From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Okla

So with all the big push for grafting and for those of us who do not have the luxery of being around growers who have the know how, how about Nathan doing a couple videos and maybe posting (maybe on youtube or wherever) so that we can see how melons are done? Also what is the best root stock that has been successful and where can it be had from, LOL
I am hoping that I will finally be able to grow again this coming year, (fingers crossed)and drought not so bad.

10/23/2013 10:27:57 AM

sevierville, Tn

I believe Nathan did some a video. It was on utube. I'll see if i can find it or Nathan can you post a link ?

10/23/2013 10:38:10 AM

Okla

Thanks, that will be a big plus posting the links. I have been searching the link on the other thread about the type and on the website it says to look at a seed company that is listed on the website that is local to your area but I can not find anything about rootstock at any of the seed companies websites. I guess you have to purchase directly from the main company.

10/23/2013 10:52:04 AM

sevierville, Tn

Here is the link to the video that Nathan did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy5EbsK8zzM&context=C4b5d826ADvjVQa1PpcFN8jUbGgtXSl-cdkJGRJ3WdvVKqM0I7oY4=

When i click on it, it says its private ???? So maybe Nathan has to unlock it as it was public when it was doone ??????

10/23/2013 1:53:18 PM

Piqua, Ohio

I saw the video last year it is informative, I think Nathan got a negative response about grafting and made it private.

10/23/2013 2:06:16 PM

The North Coast

I subsequently lost control of it online. I still have the video and I will edit it down and make it available at some point.

10/23/2013 4:15:17 PM

Indiana

I hope soon, we are interested!

11/5/2013 9:49:53 PM

The North Coast

My apologies but I am not going to be doing any work with the video. All the information on how to conduct the procedure is readily available on line. The pursuit of the record was enjoyable but now I have little desire or incentive to continue down this road.

With that being said, I will give you all this valuable nugget of information. The Carolina Cross seed line is the world's most infected watermelon seed and maybe the most infected seed period. For decades it has been engaging in unprotected, promiscuous sex. This makes it the worlds worst watermelon to graft. These pathogens are totally not tolerated by the best rootstock, shintosa. Don't even try shintosa if you don't fully understand what you are up against, you are wasting your time. Lagenaria has a bit of tolerance for what is going in the CC seed, but more than half of them fail or underperform. I have limited experience with C.ficifolia (Johnny's seed) but all of those grafts appeared to be tolerant.

11/8/2013 8:58:05 AM

The North Coast

Another waste of time is to reach into a bag of lagenaria and assume it will work as a rootstock . Chances are good it has been exposed to seed borne pathogens also. It is a large risk to not use a commercial rootstock. Lagenaria, like watermelon, can and does have pathogens that reside in the seed. These pathogens may not fully express themselves if it were not for the surgery.

There are ways to rid Carolina Cross of the pathogens that are contained deep within the seed and I could solve this issue. However, this too is available through internet sources if you were so inclined. Maybe someday I will want to grow a couple melons myself and I may need to keep a few things for myself to explore in the future.

The best thing about Carolina Cross is that the future is wide open and weights could really increase. Champions are born in the offseason. If you want to be the world record holder get out of the garden, strap on your thinking cap and start working to solve the issues of limitation (as mentioned above). You will need to establish relationships within the industry and in academia. The solutions to these problems are out there I assure you.

The 291 graft was a miracle plant, it was special. I cant really explain why, but I could tell that it was different. It showed a level of vigor that I have not seen and there is a lot of experience behind that statement. It was a glimpse into the future but in no way was it perfection.

11/8/2013 8:58:14 AM

The North Coast

I do have plenty of all the rootstock seed.

If you would like some commercial seed you can send me a bubble along with a $40 donation to the Wounded Warrior Project. I will give you around 100 combined seeds. You will get various squash, lagenaria, and C. ficifolia. You will get all the good ones, including the WR producing rootstock.

You must:
1. Fill out this form.

https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/_transactionServerFiles/700/2012/1/18/OnlineDonationForm.pdf

2. In a regular envelope (not bubble) send me the filled out form, the check written out to the WWP, and $5 cash.

I will use the $5 to buy a bubble and for postage. I will mail your check to the WWP.

PO Box 127
Bat Cave, NC 28710

This offer will EXPIRE December 1, 2013 !!! Nothing after that.

11/8/2013 9:31:15 AM

Bethlehem CT

Nate, Do you think that C. ficifolia has the potential to grow a world record?

11/8/2013 5:18:05 PM

The North Coast

yes, I feel that it could. It is a good upgrade over native roots. It is very primitive and has always been seen as an anomoly in the plant world.

Start C.ficifolia 5-7 days before melons. Rootstock should have first true leaf on a stem.

11/9/2013 6:48:47 AM

Bethlehem CT

Thanks Nate, One last thing. What diseases do you feel are in our CC seeds? Are we talking about simply sterilizing the seeds and equipment? Or are we talking tissue culture or something else to get the disease out?

11/9/2013 7:37:36 AM

The North Coast

Hit me up on the email

11/9/2013 7:49:25 AM