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Houston area (Zone 9a)  stacyschochler Aug 19, 2013 7:45 AM CST |
| Do you have any idea where I can buy Schochler Watermelon seeds? |
Name: Dave Whitinger Jacksonville, Texas (Zone 8b)              |
| I was curious and went looking and it seems that Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds has mentioned these in the past but are not currently offering them. I would suggest you contact them via their website and enquire about availability. |
Name: Rick Corey Everett WA 98204 (Zone 8a) Sunset Zone 5. Koppen Csb. Eco 2f          RickCorey Aug 21, 2013 6:01 PM CST |
| I couldn't find a current vendor, either. Dave's right, Baker Creek has been very chatty in the past, and they sure know old seeds! seeds@rareseeds.com I did find a detailed description: NC State University has a Cucurbit Breeding department or sub-department, and they publish a "Vegetable Cultivar Descriptions for North America" with a section "Watermelon (M-Z) http://cuke.hort.ncsu.edu/cucu... "Schochler - Vendor: Robert Buist Co. Characteristics: 90 days to harvest; a very large melon used extensively in the South, having outstanding shipping requisites for size, tough rind and quality; fruit very long, 40 to 50 lb., rich dark green with faint stripe; flesh bright crimson, fine grained and very sugary." I Googled "Robert Buist company" and found a lot of history about him, but as far as I can tell, the company is no longer in business. The seed, nursery and greenhouse business was in Philadelphia. 67th Street was the last address I found. He died in 1880 of pneumonia. He turned his seed business over to his son Robert. Just because it ISN'T complicated doesn't mean I can't MAKE it complicated! Weather Links ~ Sunset Zones ~ Degree Days ~~ National Gardening Association Kitazawa Seeds ~ Tainong Seeds ~~ ATP Member Map ~~ My Blogs ~~ Coop Extension Finder Seriously Hot Peppers ~~ Seed Library Resources ~~ Piggy Swap Chat #11 |
Name: Rick Corey Everett WA 98204 (Zone 8a) Sunset Zone 5. Koppen Csb. Eco 2f RickCorey Aug 21, 2013 6:36 PM CST |
| I found a photo of one, grown in Orofino, Idaho. The photo also shows Dave Schochler (a grandson of the developer of what they called "this hybrid"). If it really is F1 hybrid seed, your chances of finding it go way down! Do you mind if I ask whether you're related? http://davesgarden.com/communi... http://davesgarden.com/guides/... Citrullus lanatus 'Schochler' Schochler Watermelon Just because it ISN'T complicated doesn't mean I can't MAKE it complicated! Weather Links ~ Sunset Zones ~ Degree Days ~~ National Gardening Association Kitazawa Seeds ~ Tainong Seeds ~~ ATP Member Map ~~ My Blogs ~~ Coop Extension Finder Seriously Hot Peppers ~~ Seed Library Resources ~~ Piggy Swap Chat #11 |
Houston area (Zone 9a) stacyschochler Aug 21, 2013 7:24 PM CST |
Thanks Rick. After I posted my question, I found most of the same information you did. Yes, I am a Schochler by marriage and we are related to Dave. I do know him and I asked him, but he gave all of his seeds to a cousin that doesn't have email, a phone or a computer. UGH.... So I will have to send him a letter.  Thank you for all your research. I will inquire with Baker Creek and ask them too. Stacy |
Name: Arlene Grantville, GA (Zone 8a)          abhege Aug 21, 2013 7:26 PM CST |
Stacy, and please let us know, you have peaked our interest in this melon. Mine anyway!  |
Houston area (Zone 9a) stacyschochler Aug 21, 2013 7:32 PM CST |
| okay! i will! |
Name: Rick Corey Everett WA 98204 (Zone 8a) Sunset Zone 5. Koppen Csb. Eco 2f RickCorey Aug 21, 2013 7:43 PM CST |
| Thanks, Stacy. Good luck. I hope you find it and let us know. I'm not a member of Seed Savers Exchange, so i can't search their database. But I've asked whether a non-member can buy last year's Yearbook. From all the history on the Internet, your grandfather-in-law must have been a greatly loved horticulturalist. Just because it ISN'T complicated doesn't mean I can't MAKE it complicated! Weather Links ~ Sunset Zones ~ Degree Days ~~ National Gardening Association Kitazawa Seeds ~ Tainong Seeds ~~ ATP Member Map ~~ My Blogs ~~ Coop Extension Finder Seriously Hot Peppers ~~ Seed Library Resources ~~ Piggy Swap Chat #11 |
Name: Arlene Grantville, GA (Zone 8a) abhege Aug 21, 2013 7:47 PM CST |
| I was thinking SSE as well, Rick. My son used to be a member but I don't think he is now. I'll ask him tomorrow. |
Houston area (Zone 9a) stacyschochler Aug 21, 2013 8:00 PM CST |
| Rick, I'm not related to him (the Schochler you are referring too) directly. Dave Schochler is my father-in-laws cousin some how. They are all descendants from a common ancestor though. Dave lived in Idaho for a time, but has moved back to Texas. That is where the seed originated from. My husbands grandfather grew them in his back yard every year, but he died a long time ago and we have a lot of regrets not learning more from him. He came from a great line of gardeners that's for sure. |
