| |
|
Entry Date
|
Nick Name
|
Location
|
|
Sunday, March 29, 2026
|
|
TowneFamilyVT
|
Vermont
|
 |
Entry 8 of 10 |
 |
|
|
|
Seed Selection: Next Generation Heavy Orange
After 13 years away from the patch, it feels incredibly good to be starting seeds again. There are so many amazing genetics available now I've easily spent hours going back and forth on strategy and which seeds would best execute it. Where I landed was attempting to create a cross that expresses both heavy-to-chart density AND Howard Dill-potential orange.
This year's cross: 2741.5 Haist (f) x 2453 Sherwood (m).
The "why" behind the genetics: The Haist brings three generations of accelerating density with same-patch, same-year standout heavy-to-chart performance. The Sherwood is the largest Howard Dill winner ever recorded, bringing elite size and color genetics. What's even more compelling is that this Sherwood seed produced five Howard Dill winners in its first year out.
Beyond their individual traits, a four-generation pedigree analysis shows only ~19% shared ancestry between these two lines meaning roughly 81% genetic divergence. That divergence will hopefully result in hybrid vigor.
The primary goal isn't a pretty pumpkin this year. It's seeds for a future generation that are both predictably heavy AND beautiful.
Seeds are soaked. Two Haist, two Sherwood. Fingers crossed I don't fry these in the wet paper towel!
|
|
|
