Good evening to everyone, I'm new here, and wanted to seek our your advice on a breeding project I'll be starting in the Spring. My wife and I live in South Central Minnesota, zone 4, and after years of working with poultry genetics, decided to try our hand with garden plants. Specifically, I should like to develop a strain of pumpkin that meets my own idea of what a pumpkin should look and taste like. In doing my research, I've found many of the traits I like in C. moschata "Musquee De Provence", and two or three varieties of similar styled C. pepo. My question is this: I've read where crosses between these two types of squash, produce fewer than 2% of viable F1 seed. Is this correct, or have I got it wrong? If so, are there other crosses which I might consider, that will create a nice, "squatty", type pumpkin? I'm thinking I like the basic shape of C. pepo, "Rouge Vif d'etampes", but would prefer it to be a wee bit taller, with slightly more pronounced ribbing, and a dark burnt orange color. Everyone seems bent on growing HUGE pumpkins. I'd like to grown a nice 15-25 lb. size. Any thoughts would be very helpful. I've also been unable to find a complete list of dominant and recessive traits for pumpkins, so any help there would be equally appreciated. Cheers, Kevin