Name: Rick Corey Everett WA 98204 (Zone 8a) Sunset Zone 5. Koppen Csb. Eco 2f RickCorey Aug 21, 2013 8:08 PM CST |
| >> Dave Schochler is my father-in-laws cousin some how I couldn't even guess whether genealogists have a name for that! But the mystery of the Schochler watermelon seeds will keep tantalizing me. Arlene, I hope it is possible to get an old SSE Yearbook. I remember seeing one, once upon a time. Now that I have my own garden, I might make a list, invest the $40 membership fee one year, and collect a few disappearing heirlooms to see if I can multiply them. Just because it ISN'T complicated doesn't mean I can't MAKE it complicated! Weather Links ~ Sunset Zones ~ Degree Days ~~ National Gardening Association Kitazawa Seeds ~ Tainong Seeds ~~ ATP Member Map ~~ My Blogs ~~ Coop Extension Finder Seriously Hot Peppers ~~ Seed Library Resources ~~ Piggy Swap Chat #11 |
Name: Arlene Grantville, GA (Zone 8a) abhege Aug 21, 2013 8:12 PM CST |
Okay, I got up off my butt to see if I still had my SSE yearbook. I cannot find it. It was one of those things I held on to but with us moving and DOWNSIZING, I think I pitched it. Maybe Matt will have one. He doesn't throw those kinds of things away. At least I hope not. Unless he gave it to me thinking I wouldn't...  |
Houston area (Zone 9a) stacyschochler Aug 21, 2013 8:20 PM CST |
| Hahahaha Rick. My dad is a genealogist. I just don't know how they are related, but they are cousins of some sort. ;) I've asked Dave, he wrote a book about our family. My father in law is going to ask his sister if she knows where any seeds are. I will keep you all posted. I feel like I've made some new friends. :) |
Name: Arlene Grantville, GA (Zone 8a) abhege Aug 21, 2013 8:28 PM CST |
stacyschochler said:Hahahaha Rick. My dad is a genealogist. I just don't know how they are related, but they are cousins of some sort. ;) I've asked Dave, he wrote a book about our family. My father in law is going to ask his sister if she knows where any seeds are. I will keep you all posted. I feel like I've made some new friends. :) We are a curious group and Rick especially won't give up! And by the way,  Hang around, you'll have some fun! |
   Patti1957 Aug 21, 2013 9:20 PM CST |
| I have the currant 2013 SSE yearbook, it's not listed. I did a search in the online yearbook and nothing came up. I thought it might show me if it had been listed in past yearbooks. |
Name: Arlene Grantville, GA (Zone 8a) abhege Aug 22, 2013 5:34 AM CST |
| Patti, aren't you sweet for checking for us! I'm thinking we're not gonna find any of these seeds. But the search is half the fun! Thanks for checking for us! |
Name: Rick Corey Everett WA 98204 (Zone 8a) Sunset Zone 5. Koppen Csb. Eco 2f RickCorey Aug 22, 2013 12:21 PM CST |
| >> I feel like I've made some new friends. :) Yes you have!  >> 2013 SSE yearbook, it's not listed. Thanks, Patti and Arlene. Sigh! That means it doesn't matter that SSE won't sell old Yearbooks to non-members. Some day I'll just have to pay that $40 for membership. I might not give up ... but I don't have any ideas right now, beyond asking Baker Creek who they got them from, back when.. It's cool that we have an "in" with the family of the original breeder! They might be the only holders of an endangered heirloom cultivar. Just because it ISN'T complicated doesn't mean I can't MAKE it complicated! Weather Links ~ Sunset Zones ~ Degree Days ~~ National Gardening Association Kitazawa Seeds ~ Tainong Seeds ~~ ATP Member Map ~~ My Blogs ~~ Coop Extension Finder Seriously Hot Peppers ~~ Seed Library Resources ~~ Piggy Swap Chat #11 |
Name: Arlene Grantville, GA (Zone 8a) abhege Aug 22, 2013 12:41 PM CST |
So has anyone checked with Baker Creek yet?  |
Name: Rick Corey Everett WA 98204 (Zone 8a) Sunset Zone 5. Koppen Csb. Eco 2f RickCorey Aug 22, 2013 12:50 PM CST |
| I asked Baker Creek, it can't hurt. BTW, here it is in the ATP Plant database. I'm going to add it to my "Want" list, just in case anyone who has access stumbles onto the entry: ATP BB Code: Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus 'Schochler') Just because it ISN'T complicated doesn't mean I can't MAKE it complicated! Weather Links ~ Sunset Zones ~ Degree Days ~~ National Gardening Association Kitazawa Seeds ~ Tainong Seeds ~~ ATP Member Map ~~ My Blogs ~~ Coop Extension Finder Seriously Hot Peppers ~~ Seed Library Resources ~~ Piggy Swap Chat #11 |
Name: Rick Corey Everett WA 98204 (Zone 8a) Sunset Zone 5. Koppen Csb. Eco 2f RickCorey Aug 22, 2013 12:50 PM CST |
| Cross-posted! Great rinds think alike. Just because it ISN'T complicated doesn't mean I can't MAKE it complicated! Weather Links ~ Sunset Zones ~ Degree Days ~~ National Gardening Association Kitazawa Seeds ~ Tainong Seeds ~~ ATP Member Map ~~ My Blogs ~~ Coop Extension Finder Seriously Hot Peppers ~~ Seed Library Resources ~~ Piggy Swap Chat #11 |
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