my
plant that I posted on ofoto.com. Email me at mr-sprout@sbcglobal.net
(ofoto requires that you invite people using individual email
addresses)
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