RE: My Wumpkin?
Toby,
I agree with Gus Smithhisler's comments on your situation.
All I can add is....... if you are interested in growing Atlantic Giant
pumpkins, don't miss the Weigh-Off which is very near you this weekend.
It is at the Elk Grove Regional Park - 9950 Elk Grove-Florin Rd. in Elk Grove.
The Weigh-Off is Saturday.
Also on Sunday at the same location from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. they
have a "Gab With The Growers" which is a question and answer event.
Some of the most knowledgeable giant pumpkin growers in California will
be there to answer your questions.
George Webster
Napa, CA
-----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
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message text UNSUBSCRIBE PUMPKINS-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pumpkins@hort.net [o*@hort.net]On Behalf
Of Smithhisler, Paul
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2003 4:42 AM
To: 'pumpkins@hort.net'
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
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