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Massachusettts

If you were to write a model that weighs different factors to determine the ‘best’ seed to plant (Moneyball fashion), what factors would you include to evaluate each seed? After looking at the number of offspring and number of years the seed has been out I guess you’d have to look at every offspring and consider the experience and location of grower, and if the seed was grown in soil similar to yours. What else would you include? And then you’d have to start considering all of the x factors (I love the number 1385.)

12/31/2016 2:35:07 PM

canal winchester ohio

If moneyball is saber metrics would that make this cucurmaxi metrics?
It is a different way to look at it and very interesting.

12/31/2016 4:48:42 PM

Salem, Ohio USA

ask Quinn

12/31/2016 5:20:05 PM

Grittyville, WA

great question. more thinking and less spending $ and better results...

I think you give a handicap to some growers and others can be considered outliers from the norm (because a greenhouse with intentionally or incidentally higher C02 was used to grow the pumpkin). You could get very statistical but I'm not sure that would yield better information. Really the best statistic is which seeds have grown the most personal bests. Other than that its a matter of getting info that might be known only by the grower. Otther than the weight the growers (honest) opinion of the plant and its pollinator might give some insight.

1/1/2017 1:54:30 AM

Grittyville, WA

jlindley got a 1495 stelts for $80 yesterday at the PNWGPG auction. this is a rare and very proven seed and if you want to breed pumpkins i think in a strict moneyball metrics this would be a better way to spend than on something that is huge but totally unproven...

hope he doesn't mind me throwing his name out i thought it was a good buy.

1/1/2017 2:03:47 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Craig, no money or metrics here...looking for pkns that grow 15% or more heavy to the chart!!! 1489 VanHook (New Ky. State Record) 18% over the Chart!! 1662 DeBacco 19% over the Chart!! Oh, wait...that might be (Moneyball faishion)? Some others out there that are over 20% over! Peace, Wayne

1/1/2017 2:16:59 AM

Colorado

I like to look at 2nd generation seeds out of a great producer. Some of those great producers are 2145 mcmullen,2009 wallace,1625 gantner and 1781zyweic.Research crosses made with those seedstocks. Picking good seed prospects is part of the fun :)

1/1/2017 3:39:48 AM

I've noticed that some like Quinn and Dave Stelts do not seem to go for the biggest but seeds with good stock behind them .

I think the Willemijns did just fine with using good genetics as opposed to just the biggest seed available

1/1/2017 8:06:51 AM

Massachusettts

What if Mathias, Johnny Wannabee and Dopey McDopey all grew the same seed. Mathias’ weighed to the charts, 2000#, Johnny’s was 20% heavy, 2000# and Dopey’s weighed to the charts, 3000#. Which do you grow? Do you put more weight on the grower’s name, % heavy or weight of pumpkin?

1/1/2017 11:31:36 AM

Eganville, Ontario

I grew all "old" proven seeds last year to make nice crosses (1725 Harp, 1625 Gantner). It worked out well and is a safe play, but this year I'm going to take a gamble on all three unproven 2016 crosses, but all that look great on paper.

I think you can jump a year by identifying the newest crosses as they pack the most potential....but they also have the least reliability to produce.

We all know past high weight seeds that grew absolutely nothing of significance the next season. It will happen, but the 2016 seed stock has the greatest potential.

1/1/2017 10:32:53 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Ryan, certainly no disrespect meant here by any means...but it seems to me, after watching the weights grow every year (almost every year) that next year it will be said that the 2017 seed stock will have the greatest potential. Peace, Wayne

1/2/2017 12:01:27 AM

@ Craig F there are variables such as weather that can come into play. The one thing nobody knows is which one will be best at passing on the good genetics until they are proven. Look at the 2096 , 2102 , and 2323 ... the 2102 was the cheapest at auctions and may turn out to be the best at passing on those genetics through the 1872.
Don't forget , if you made a cross with good genetics ,try it or what was the sense of figuring what cross to make.

1/2/2017 8:16:06 AM