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Trinity River Bottom

i was wondering who carson is. also wondering if any of his 262 carson 90 seeds are in good storage some where? possibly some great genetics to be had!

8/24/2010 4:05:00 PM

sevierville, Tn

That is Bill Carson....
He grew ten watermelons in Arrington, TN in 1990 that averaged 231 pounds. He set a new Guinness Book Record with a watermelon that weighed 262 pounds and measured 42" long and 64" circumference.

If any seeds are out there, I have not seen any. If you find some let me know !

8/24/2010 4:14:22 PM

sevierville, Tn

Also, he passed away some years ago i believe.

8/24/2010 4:27:52 PM

Trinity River Bottom

he had the genetics in 1990 we need now. guess that was the end of that line. not saying we don't have good genetics now but that was 20 years ago!i would like to have some seed!

8/24/2010 5:01:50 PM

Bowdon, GA

Wasn't he a famous guitar player too?

8/24/2010 11:34:52 PM

Bowdon, GA

I have always wondered the story behind Bill Rogerson. I read where years ago he grew a 279 that was damaged. I think he also grew some monster canteloupes, and other veggies.

8/24/2010 11:41:16 PM

Trinity River Bottom

thanks for the info. 10 melons avg 231 quite a feat.

8/25/2010 8:34:42 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

I talked at length once with Bob Dwyer and he shared some seeds with me that he said were from Bill Carson's giants. Bob said he was pretty close with Bill.

8/25/2010 10:01:16 AM

Trinity River Bottom

james did you ever plant any of them?

8/25/2010 10:40:15 AM

sevierville, Tn

I had never heard of Bill Rogerson. Interesting !
Is there a writeup some where on him, i just saw a few quotes.

Carson, yes he had to do with development of a guitar i think ???

8/25/2010 1:10:53 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

Yes, it was the beginning of my genetic seed line. They were from one of Bob's 216 and 235 or something like that. That was a lot of years ago with lots of cross pollinating.

8/25/2010 1:31:43 PM

Trinity River Bottom

well thats neat . atleast that lineage didn't die. so thats where your lineage started ? james

8/25/2010 1:42:47 PM

sevierville, Tn

Carson holds a very special place in Fender history and hence in the history of popular music as one of the fathers of the Stratocaster guitar. It’s often said that Leo Fender designed the instrument specifically for Los Angeles-area Western Swing guitarist Carson, a colorful Stratocaster “test pilot” who suggested many of its groundbreaking design elements.

http://www.guitarworld.com/article/fender_mourns_loss_of_bill_carson

8/25/2010 2:04:23 PM

Bowdon, GA

I think Rogerson may have had the WR canteloupe at one point if not it was real close. Also had anothor WR for something else can't remember what it was. Like you chris not much info. Wonder what seed line he used. I did find one short article one time where it said he played country music for the melons. I guess that maybe the secret I have been missing out on. I also heard Carson grew 12, 100 pounders on one vine. These maybe be melon legends but they are fun. Might need to change my name to Bill.

8/25/2010 4:39:59 PM

Bowdon, GA

I google Rogerson and found list of things he grew in different articles.
279 lb Watermelon DMG
59.5 lb Canteloupe
63.5 lb Canteloupe
72.3 lb Canteloupe. (must have been DMG or not certified)
48 inch green bean
42 inch ear of corn
20 ft corn stalk
6 inch peanut
35 pound rutabaga
Fact or fiction? I don't know

8/25/2010 5:12:24 PM

sevierville, Tn

Wow, just like us, he liked to grow em big !

8/25/2010 6:23:24 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

People ask about this growing giants fetish, and I just say we must be compensating for something.

8/26/2010 8:58:57 AM

sevierville, Tn

I always thought of it as ' I like big things & doing what others don't "

8/26/2010 2:26:14 PM