What did you do in your garden today?

[flowerbug]

looked out the windows at the birdies. watched a few puddles waddle in the breeze (it's not sunny enough to sparkle so i had to think of another word there). bare dirt in the north garden and i can see the red from the creeping thyme. i really like the look of it. deer have probably made a big mess over there that i don't want to go out and look at so i won't get pictures.

 

[CrealCritter]

It's a specific hybrid. They actually have to have a row of seeded melons every so often in the fields to pollinate the seedless as well. I can't remember why my Uncle said they don't pollinate without it. Been too long since I asked about it. They always have some seeded melons for sale because of this. They go fast. Seeded melons taste better.

So seedless watermelon is a hybrid, I thought it was. But how does one make the seeds, if it's seedless? That's what I don't get... Or is it a result of crossing two or more melons varieties and that years crop will have seeds but the following years crop will not have seeds? That's the only way I can think of it working, IDK... It's still a mystery to me

Plus 1 for seeded being better tasting. I haven't had a seedless watermelon that doesn't have some level of bitter. They have tastes like a unripe watermelon to me. We like sugar baby watermelons because they are good to eat and not huge, you can put them in the refrigerator.

Don't get me started on GMOs

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[R2elk]

i'm not sure if it is a hybrid thing going on or that there are some seeds in some of them, just not as many. not sure they actually get those seeds and use them or not, but it is very rare that we ever get a seedless watermelon that doesn't have at least a few seeds in them.

The few seeds that you find in a seedless watermelon will produce watermelons that have seeds. I plant them because they have all produced ripe watermelons in my short growing season. They may be oval or round and the flesh is often pink instead of red. Planting the seeds from the offspring really diversifies the final product.

 

[Hinotori]

So seedless watermelon is a hybrid, I thought it was. But how does one make the seeds, if it's seedless? That's what I don't get... Or is it a result of crossing two or more melons varieties and that years crop will have seeds but the following years crop will not have seeds? That's the only way I can think of it working, IDK... It's still a mystery to me

Plus 1 for seeded being better tasting. I haven't had a seedless watermelon that doesn't have some level of bitter. They have tastes like a unripe watermelon to me. We like sugar baby watermelons because they are good to eat and not huge, you can put them in the refrigerator.

Don't get me started on GMOs

Jesus is Lord and Christ

Same as all plant hybrids. Start with the right parent types and cross pollinate, then collect the seeds from the correct parent plant. It can get confusing but I still find plant genetics to make more sense than chicken trait genetics.

Some plants are a pain because you have to hand pollinate to get the right seeds.

Watermelons are just a big crop for the farmers in my family over there and have been since my Great Uncles started. Only reason I knew they had to have the seeded for pollination to get actual melons set.

 

[CrealCritter]

Same as all plant hybrids. Start with the right parent types and cross pollinate, then collect the seeds from the correct parent plant. It can get confusing but I still find plant genetics to make more sense than chicken trait genetics.

Some plants are a pain because you have to hand pollinate to get the right seeds.

Watermelons are just a big crop for the farmers in my family over there and have been since my Great Uncles started. Only reason I knew they had to have the seeded for pollination to get actual melons set.

I appreciate your knowledge and wisdom

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[CrealCritter]

I only felt it right to show a picture of the humidity created by the clear flat tops and the florescent lights lowered to just 1/4" above the clear tops. This seems to create a favorable warm, moist and humid condition for seed germination. There is just enough heat that passes through the florescent lights into the topped flats. I don't know if I could achieve a similar result with LEDs since they do not throw off near as much heat as a florescent does. Anyways something to consider if you are planning a seed starting table.

Pepper seeds started yesterday and warmth & humidity build up inside the flats.

Going to start 4 flats of tomato seeds, later this evening. I'll start them in the middle shelf, since they don't need as much heat to germinate as pepper seeds do Then that will be it, I'll have 12 flats started. That's all my seed table was designed to handle.

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[Mini Horses]

If you are going to purchase seeds. Just be aware of the number of seeds in the packages. Speaking of tomatoes and pepper seeds, there is approx 20 tomato seeds per package (I wasn't aware), it now takes 4 packages to sow a 76 cell flat or 8 packs of you want to sow two plus seeds per cell. Since you already know the germination rate is not 100%.

On line most listings have a "more info" section that tells what a pkg has in it for the seed you are buying. Absolutely important when planning. Often the company offers larger sizes if needed. Some gardeners only want a few plants....a few seeds. It's nice to have some quantity stated.

@frustratedearthmother suggested a site called "dollar seeds" to me. A small company selling smaller amounts at $1 per pkg. They will work larger if you ask. Very minimal s/h. Nice for small gardeners, limited $ AND to just try a new one inexpensively!

Only a few of us have a close gardening friend to be able to share seed, plants or produce. I do but she's not next door...it works. She has a small portable greenhouse she puts on her deck to start plants. I help with coop cleanings, etc. Since I have a larger garden we sometimes use more space here for shared plants. . I'm actually surprised that so few in my neighborhood garden!

 

[Mini Horses]

If you are going to purchase seeds. Just be aware of the number of seeds in the packages. Speaking of tomatoes and pepper seeds, there is approx 20 tomato seeds per package (I wasn't aware), it now takes 4 packages to sow a 76 cell flat or 8 packs of you want to sow two plus seeds per cell. Since you already know the germination rate is not 100%.

On line most listings have a "more info" section that tells what a pkg has in it. Absolutely important when planning. Often the company offers larger sizes if needed. Some gardeners only want a few plants....a few seeds. It's nice to have some quantity stated.

@frustratedearthmother suggested a site called "dollar seeds" to me. A small company selling smaller amounts at $1 per pkg. They will work larger if you ask. Very minimal s/h. Nice for small gardeners, limited $ AND to just try a new one inexpensively.

 

[Mini Horses]

Ooops...dble posted hope I don't dble plant.

 

[Mini Horses]

QUESTION. -- gardening sheep owners.

Today a TV program about vineyards in Europe had an organic vinyard review. They had sheep wool placed in vines, which they stated kept the deer out.

Anyone tried this? I've heard a lot of things, not wool. . But lanolin smells.

A friend had a problem until I loaned her an electric box & wire. Now it's just a couple rabbits.