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Wednesday, February 04, 2015 H3 Fuquay Varina, NC

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I believe there are 2 distinct bushel gourd lines. Seeds in pic-bottom line 1) #1, 2, 3 & 4 are of the same genetic line. Seed at top line2) # 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are of another distinct line. Line 1 should be light green gourds and line 2 are dark green gourds. Line 1 are called Giant Nigerian bushel, Line 2 are called Persian gourds (per Mr.Jeffers?). Line 1 has genetics in it from WR (Wright's) and line 2 has genetics in it from WR (Jeffers, Westfall & English).
People and sources responsible for keeping genetic lines going: Line 1 sources: Wright's, Carolina Gourds and Seeds, Dixon's Internet "Giant Gourd Contest", Rocky Ford gourd, Quarry Farms and Thompson & Morgan seed catalog.
Line 2 sources: Louiseville Courier-Journal, Jeffers, Westfall, English. Much credit goes to Westfall, Jeffers and Wright for genetic stabilization. All three deserve much credit for their dedication and hard work.
Three different shapes of seeds but only two distinct lines: Why? The Giant Nigerian bushels (light green) always threw two shapes of seeds since 1997 when I started growing them: ruffle pecan shape (#1 & 2) and the almond shape seeds (#3 & 4). I don't know why. Both gourds were identical in color, shape, size, weight and looks outside and inside. I would plant all ruffle pecan seeds and at harvest have both pecan and almond seeds, but not in the same gourd. Persian gourds (Jeffers/Westfall/English) throws a little smaller, harder seed with a bit of ear on it. Anybody who brought seeds from the sources above have genetics from those WR lines. I hope this information is informative.
 



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