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Post by templeton on Jan 18, 2016 17:13:42 GMT -5
Can see your point now, which thread do ya put it in?? Do GMs not normally grow top sets? I think they have occasionally been reported. |
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Post by steev on Jan 18, 2016 21:25:09 GMT -5
So has Bigfoot.
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Post by eastex on Jan 18, 2016 21:42:12 GMT -5
I've never experienced the top setting trait in my GMs, but it is really intriguing that Templeton has it. I'd be very curious to see if he could get a top setter that produces good sized root bulbs too.
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Post by templeton on Jan 19, 2016 5:39:02 GMT -5
I've never experienced the top setting trait in my GMs, but it is really intriguing that Templeton has it. I'd be very curious to see if he could get a top setter that produces good sized root bulbs too. Here's hoping. I think the pic shows decent bulb size, but as for keeping quality? t |
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Post by eastex on Jan 22, 2016 23:25:26 GMT -5
Well, if you come up lucky, remember me! I'd grow them in a heartbeat!
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Post by templeton on Jan 24, 2016 7:20:04 GMT -5
Well, if you come up lucky, remember me! I'd grow them in a heartbeat! Sowed the bulbils today in a tray. Can't be bothered trying to keep track of another cultivar in storage... t |
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Post by eastex on Jan 24, 2016 8:05:59 GMT -5
Awesome! I'm really excited to hear how it goes. GM was my very first experience with any kind of multiplier onion and I have a soft spot for them. I have followed a few folks' experiences growing them out, but never seen anyone with bulbils. I wish you great success and request pictures when they get bigger!
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Post by richardw on Jan 24, 2016 13:44:33 GMT -5
I've now split my focus between developing an open pollinate walking onion and improvement selection of my current line. For the last 20+years ive worked towards selecting those that grow there scape on the outside of the onion and not growing from the middle, i'm now getting about 90% that do, from when i first started selecting 20 years it was as low as 10%, this and only using bulbils from the largest onions has produced by far the largest onions this year.  |
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Post by eastex on Jan 24, 2016 17:18:42 GMT -5
Seriously, I need a covert shipment from you! XD
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Post by templeton on Jan 24, 2016 22:22:17 GMT -5
Hey Richard, I'm trying to figure out how your strategy works. I don't doubt it does, the photo is proof of that.
Since they should all be clones, the genetic material should be identical, and therefore not subject to evolution. So how are they getting bigger? The only mechanism i can think of is that bigger bulbils have more resources, and therefore can produce larger bottom bulbs and bulbils in the next iteration. Can anyone else explain this in plant breeding terms?
T
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andyb
gardener
Posts: 179
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Post by andyb on Jan 24, 2016 23:52:11 GMT -5
Three thoughts about possible mechanisms.
First, I've read about phenotypic plasticity in garlic. It supposedly takes a few years of growing and replanting a variety of garlic before it adapts to your conditions. It's possible there's something similar happening here.
Second, by saving bulbils and having good sanitation practices, it might be possible to break the chain of viral infections and gradually clean up the saved material. Even if the chances were pretty small each season, the cumulative effect over many seasons could be significant.
Third, there could be some chimerism in the original stock. Selection pressure could distort the distribution of different genotypes. Of my wild guesses, this is my favorite.
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Post by richardw on Jan 25, 2016 12:43:01 GMT -5
Yep, i reckon Andy has made some very good points, they do slowly evolve over time, an example of this is, i know a woman in Australia (not on here) who every year only replanted the bottom onions, in time they lost there ability grow scapes/bulbils which is in some ways whats happened to the softneck garlic.
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Post by richardw on Jan 25, 2016 12:46:03 GMT -5
.............oh and something else i should point out too, i was told by an old gardener that onions are one of the only vegetables that should be grown in the same ground year after year, i'm now up to 7 years in the same bed, but compost is added every year.
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Post by richardw on Jan 25, 2016 13:44:11 GMT -5
My line of walking onion is sold by Koanga www.koanga.org.nz/ , both of which they sell were from the same stock 20+years ago, they sell them separate because they are now different to each other  |
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Post by eastex on Jan 25, 2016 18:46:05 GMT -5
I am so excited! I swear the first time I read the Koanga website, it said they don't do international shipping! But they DO! Now, it ain't cheap, but I really will be able to get some of your purtiful onions, Richard! Whoop!
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