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 bred 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. Landrace breeding Is my specialty especially for northern colorado. A red podded pea i bred is being grown by FEDCO seeds in 2019 for a trial.
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

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!