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Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Not looking for the best looking pumpkin ever, that has been done many times. Who do you think was/ is the best grower of beautiful orange pumpkins. Bill and Dawn Northrup, John Young, John Vincent, Jim Gerheardt come to mind. So do names like Fred Calai whose genetic stamp is in most beauties. How about Howard?

Post who you think is/was the best and why. The explanation that pleases the masses most will receive the following

1- 500 Northrup
1-1432 Northrup
1-827 Gerheardt
1-811 Gerheardt
1-777 Young
1-809 Young
1-993 Vinc

12/9/2014 7:09:10 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Sorry fat fingers.....

1- 993 Vincent McGill
1-513 Vincent
1- 1213 Rea

Most, if not all were HD winners.

12/9/2014 7:10:53 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

I add Norm Gansert to the list. His dedication to growing orange is unprecedented. I am willing to be the has more lifetime Howard Dill awards than anyone else in the world.

12/9/2014 7:55:00 PM

Wixom MI.

Back in the 90's Mombert was a big name.

12/9/2014 7:58:38 PM

NILES , CALIF

Howard Dill, The Dill Family every year sell the
Big and orange seeds; There should be more recognition
for these Beauties.

12/9/2014 8:38:39 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

The criteria is wide open. Most prolific, most HD awards, most influential ( hint ) Kirk Mombert ( 867 and 1005 ) Muller ( 603 ), Fred Calai (846 ) Stelts ( 801/ 705 )Daletas ( 1016 and 1230 )

Who is/was the best?

12/9/2014 9:11:32 PM

Massachusetts

I agree jim.

12/9/2014 10:17:02 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

For many years, back in the '90s, the Mombert 567 was THE seed. The story of where that seed came from is quite interesting. Wow, I'd need to look it up, but Kirk described getting a seed from a grower in New Jersey with a beautiful red-orange color. It could be said that the majority of our orange genes descend from that one seed that Kirk Mombert aquired and grew.

Then other seeds came from it, the 801 Stelts, the 846 Calai, and other growers as you mention. I think the 1059 Vincent-McGill is a great recent example, and that's what my line of seeds comes from... that and the 1432 Northrup. I'm excited for what my own 500.5 did for me and want to keep it going. I do have a limited supply left for those who want great orange.

Anyway, Kirk Mombert and the 567 is the "granddaddy of them all" in my book, but everyone who grows orange contributes to the effort.

12/10/2014 1:03:20 AM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

Great thread, by the way.

12/10/2014 1:04:25 AM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

Kirk's seed came from 611 Holland X 609 Laemmle. I think the parentage of the 609 is unknown! Helmet Laemmle, grown in 1989.

12/10/2014 1:10:21 AM

Johnston, R.I.

Jim, thank you very much for the plug, that means a lot to me. Most everything I have comes from the 500 Northrup, 993 and 1059. The 811 has done well recently.. There are many good seeds out there with great potential, they just need to see dirt. There is the perfect orange project for next season, plant one of these next spring along with one of your own, trust me you will be happy you did.

12/10/2014 4:21:00 AM

Muddy Waters

I haven't followed the growers themselves much so I really cant answer this honestly & fairly.But I believe we can grow a orange world record.I think I will work on a prize for the first all orange world record on my site.Should have it together by March 1st.GO ORANGE!!

12/10/2014 7:28:05 AM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

How about that 867 Mombert;), grey power + wine makes 8's look like 5's. Anywho, the mother of the 609 Laemmle is listed as the 542 Laemmle 87, which doesn't help because it stops there. The mother of the 616 Holland was 575 Dill 88.

You're right Cliff, I can't find any orange classics that don't have some 567 in their background.

12/10/2014 7:55:25 AM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

Thanks, I mention the 567 because those who came later in this hobby probably don't realize what a big deal that seed was in the 90's. Anyone who wanted orange wanted that seed. I came along in 2000 and that seed, grown in 1992, was still the talk of the email list among growers after all that time.

12/10/2014 1:13:30 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

Andy, you're alright. There was an 867 Calai.

12/10/2014 1:23:05 PM

Honesdale, Pennsylvania

The 869.5 Calai was a great seed and orange producer. I grew one of my brightest orange pumpins off of it ( my 689.5 ) which also produced nice orange pumpkins.

12/10/2014 2:41:56 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Present day, when I think of consistent orange I think Young, Gerhardt, that flat dude with a stache, Engel, Frank from RI, Steve Minor- sorry if I missed a few others. There are other big orange growers but that's what these guys go for every year.

12/10/2014 2:45:23 PM

Salem, Ohio USA

John Williams has won the Howard Dill award the past three years at the OVGPG weigh-off.

12/10/2014 4:47:50 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

Doh! 869.5.... I had one of those, 10 years after it was created. Unfortunately it did not germinate for me.

