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Madisonville, TN

Were there in big advances in watermelon genetics this year? For the last two years Cheyenne has grown the same seed. The 260 Clementz, 194 Jones, and the 255 Mitchell. She plans to add the 236 Edwards next season.
It seems that that hasn't been any big jumps in genetics like there was for other veggies last year. We want the best genetics possible. Are there any new ones out there that would be better than her current seeds?
I realize that it's a matter of opinion, but seed selection for next season seems obvious for pumpkin, tomato, long gourd, and squash.

11/29/2014 8:48:29 AM

Muddy Waters

The nights were cooler for (most)all areas.Melons need warm nights.The genetics havent changed.If we have another cool summer the melons will show it again.

11/29/2014 9:18:09 AM

Corbin, KY

I think I would take a real hard look at the 296.5 Barber 2014. it is 229 Edwards X 239 Leonard, went 10% heavy. Would have to be some good genetics there. Was grown outside in the cooler nights.

11/29/2014 9:43:23 AM

South East

I believe its the advances in cultural practices combined with a good weather year that will make the difference. Plus the group of top melon growers is a very small group compared to the pumpkin growing elite. less top growers = less top melons.

11/29/2014 9:51:46 AM

Muddy Waters

Yes the mother of the 296 & the 296 must be great to do that good on a cool year.

11/29/2014 9:57:20 AM

The North Coast

I like the 229. It is showing great promise. Unfortunately I would shy away from the 296 because it was grown next to diseased plants. While not a death sentence to the seeds, it is against best practices for watermelon seed collection. I also like the 274 Kent, 282 Dawson, and 316 Edwards. In fact, most Edwards seeds I would consider to be of the highest quality.

11/29/2014 2:10:52 PM

Home of happy lil plants

there is alottttt left to be had on watermelon weights. especially on genetics side

and I may just try to grow the poop out of the 296 too!

11/29/2014 2:46:53 PM

Fenton, MI

I think that the 229 Edwards was over looked by a lot of us growers this year. ( I know there were a lot of them given out. ) If you look at the genetics of that seed I feel it is a must seed to plant in 2015. That will be 1 of my 3 plants.
I also think the 316 Edwards has some GREAT genetics, look at what the 239 Leonard and the 199.5 Mudd has done over the last few years. Then look at what the 316 did this year 8 melons over 200 pounds. Not bad for the 1st year out. It will also be 1 of my 3 plants. As of the 3rd plant it will be one that I think will improve the genetics of both the best.

11/29/2014 3:19:44 PM

East Tennessee

my son and i plan to grow the 296.5 barber, the 199.5 mudd, and probably our own 151.7 which is from the 297 kent.

11/29/2014 4:29:40 PM

Muddy Waters

Yes I didnt keep my melon seeds this year as I had disease issues.Not worth the risk

11/29/2014 5:41:08 PM

Fenton, MI

Page 2 on genetics. I think that the 274 Kent and the 260 Clementz are great genetics seeds. Look at the track record on the 274 and the 260 grew the 297 Kent and many more good melons that a lot of us would have loved to have this year.
The 296.5 Barber looks like it could be a great seed with being 67.5 pounds bigger than the mother. If the 296.5 with the genetics it has now can do the same as the 229 Edwards you would have a 364 pound WR melon. who would not want a shot at that?

Yes we as melon growers are behind the pumpkin growers in the genetics area but there is way more of them than us melon growers. we are closing the gap more each year and there is a lot of good genetics seeds out there for us to grow if you go from 2005 until now.

11/29/2014 6:37:26 PM

Just wondering if growing techniques in watermelon growing is more important right now than genetics.Examples (Kent,Bartoli,Edwards,Neptune,Barber)No matter the genetics
they grow big even in tough weather conditions.

11/29/2014 7:52:08 PM

Home of happy lil plants

You forgot that (Mudd) fellow

11/29/2014 7:55:48 PM

Fenton, MI

I think there growing techniques are right up at the top and that helps them with any seed they plant. But if you look at what they plant they do pick good seeds.
Ya don't leave that Mudd fellow out!! There is more but those growers do help a lot of others growers.

11/29/2014 8:13:00 PM

Wixom MI.

Don't gorget that bright and buba guy !!! Lol...

11/29/2014 8:19:54 PM

The North Coast

I feel, unlike other fruits, watermelon offers many more options as for growing techniques. Considering we have to deal every year with GSB and hollow heart, there is alot of room for improvement. I am confident that 400 is obtainable if someone can put all the pieces together.

