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Corryton, TN

I just realized I've grown 3 melons that have officially weighed 165 pounds and this could lead to confusion with regards to ancestry of melons in the future. From here on out the 165(B) will be denoted as 165 Cantrell(B) and the 165(A) will be the 165 Cantrell(A). These have been changed to fit the format in the database at http://watermelon.giantstogrow.com/
I'd like to encourage all my brothers and sisters out there to input and/or update the info on their melons from years past at this website. The pedigrees of many big name melons have holes that need to be filled in and/or corrected. I suggest starting with your older melons first as the data will be carried forward to their offspring.

Help us keep these pedigrees updated on our quest to 500 pounds and beyond. We will get there!

1/2/2014 11:11:03 AM

Muddy Waters

Well your consistent Dave. Mr.165!!

1/2/2014 1:01:21 PM

Corryton, TN

I hope to stay out of one-derland in the future! But just a few years ago I would not believe I could grow a 150 pounder.

1/2/2014 4:25:24 PM

Home of happy lil plants

I hope sue is taking notes....she just names them instead

1/2/2014 9:23:09 PM

Reelfoot Lake, Tennessee

Off topic apologies, but wanted to call attention to an interesting article on efforts to revive/improve the American Chestnut tree that appeared in January 2014 edition of Tenn. Elec. Cooperative's tnmagazine.org. brotherdave is this the group you are assisting? TIA, Clutch

1/3/2014 3:15:17 AM

Corryton, TN

Yes. This is one of the big branches of the tree. I've been working more with Dr. Hill Craddock that he mentions in the article and Clint Neel (pictured), both big branches. These trees are the Carolina Cross of the east. Growth rate is unreal.

In case you haven't figured it out I'm fascinated by genetics. That's why I hope everyone will get on board and get their melons, big and small, updated on the web-site. We'll be able to track their ancestry into the future and hopefully increase these weights faster through line-breeding, in-breeding and outcrossing.

1/3/2014 6:27:36 AM

The North Coast

Thanks for your work with the chestnut trees. I would love to see them make a comeback.

Any links to the story?

1/3/2014 10:19:09 AM

Corryton, TN

Here you go:
http://www.tnmagazine.org/features/king-of-the-forest/

1/3/2014 10:27:26 AM

Corryton, TN

We are one step beyond the article. We are using blight resistant off-spring from the F3B3 crosses to produce seedlings that will be used for re-forestation. We're fortunate to have 1 of only 5 orchards with these young trees. I'm sure I won't live long enough to see the fruit of my labor but hopefully your grandchildren will.

1/3/2014 10:41:51 AM

Corryton, TN

Glad to see the updates coming in. We still need some older melons updated and some smaller genetic crosses added. Keep it up.

1/5/2014 11:38:39 AM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

Dave I looked at my results on http://watermelon.giantstogrow.com/ for FOSS 2013 and it includes 3 long gourds. 114, 102, 100.
Bill

1/5/2014 12:05:13 PM

Corryton, TN

I had one too. Go to the contact "Contact Me" tab and send Andy a note. He will get them deleted. Thanks for checking all your pedigrees.

1/5/2014 1:17:13 PM