12/10/2014 4:53:00 PM

Wixom MI.

i still have some kirk mombert seeds left.
(3) 774 mombert (2000) 801 stelts x 567.5 mombert
(2) 844 mombert (2001) calai 846 x mombert 866

12/10/2014 5:42:33 PM

Bethlehem CT

Norm Gansert, he bleeds orange and his enthusiasm for it is contagious.

12/10/2014 6:17:19 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

The question that was asked was what is / was the best orange pumpkin grower. I don't want to upset anyone and I do know personally many of the growers mentioned. I want to point out that many of the older pumpkins or growers mentioned were a result of coincidence. Again this is not to discredit the growers. The 567 got planted over and over because its seeds produced large pumpkins, the orange was an added benefit. I would guess without knowing the same that the 801.5 stelts and 846 calai popularity are related in this respect. I began growing in 2005 so again this was before my time. Making a great orange seed requires faith, skill and luck. I am growing the 1817 Macconkie as my dark horse orange pollinator this year. He will tell you straight up that he wasn't growing for orange, just size. But I believe this seed will be huge and orange! So again remember that the question is who is the best orange grower, not the best seed. The best, most relevant orange pumpkin grower in current years is John Vincent, period. There you have it lol.

12/10/2014 7:11:58 PM

Cincinnati,OH

I did a cross in 2006 if anyone is interested in the 567 lineage.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=58775

12/10/2014 8:15:42 PM

Cincinnati,OH

Also did one in 2013 that only has 801 Stelts in the lineage. There is no way they could be competitive today.
I guess you would grow for sentimental reasons.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=211167

12/10/2014 8:20:47 PM

Cincinnati,OH

To stay on the post, I would have to throw the Zunnios in there. A lot of nice ones over the years.

12/10/2014 8:34:18 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Zuninos for sure on my list too.

12/10/2014 8:57:16 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Yep, you are right on Luke. Mike Frantz and Steve Zulke also honorable mentions.

12/10/2014 9:23:02 PM

Johnston, R.I.

Vince Zunino has to be on every list..........

12/11/2014 4:35:49 AM

Johnston, R.I.

I don't ever think you can pick a best orange grower.. Orange growers are very passionate about what they grow, as are all AG and Squash growers. No one is more passionate about growing orange than me, but there are others that are as passionate.. I don't think the day will come when there ever will be a best........

12/11/2014 8:04:50 AM

Omaha, Ne.

It's me! but not quite yet:) I still have a few years to go lol. My vote would go for norm and vince

12/11/2014 9:42:15 AM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

I think you mean Diana Doucet. (Only old-timers will get that one!)

12/11/2014 11:48:16 AM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

A friend of mine from here in Idaho, Brian Christensen, isn't quite as active as in the past, but when he grew he always grew orange. He has the only pumpkin over 1000 here in my part of the state and it was bright orange. There have been larger pumpkins in Idaho, but they are a completely different climate, not to mention 10 hours away. Brian always gave away all his seeds.

12/11/2014 11:56:03 AM

Torrance, Ca.

Kevin Smith doesn't come on here anymore but still grows some amazing orange.

He's all about the carvings now days.

12/11/2014 4:05:45 PM

Bethlehem CT

To make the list I only considered guys who only grow orange. I agree with Vince Zunino too. Let's not forget Kevin Companion.

12/11/2014 5:29:15 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

I am compiling the results from Howard Dill winners 2012-2014 and should be able to provide some quantifiable results shortly. Remember, these were voluntary submissions to the diary page only. There are 122 recorded entries from the last 3 growing years.

I will provide: grower with most HD awards and pumpkin or grower's pumpkins that have PRODUCED the most HD awards. If you have a submission for 2014, hurry up and email midatlanticgpg@gmail.com as we will not go back and add anything after Jan 1.

Stay tuned!

12/11/2014 5:30:53 PM

Minnesota

I agree cliff warren, this will be the 4th year of putting orange crossed with more orange, I started with 1003 Christensen. One thing he said was to use organic, compost. Beni does the same, uses a lot of compost!

12/11/2014 7:19:29 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

That's a good thought for another thread... Does nutrition play a role in expressing color? Of course, color comes from the genes. But good color needs nutrition. (Maybe.) Anyway, another thread... But I went bonkers with compost and that's when I finally got a seed like my 500, after years and years of trying. When I say, I finally got the 500, was when I finally had TWO orange plants grow out to the point that I could cross them... Every year my orange seeds would die, until the last two years. Anyway, another wild and crazy thought for ya...

12/12/2014 11:39:17 AM

Eurasia

The best real orange giant pumpkin variety is the Russian 'Giant of Kazan'.
Every fruit is so dark oranger, that you should say red.

12/12/2014 12:09:42 PM

Waynesboro, Virginia

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/displayphoto.asp?pid=4834&gid=1

12/13/2014 12:32:32 AM

Waynesboro, Virginia

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/displayphoto.asp?pid=4835&gid=-19876

12/13/2014 12:34:04 AM