Post by winter unfazed on Jul 13, 2008 11:26:15 GMT -5
2008 has so far been the best garden year ever in my experience. I have been able to grow out several items successfully, and am working on the list for 2009.
RVE-75 pumpkin: Wendy helped me with this project. There are now three lines of RVE-75 seed: the G substrain (original pumpkin, 2006), the M substrain (what Wendy grew in 2007), and the F-13 substrain (what I'm growing this year; so labeled because it was planted on Friday the 13th). The 2009 project will be to reunite these substrains, locating and culling all hidden recessive off-types.
Candlestick sunflower: This is a sunflower originally obtained from commercially sold sunseeds in 2006. I grew out the largest seeds in 2007, and they produced a wide variety of plants. I saved seed from the tallest, which was 13 feet 4 inches tall. The 2009 project will be to stabilize the strain.
Hayworth Sweet and Hayworth Dent corn: These corns are derived from a cross between Country Gentleman and an unnamed Indian corn, made in 2006. Named for former Congressman J.D. Hayworth. The 2009 project will be to grow out and stabilize these maize strains.
Indian Red Popping Corn: From an ear of popping corn that my grandmother obtained at a Cherokee reservation in 2004. I grew out the corn in 2005. The 2009 project will be to grow out the small amount of seed. (Attempt at growing it in 2008 was unsuccessful.)
Tesoro de Guanajuato (corn): Corn obtained from Sara Placencia of Houston, TX, who herself obtained it from Sr. H of Guanajuato, Mexico. Apparently the result of crossing a modern dent with an old Aztec maize over the years, resulting in a red-and-white corn but I have re-split it into two "sister" strains: the red strain and a white, narrow-seeded form, Cielo Santo. Both can grow to over 12 feet tall. The 2009 task will be refining the separated strains, and selecting for height.
Early Fortune cucumber: Seed obtained from Baker Creek in 2003, grown out in 2004. The 2009 task will be to grow out the old seed (regenerating), as well as selecting for yield because low yield is always a complaint about Early Fortune cucumbers.
Chilean Black-seeded Watermelon: Seed obtained from an Oklahoma gardener in 2006. Must grow out the seed, as there is only a small amount, and the variety is rare.
Connecticut Field pumpkin: Must grow out, since I only have a few seeds, obtained by trading in 2005.
Big Max pumpkin: Same predicament as the Connecticut Field, only with the added complication of having to prevent cross with RVE-75. Although perhaps one fruit could be reserved for deliberate crossing with RVE-75.
Gold Nugget: Grow out seed, and possibly make crosses of Gold Nugget x RVE-75 and Gold Nugget x Big Max.
Nightshade projects have not yet been worked out. More on those later.
RVE-75 pumpkin: Wendy helped me with this project. There are now three lines of RVE-75 seed: the G substrain (original pumpkin, 2006), the M substrain (what Wendy grew in 2007), and the F-13 substrain (what I'm growing this year; so labeled because it was planted on Friday the 13th). The 2009 project will be to reunite these substrains, locating and culling all hidden recessive off-types.
Candlestick sunflower: This is a sunflower originally obtained from commercially sold sunseeds in 2006. I grew out the largest seeds in 2007, and they produced a wide variety of plants. I saved seed from the tallest, which was 13 feet 4 inches tall. The 2009 project will be to stabilize the strain.
Hayworth Sweet and Hayworth Dent corn: These corns are derived from a cross between Country Gentleman and an unnamed Indian corn, made in 2006. Named for former Congressman J.D. Hayworth. The 2009 project will be to grow out and stabilize these maize strains.
Indian Red Popping Corn: From an ear of popping corn that my grandmother obtained at a Cherokee reservation in 2004. I grew out the corn in 2005. The 2009 project will be to grow out the small amount of seed. (Attempt at growing it in 2008 was unsuccessful.)
Tesoro de Guanajuato (corn): Corn obtained from Sara Placencia of Houston, TX, who herself obtained it from Sr. H of Guanajuato, Mexico. Apparently the result of crossing a modern dent with an old Aztec maize over the years, resulting in a red-and-white corn but I have re-split it into two "sister" strains: the red strain and a white, narrow-seeded form, Cielo Santo. Both can grow to over 12 feet tall. The 2009 task will be refining the separated strains, and selecting for height.
Early Fortune cucumber: Seed obtained from Baker Creek in 2003, grown out in 2004. The 2009 task will be to grow out the old seed (regenerating), as well as selecting for yield because low yield is always a complaint about Early Fortune cucumbers.
Chilean Black-seeded Watermelon: Seed obtained from an Oklahoma gardener in 2006. Must grow out the seed, as there is only a small amount, and the variety is rare.
Connecticut Field pumpkin: Must grow out, since I only have a few seeds, obtained by trading in 2005.
Big Max pumpkin: Same predicament as the Connecticut Field, only with the added complication of having to prevent cross with RVE-75. Although perhaps one fruit could be reserved for deliberate crossing with RVE-75.
Gold Nugget: Grow out seed, and possibly make crosses of Gold Nugget x RVE-75 and Gold Nugget x Big Max.
Nightshade projects have not yet been worked out. More on those later.