Ancient Watermelon
 

I go to the seed sights and window shop a lot. Usually come back here to read posts on a variety rather than start a new one. This seed really threw me for a loop. I smell a hoax but it's not a malicious one.

Just a good ol'timey hoax or truth?

[url]https://www.rareseeds.com/art-combes-amazing-ancient-watermelon/[/url]

Sounds like hooey. They want us to believe the seeds are hundreds of years old and yet they germinated. Nope. They also want us to believe it's a watermelon that originated in the New World. Nope.

What I might believe is it's a watermelon that came over with the Spanish or whomever, and was developed into a crooknecked variety, and some seeds were put into a little Native American vessel in the recent past.

Nan

Coming soon, ancient 3 thousand year old Fruitcake seeds found in newly discovered Egyptian tomb in the Ozarks.

King Tut-
Born in Arizona, moved to Babylonia, king Tut.

Nan

I thought it was a great story!
Kinda like Stephen King plants a garden, then becomes a botanist ... Creepy.
Anybody buy any seeds? Lol!

I uh...I ummm...I WANTED TO BELIEVE.

This kinda story don't work on peeps anymore.

Do we have a Baker Creek peep here at Tomatoville?

I don't wanna talk to you. I just want you to say something.

I want you to say April Fool's l! Nope you cain't. I read this two weeks ago.

I'm glad they recorded the oral history of these two varieties. If for no other reason than local legends are an important part of human culture.

[QUOTE=pmcgrady;692487]I thought it was a great story!
Kinda like Stephen King plants a garden, then becomes a botanist ... Creepy.
Anybody buy any seeds? Lol![/QUOTE]

Not that one, put I did buy this one.

[url]https://www.rareseeds.com/orangeglo-watermelon/[/url]

and some other seeds I've been looking for. Anyone here order from them before? Claud

[QUOTE=saltmarsh;692505]Not that one, put I did buy this one.

[url]https://www.rareseeds.com/orangeglo-watermelon/[/url]

and some other seeds I've been looking for. Anyone here order from them before? Claud[/QUOTE]

I've ordered twice from them. Got a decent number of seeds in paper packets. Everything so far has matched the variety description.

The only tomato I've grown from them is Snow Fairy - an 18" plant with small slicer fruit that I grew in an 8" pot. Loved it!

Thanks, Hatgirl.

[QUOTE=saltmarsh;692505]Not that one, put I did buy this one.

[url]https://www.rareseeds.com/orangeglo-watermelon/[/url]

and some other seeds I've been looking for. Anyone here order from them before? Claud[/QUOTE]

You want that one,then go to Sandhill Preservation who lists so many kinds of melons you won't believe it .

And it was Glenn at Sandhill who sent MANY seeds to Jere Gettle at Baker Creek, aka rare seeds,when he first started out. Glenn also sent him some of his heirloom birdies as well, when he found out that Jere was looking for some.

[url]https://www.sandhillpreservation.com/vegetables[/url]

Carolyn

[QUOTE=carolyn137;692554]You want that one,then go to Sandhill Preservation who lists so many kinds of melons you won't believe it .

And it was Glenn at Sandhill who sent MANY seeds to Jere Gettle at Baker Creek, aka rare seeds,when he first started out. Glenn also sent him some of his heirloom birdies as well, when he found out that Jere was looking for some.

[url]https://www.sandhillpreservation.com/vegetables[/url]

Carolyn[/QUOTE]

Sandhill don't seem to have an online store, only a catalogue. So realistically I'd never get around to ordering from them.

[QUOTE=Hatgirl;692503]I'm glad they recorded the oral history of these two varieties. If for no other reason than local legends are an important part of human culture.[/QUOTE]

They did more than record it.

They are perpetuating it is real.

To sell seeds.

I realize this gets done a lot with humans.

It's time to stop.

We are no longer uneducated sheep to be led to financial slaughter.

It's time to stop.

Reminds me of all the Cherokee Purple myths and Brandywine stories.

Can we just have the gosh darnoodley truth?

I've bought from Baker's Creek aka rare seeds for many years because I wanted some of what ever I purchased from them, mostly a fair amount of seed for the money charged. I do get weary of the political things and some of the outlandish stories, plus now, the thing with Weaver, but that is a personal issue.

The seeds have always come true and good germination, so no complaint there, ordering is fast mostly.

Sandhill is like another of my favorites, E & R, both must be ordered the old fashioned way, by mail with a check or MO. Not a hassle for me and I like supporting both places with my seed money. Glenn and his wife at Sandhill do a tremendous job and I think are special folk who deserve the best for the work they do.

Sandhill also offers an amazing choice for sweet potato slips at very reasonable prices.

I am surprized Rare Seeds failed to mention the Crook Neck Watermelon's excellent resistance to Jackalopes. Worth growing for that feature alone!

[url]https://jackalope.com/the-legend-of-jackalope/[/url]

:)):)):)):)):))

[QUOTE=saltmarsh;692615]I am surprized Rare Seeds failed to mention the Crook Neck Watermelon's excellent resistance to Jackalopes. Worth growing for that feature alone!

[url]https://jackalope.com/the-legend-of-jackalope/[/url][/QUOTE]

I know a guy who knew a guy who knew where the cave is where the seeds were found.

Too bad he was bitten by a Chupa Sea Cobra coming back from Atlantis.

When I look at that tiny bottle, I'm not sure you could fit 200 watermelon seeds inside, as the story says.

Nan

[QUOTE=CamuMahubah;692697]I know a guy who knew a guy who knew where the cave is where the seeds were found.

Too bad he was bitten by a Chupa Sea Cobra coming back from Atlantis.[/QUOTE]

Gee, don't you just hate that?!! Now he'll be a zombie who steals tomatoes.

Tomato-stealing zombies? Will an 8' deer fence keep 'em out, or do I need to buy a tub of Zombie-Off® ?

Nan

Zomb-X.
Get yours today and get one free.
Plus free carry holster if you call before midnight.

As Fry said in Futurama, "Shut up and take my money!"

[QUOTE=Nan_PA_6b;692753]Tomato-stealing zombies? Will an 8' deer fence keep 'em out, or do I need to buy a tub of Zombie-Off® ?

Nan[/QUOTE]


Best to get at least 2 cans, supplies may run out!!

It has to be true! I read it on the internet.

[QUOTE=KCinNC;693550]It has to be true! I read it on the internet.[/QUOTE]

Or Facebook or YouTube.:lol:

I have a question concerning this variety. I have grown it for several years now trying to get the handle shaped watermelons as a unique novelty for my family. No luck. Should I buy some more seed? Do y'all think the handle has been bred out of my seed stock?

Sounds like it. The info on this one was so fishy I don't think you can believe much of anything they say.

Nan

When I read about this one, my thinking was, if someone thinks this is possibly authentic, they should send some of the seed to someone who can do some genetic research on it. If someone at a university or similar can compare it to modern watermelons the issue of their origin would be solved pretty quickly.
Whatever the origin, from the story, the issue trying to get the bottle shape is probably that selection was done to eliminate that shape for many years.

It's the Piltdown melon. :lol: