Ancient Watermelon

CamuMahubah · March 30, 2018

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?

https://www.rareseeds.com/art-combes...nt-watermelon/

Nan_PA_6b · March 31, 2018

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

Worth1 · March 31, 2018

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

Nan_PA_6b · March 31, 2018

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

Nan

pmcgrady · March 31, 2018

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

CamuMahubah · March 31, 2018

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.

Hatgirl · March 31, 2018

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.

saltmarsh · March 31, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmcgrady

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

Not that one, put I did buy this one.

https://www.rareseeds.com/orangeglo-watermelon/

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

Hatgirl · March 31, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltmarsh

Not that one, put I did buy this one.

https://www.rareseeds.com/orangeglo-watermelon/

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

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!

saltmarsh · March 31, 2018

Thanks, Hatgirl.

**carolyn137** · March 31, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltmarsh

Not that one, put I did buy this one.

https://www.rareseeds.com/orangeglo-watermelon/

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

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.

https://www.sandhillpreservation.com/vegetables

Carolyn

Hatgirl · March 31, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by carolyn137

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.

https://www.sandhillpreservation.com/vegetables

Carolyn

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

CamuMahubah · March 31, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatgirl

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.

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?

imp · March 31, 2018

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.

saltmarsh · March 31, 2018

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

https://jackalope.com/the-legend-of-jackalope/

March 30, 2018	#1
CamuMahubah Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Alliance Nebraska Posts: 169	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? https://www.rareseeds.com/art-combes...nt-watermelon/

March 31, 2018	#2
Nan_PA_6b Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 3,194	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

March 31, 2018	#3
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Coming soon, ancient 3 thousand year old Fruitcake seeds found in newly discovered Egyptian tomb in the Ozarks.

March 31, 2018	#5
pmcgrady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 1,836	I thought it was a great story! Kinda like Stephen King plants a garden, then becomes a botanist ... Creepy. Anybody buy any seeds? Lol!

March 31, 2018	#7
Hatgirl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Ireland Posts: 211	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.

March 31, 2018	#10
saltmarsh Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: 2 miles south of Yoknapatawpha Zone 7b Posts: 662	Thanks, Hatgirl.

March 31, 2018	#14
imp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 4,832	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.