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Central NY

I’m already planning for next season where I’ll be growing no more than 2 plants, uggh...starting to feel like work...anyhow,I get the process but I was wondering when you guys are doing crosses, are you using mega blossom flowers for pollinators or doesn’t it matter?....thanks

8/9/2019 11:30:25 AM

50 Acres

I don't do crosses, but my biggest tomatoes are on flat vined plants. I would be looking for plants that were consistently flat vined. Just my observation. Jim

8/9/2019 12:39:02 PM

Wixom MI.

I like to work with a double or triple sized megabloom. It gets hard to work with anything larger because the pistols are often blended into the anthercone and hard to seperate the two.the key is to cut off the anther cone when the flower is just starting to bloom half way before it begins to drop its pollen. If you wait to long and the pollen begins to fall most likely you will have selfed pollinated it. But when you collect the pollen from the donor you need a more mature flower where the pollen is falling freely. Check out my diary in 2016 and you will see a demonstration i did on it.

8/9/2019 12:48:08 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

I did mine during the winter. I think it is easier indoors with no wind or insects to contend with. I let every flower grow on the two plants. The first two chosen blossoms for the female I could not get to set. I am not a very good surgeon. For the third time..i picked a promising blossom and gave it pollen from about 15 blossoms of the other plant. On a stabilized variety, it should make no difference genetically if pollen is coming from a single or a mega. I am trying to decide what to try to cross this next winter. Any suggestions on what to cross next..in the last few years, we have BigZac,Domingo,Delicious,Brutus Magnum, MegaMarv and Russian Oxheart in our crosses. All have grown over 4 pounds with the exception of the Delbrut. It still is too young. The current record on the crosses is the MegaZac at 7.73 pounds. 2nd I think is the MegamuttD at 6.32 pounds.

The crosses are fun. Not as easy as pumpkins..but possible. Thanks Wixom for starting this trend.

I expect more than two plants from you next year Porkchop...Come April you will get the fever again.

8/9/2019 12:50:10 PM

Wixom MI.

Sorry the demonstration is in my 2015 diary

8/9/2019 12:50:46 PM

Wixom MI.

I just planted seeds from my 5.95 Domingo and 6.23 Megazac 2 days ago and hope to cross them by October and grow them in my bacement again.

8/9/2019 12:56:20 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

I like that combination Wixom. I think that the Megamarv genes are great for vine and plant growth, big strong plants...adding Domingo to the MegaZac sounds like a potential winner. Big plant, big fruit. Your ratio's on the cross would be 50% Domingo,25% MegaMarv,25% BigZac. I am thinking what to cross with the MMD. If this summers winner in my garden is from my winter MMD I will be at F4. I am considering the best BigMarley of the year. That would make my cross... 37.5% domingo,37.5% bigzac,25% megamarv. You would be crossing F12+ x F2. I would be crossing F4 x F2. I am sure Rick has some ideas too for crossing.

8/9/2019 1:12:14 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

I work with single flowers. Easier to manage and control the pollination. The flowers on the megabloom, as you know, pollinate on different days. It’s easier for one or more of the flowers to “self” pollinate on a megabloom. On a single I know for certain the seeds from that are a direct cross. Well, as close to as I can get it.

8/9/2019 1:18:53 PM

Central NY

Thanks for responses, I guess what I’m asking is do you choose a mega blossom to pluck off and pollinate the antherless one...you know, “the doe”....does it matter what you use for “the buck”...does it matter if you use giant bloom to pollinate or 15 small ones like bob does..I’m thinking pollen is pollen...just curious...thanks!!

8/9/2019 3:02:13 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Unlike pumpkins there is no plucking off the males in tomato crossing. It is vibration into a spoon to collect pollen. Think about it...stabilized variety...100 % doubled genes. Does it matter if 1/2 the dna strain comes from single or a mega. Each drop of pollen will be the same. Unstabilized crossing...might make a difference...I do not know. But I think that even then, there is a 50% chance you might get better dna from single blossom than a mega. It is all luck unless you can grow out every seed to f12 or better.

8/9/2019 3:41:30 PM

Grittyville, WA

should not affect the genetics to use singles for pollen... Yeah we should all learn how. Tomato birds and bees... Please go away bees.

8/9/2019 3:54:56 PM

Wixom MI.

I just cut off the anther cone from the plant i am collecting pollen from and stick the anther pice with the fresh pollen right on the pistol. It usually sticks right on.

8/9/2019 6:47:36 PM

Wixom MI.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=232576

This is how i do it.

Porkchop has sinus problems and if he sees that pollen in a spoon he may accidently sniff it !!! Lol...:-)

8/9/2019 6:54:37 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

How about the Domingo and the Brutus?
The density of the Brutus with a 5.95 or 8.22 ?

8/9/2019 9:00:49 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

What are you going to call it Wixom ?
Zacmingo ?

8/9/2019 9:02:15 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Zacmingo wouldnt show that it has megamarv in it. I think that wixom will think of a good name. He has to get them crossed first. Sometimes it takes a few years to finally get a succesful cross.

I like your idea of Brutus Magnum x Domingo. I have Brutus genetics from the 6.13 Zappa. If I talk nice to Rick, maybe he would send me a seed from his big Domingo this year. Will someday have to figure out how to get the MegaGenes to combine with the Brutus density. Ideal for me, strong plant vines(MegaMarv), Fruit Density(Russian Oxheart-Brutus Magnum), Big Megas (Domingo,Big Zac, Delicious).

We have much potential left in the crossing.

8/9/2019 9:38:53 PM

Morgantown, WV

Should call it the DMZ... cause you just never know what might be lying in "The Zone" :)

8/10/2019 5:23:48 AM

Eastern Shore of VA

Ha !
Good one Dustin!

8/10/2019 11:19:48 AM

Wixom MI.

Im thinking of calling it the chris konieczny wixom master grower special !!! May have to shorten that a little bit huh !!!

8/10/2019 3:21:17 PM