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Watermelon-Citron Melon Hybrids

Selecting the best genetics of landrace watermelon and citron melons for Northern Colorado, USA. Looking for unique traits such as deep citron roots that thrive in poor soil, drought adaption, yellow ripening genetics, sweet domestic watermelon flesh, and possibly winter storage watermelons that keep 3-6 months.
Description

Using my landrace watermelon bred to thrive in Nothern Colorado I have crossed domestic landrace watermelon with red-seeded citron melons with high pectin (normally used for preserves). Wide variability has shown a range of interesting traits such as better roots for growth in poor soil, drought tolerance, better nutrient gathering, yellow rind traits when ripe, thin rind for maximum edibility, frost tolerance, etc. I plan to select the best to thrive here in northern colorado and make my landrace watermelon even better.

Collaborators wanted in the rocky mountain northern areas primarily, but already have collaborators In Europe and Australia as well.

Researcher background
I've grown teosinte that thrives outside of mexico and in northern colorado. I've been featured on the Garage Gardeners Podcast. I've bred my own purple indian corn that thrives under early spring snow where other corn dies. I'm pursuing an undergraduate degree in soil and crop sciences from Colorado State University.
Are you seeking volunteer growers or other types of volunteers?
Yes, seeking volunteer growers
How many volunteers do you need?
20
What will you ask volunteers to do?
Keep track of the best traits separately, but open pollinated crosses are expected and even encouraged. Use a brix meter to access sugar content if possible and record results. Save seed and share back and forth. Select for certain traits and qualities. No isolation distances needed, no hand pollination needed unless desired. Solitary bees do all the pollination work! Easy-Peasy!
Other requirements of volunteers?
Locations such as Northern Colorado, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Montana, the greater southwest region, Canada, Northern Climates, or similar areas are preferred. But collaborators in Germany and even Australia are already present and involved. Novices are fine.
Is this a multi-year project?
Yes
Can volunteers expect to be able to keep some germplasm (seeds, bulbs, cuttings, spores, etc) at the close of the project?
Yes, of course
Anything else?
Visit the Alan Bishop Homegrown Goodness forum or the (OSSI) Open Source Seed Forum for more information!

Or my blog: http://keen101.wordpress.com
Http://biolumo.com
Researcher Location

80538
United States

Plant Breeding

Project Updates

New Years Evaluation


project update by
keen101
Sunday, January 19, 2020 - 03:39

Just updated OSSI thread.

I opened up the last citron like fruits I grew this summer around Christmas / New Years. I think if trying to breed for winter storage melons this is the best way to breed / evaluate them for storage traits.

All three were white fleshed I believe. Two had relatively high amounts of hard flesh with pectin, though not as much as a pure citron melon. The one with the smallest seeds (domestic watermelon small seed size) was fairly soft. It also measured the highest amount of brix sugar content at 2%. The others measured less. One of them had an unusual seed coat color / pattern. Redish-pink seeds with the black mottled covering on top.

Update Fall 2019


project update by
keen101
Saturday, October 5, 2019 - 05:52

Here's some photos. Called it the end of the season and harvested.

Fall 2019 update


project update by
keen101
Thursday, September 26, 2019 - 02:54

I posted this update on the OSSI forum.

So I haven't updated this thread much this year because my own crop did not do the best. But that does not mean this project is dead.

I tried to select and plant the seeds this year only from the ones with traits that seemed desirable (especially for eating). I think I planted about 10-12 "strains". I'll try to come back and edit this post with the names if i haven't already posted.

But anyway, yeah, so my plans mostly failed as most of them failed to thrive at all. My corn crop did fantastic which was planted as an afterthought rather than the main project ironically. But as it turns out the strongest "strain" continued to grow and set fruit regardless of the poor conditions. A testament to good genetics I would think. I still have plenty of backup seed from the large population from last year, so even if I had a complete crop failure I would have been fine. A good reason to only plant 50% of your seed!

But I've heard this project in Germany and Australia? Might be doing well this season. So in other ways by sharing my seed far and wide ive hedged my bets. Hopefully they will post pictures and updates soon too. More members are joining the project on the Experimental Farm Network.

-Andrew

Seeds request


project update by
keen101
Saturday, July 6, 2019 - 03:56

The email feature on this website is still broken. If you need seeds contact me on opensourceplant breeding forum under "biolumo" or email me at biolumo [at] gmail (dot) com and send your address.

Test update


project update by
keen101
Saturday, June 22, 2019 - 02:14

This is a test update. Seeing if things work now.

If anyone needs seeds for next year (or this year, though probably too late unless in Australia) then please let me know.

-Andrew
Colorado, USA

Good germination rate


project update by
Mikkel
Friday, June 21, 2019 - 06:15

I noticed a good germination quote in open ground. Seedlings seem to be strong and healthy so far.
Germination rate is far better than on seeds from Joseph Lofthouse. A volunteer strain from Canada is in between.
Lets hope it is a sign and some are gonna make fruits!