On a side note, a few growers were able to run a disinfection proceedure on freshly harvested watermelon seed. Genetics aside, a good clean start is necessary. If I grow anything next year it will be from these batches.

11/29/2014 8:25:46 PM

Muddy Waters

Good genetics are useless without good growing methods & technique.

11/29/2014 9:11:28 PM

Grant, AL

Kent,Bartoli,Edwards,Neptune,Barber,Mudd,Bright, and Bubba. The 8 wonders of the "Watermelon" world!

11/30/2014 1:14:24 AM

Bethlehem CT

Along Nate's line of thinking, I have been wondering if growers ought to consider growing seeds from Northern grown specimens that may have had lower disease levels in there patch. I think some good considerations would be seed That Peter Sweet produced a few years back. They were in the 180 and 160 pound range.(I can't remember the exact weights) They have produced big offspring in Connecticut in very poor melon growing weather. Both Gene Lariviere and Lloyd Blair have grown big ones off that seed line. I believe these seeds from 160-190 pound fruits will do well when grown in ideal situations.

12/1/2014 9:51:03 AM

Bowdon, GA

I maybe wrong but I think instead of growing "proven seeds" we should be growing crosses of the largest melons. Like 316 X 297 or similar crosses. Pete's crosses were 285X291 if i remember correctly. We plant seeds we know will grow a big melon but that doesn't really improve genetics. The 1068 Wallace grew big pumpkins, but pumpkins growers aren't still growing it. Notice each year most of the top pumpkins are from the previous years top pumpkins.

12/1/2014 7:17:28 PM

Corryton, TN

My thoughts are similar to Holloway's line of thinking but a bit different. I like to choose seeds from the top melons in a grower’s patch that were grown in the same fashion. And try to pick a grower that had several plants grown in that fashion. This is called a “contemporary group” and is used intensively in registered livestock selection for specific traits. If I had to choose I’d select seeds from the top melon from a growers patch that was significantly heavier than its large number of contemporaries vs a melon that was a 100 pounds heavier in a very small group by a different grower. This is assuming they all have genetic lines to produce large fruit. The best case scenario would be that the seed chosen would be pollinated by that growers second largest. Second largest pollinated by the largest works just fine also. At the same time I’m not afraid to try those giants that were grown beside only one other plant or alone. They’ve proven they have some of the genes to go large.

12/2/2014 9:41:38 AM

Corryton, TN

I look at some of the seeds from the last 2 years and wonder why more folks didn’t give them a go. Not throwing off on any other seeds out there but there were some great choices that seemed to get skipped over by most. 2012 had a couple of special Neptune’s that had the 252 Neptune that has proven it can go huge yet very few have even grown it. The most overlooked in 2013 might very well be the top of the Mudd collection. If I grow in 2015 they’ll be in my line-up. If girth is your thing think about crossing the 316 Edwards on the 296.5 Barber. And the beast 350 Kent didn’t get much action. The Brights grow a bunch every year. Their top melons should work great. This year’s darling choice for me would be 272.5 Neptune (291 Kent x316 Edwards). It appears to be a cross between his top 2 out of several contemporaries some of which didn’t get to a weighoff.

12/2/2014 9:42:08 AM

Fenton, MI

I like Jake's thinking on crossing some of the bigger melons with each other and some of those crosses could even improve the genetics that could help get the melons into the 400 pound range.

I do think that for some where there growing skills are not up to the top level yet because of being new to growing melons and are still trying to get that first big melon (250 pounds or bigger) there best bet is to plant more of the proven seeds to help them get there.

12/2/2014 1:11:06 PM

South Arkansas

Any giant watermelon grower in the Madisonville, TN area would greatly benefit by visiting with nearby growers Chris Kent, David Cantrell, and Dennis Masterson. They hold a wealth of knowledge on how to grow extra large watermelons.

12/2/2014 4:44:24 PM

Madisonville, TN

Honestly, I think that Cheyenne's next big step in growing will come from growing technique rather than genetics.
The seed that she is growing has proven itself with other growers many times. She has grown 21 watermelon plants in the last three years. Her average weight is 158 pounds with three melons at 170 pounds. This was done without irrigation or proper soil. Once we get our soil right and irrigation installed, I'm convinced she will be able to go into the 200-250 pound range with the seed she is using.
We have been able to talk with Dave Cantrell several times this year and he has given her many ideas to try in the future. Dave gave Cheyenne her first competition level seeds. We also met with Chris Kent at Allardt this year and he gave Cheyenne several ideas for improvement.

12/2/2014 7:31:07 PM