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Lebanon, Oregon

First, I want to thank everyone who participated in the Zacheart cross contest. Contest ends Nov. 1st. Even though the Zacheart was smaller overall, it was a lot of fun!

Here are the results I have so far: 1) Hayden 3.90. 2) Porkchop 3.09. 3) Rebel (I don't count) 3.05. 4) eSheel 2.92. 5) Q Tip 2.81. 6) BNOT 2.57
Wixom, I know you grew one but I cannot locate the results.

1st $100 + 1625.5 Gantner seed. 2nd $50. 3rd $25

Plus all who entered will receive seeds for the comp next year: 7.10 Foss Big Zac x 8.22 Marley Domingo. Yes, even you Porkchop will get seeds, even though you can't grow anything with Big Zac in it! It will be called the "Big Marley" so you have to give it a shot!

If there are reults I missed, let me know.
Thank you! Rebel

9/2/2018 6:41:15 PM

central Nc

I'm bringing up the rear with 1.93

9/2/2018 8:30:43 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

Thanks! At least you tried!

9/2/2018 9:13:41 PM

Hobart, Indiana

No you’re not Wolfpack. You got me beat.
My biggest is 1.62lbs. Have 1 more growing
should be alittle bigger. Thanks Rebel for the
seeds.

9/2/2018 9:54:42 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

I have one more starting I think.
Will know more in a few days.

9/3/2018 12:02:22 AM

Western Massachusetts

I am currently cloning a few suckers from meatloafs plant... will now practice this fall / winter with LED lights & soil mixtures for next year

9/3/2018 1:24:26 AM

Grittyville, WA

I will be in the running for last place... moderately good plants but the best Domingo lines crushed ‘em...

9/3/2018 12:28:02 PM

Wixom MI.

Lol... My 1.91 is in the running

9/3/2018 12:38:59 PM

Bloomington, IN USA

Rebel I missed out on the Zacheart contest but I would really like to obtain seeds for the Big Marley contest.
That cross should have real potential.

9/4/2018 9:13:48 AM

On a cliff in the desert

I would like some seeds for the Big Marley contest also.

9/4/2018 11:01:48 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

I really like the grow the new crosses competitions. Third year in a row for me to be involved with one. Might be too early to talk about next spring but I am wondering if we can set up a competition with crosses from multiple growers. Rick already has the the BigMarley, Wixom has started the MegaZac x Domingo project, I have plans this winter for the Delicious x Brutus Magnum. There might be a few other new ones out there..it would not surprise me if Dale Thurber has something crossed. Remember..to really know the potential of the crosses..someone has to grow the F2’s.

9/4/2018 12:39:18 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

For the BigMarley, I will reserve seeds first to growers who weighed and entered the Zacheart. After that I will reserve seeds for requesters. I have not even picked the tomato yet! I do not know how many seeds are available. I think by September 8th I may know.
Yes BNOT, a cross competition is a go for me! Definitely not with the Zacheart, but he will definitely grow out the F2! Hopefully Wixoms crosses turn out, he has yet to make the cross and it difficult during the winter, but if anyone one could do it Wixom can.

9/4/2018 1:15:02 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

The problem I was having with the zacheart was failure to get the superblossoms. The double I weighed seemed to be quite dense. The F2 generation might exhibit the supers on 1/4th of the plants, from the doubling of the big zac gene. If the top 1/4th of the F2's can get the supermegas from the big zac and 1/4th of those can get the density from the doubling of the russian oxheart genes it could have potential. I think that too many F1's dont get grown out to max because stopping before the dominent negatives are reduced by future generations.

9/4/2018 4:40:17 PM

Wixom MI.

This could be fun in the spring with so many new crosses. Mine should do good this year I should have sets on mine before i have to bring them in for the winter that is why i started them so early this year so i don't mess up like last winter.

9/4/2018 7:24:46 PM

Western Massachusetts

Right now I have 6 clones going off the zacheart plant that produced my 3.90... my hope is to cross it with pollen from the 5.31 Ellis clones I have going sometime this winter. As bnot said, the zachearts were very dense tomatoes

9/4/2018 8:03:57 PM

Wixom MI.

What is the 5.31 ellis bigzac ?

9/4/2018 9:49:22 PM

Wixom MI.

May wont to cross it with a more agressive plant like the domingo or Megazac

9/4/2018 9:51:11 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

I’m going to attempt a cross between my ZacHeart and Wixom’s megamutt D.
Seeds are germinating in bowls of water as I type this.
I never saw but a couple of double blossoms growing on the ZacHeart this year.
One was my 2.92.
I cut it from its first truss set and allowed some suckers to form from down below.
One has now grown to six feet in height and is consistently throwing multi fused Megas.
Unfortunately the torrential rains keep ruining them.
I’ve got one I’m watching.

9/4/2018 10:43:21 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

I still have four Zacheart's growing on the remaining four plants. Three of them are 22.0" 22.25" 22.75". They are all different shapes. The largest I would consider a 3-4 fused. My 3.05 was dense and shaped like Hayden's 3.90. I will take my two largest and grow out F2 seeds next year.

9/5/2018 1:52:46 AM

Eastern Shore of VA

What I was thinking as well.

9/5/2018 5:48:19 AM

central Nc

Another cross contest? Yes please! So much fun, and easier for inexperienced guys like me to have moderate success. This website is great, its like 5 in one. You got the pumpkin guys always trying to identify diseases, melon guys figuring out what to graft (and being very cloak and dagger with their progress), mater guys wreaking havoc with genetics, bushel gourd guys trying to figure out an OTT chart, and then... Danny Vester the Cantaloupe King.

9/5/2018 11:24:28 AM

Bloomington, IN USA

I was thinking about doing a cross this winter Brutus Magnum x Megazac.
Both plants are vigorous.
Hopefully it would combine the blocky, dense pointed fruit of BM with the megabloom production of the Megazac.
I have attempted crosses in the past with limited success so I will have to improve my technique.

9/5/2018 1:08:01 PM

Grittyville, WA

At least we know the F1 generation was consistent... My plants fall within the ranges described above. I agree with bnot... And if we are trying to get two recessive genes to express in the F2 its gonna be 1 / 16 plants which have both... Was thinking I would go all-Domingo next year but I am willing to run an F2 trial instead.

9/5/2018 2:07:10 PM

Western Massachusetts

The suckers of the zacheart seemed to produce the largest flowers for me.. both my 3.03 and 3.9 were grown by letting a couple suckers grow and flower and choosing the flowers with the most petals

9/5/2018 2:32:32 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

Suckers on my ZacHeart consistently throwing nice blossoms.
Rain and 90+ degree days ruining them all:

9/5/2018 5:48:28 PM

Western Massachusetts

Esheel... me too.. i'm anxious to see how these clones from suckers produce in terms of blossoms

9/6/2018 4:01:20 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

I think I’m going to make 2 planting’s next year.
Early spring and try to set first or second truss,than a later planting with hopeful third truss sets around this time of year where it might be a little cooler by then.
No frost here until usually thanksgiving.
Calling for some upper 70s next week !
And also maybe a gal named Florence.
That’s the crappy part about living on the coast.

9/6/2018 5:38:40 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

Just dropped my 2.92 ZacHeart and Wixom’s MegaMutt D in my grow chamber.
Both have sprouted nice roots and I hope to cross them this fall.

9/6/2018 7:34:58 PM

Grittyville, WA

1.11 lbs. last place!!!! (I assume.) Rebel check out my diary it’s a bad result not a lucky seed for me but the plant was pumping some juices... you’ll see what I mean.

9/12/2018 12:48:54 AM