Thanks, Patti!
When I saw "while supplies last", I ordered 25 seeds.
@abhege checked an old SSE Yearbook, and I searched their public list last year, but it was not in either one. So I'm getting while the getting is good!
http://garden.org/thread/view_...
I won't be able to grow them out in cool coastal WA state, but I'll send them either to the PhD who made the request to the Vavilov Institute for me, or to stacyschochler if SSE runs out before Stacy orders some. (Dr. Todd Wehner at NCSU – Raleigh.)
I still have the list of people who would have grown them out last summer if Vavilov had delivered. 25 seeds would provide 5 seds each for the first five people, but they might not all want to grow them now that we know it is not 99.9% lost. Only 90% lost! Probably getting them into the NCSU melon seed bank, or USDA/ARS, is the higest priority for long-term preservation.
Bob Jarret at USDA / ARS / said:
>> I think it would make a useful addition to the USDA collection – so we’d be pleased to add it,
Volunteer growers from a year or so ago:
Stacy S Houston Texas
Patti1957 Eagle Point, OR - - - - may hand-pollinate some
Dave Whitinger Jacksonville TX - - - - great isolation
saltmarsh/ Claud Water Valley, Ms - - - - Isolation won't be a problem for me. At one time Water Valley was the Watermelon capital of the world.
http://garden.org/thread/view_...
Jay / Horntoad Nederland, Texas I would like to give it a try.
RESERVE GROWERS:
Christine/wildflowers North East Texas - - - - Please sign me up as a volunteer if you are still needing growers.
Chelle N.E. Indiana Growing conditions here aren't always favorable
