Squash breeding project

[jmsieglaff]

Great stuff Brent! I'll have to check out your video, glad you've got something you love. My F3 squash this year is late and limited due to two episodes of chipmunks digging out the sprouting seeds. I never have had a chipmunk problem before, let's just say they no longer are gracing the Earth with their presence. So we'll see what I get this year, but next year maybe a return to the F3 given the limited plants I've got that didn't get chipmunked.

[jmsieglaff]

I didn't find anything out of this world in my 2017 screening of F2 seed (late start due to chipmunks didn't help). In 2018 I'm doing another round of F2 seed--those seeds have started to emerge over the weekend.

[jmsieglaff]

Awesome to know you're still kicking with this project too Brent! I'll look forward to your updates.

[jmsieglaff]

Beautiful looking squash Brent! Hope the flavor is there too! I’m a bit behind

But very hot temps have growth going fast. I will select for 1 plant in each spot after I can get hints of vigor, habit, etc.

[PhilaGardener]

Looking great!

[jmsieglaff]

I realized I never updated in 2018. I did get a plant I really liked last year. I saved seed from it and have 4 F3 plants growing nicely. You can see even at young age, a good deal of segregation going on.

[imp]

So, how is the vining squash project going?

[jmsieglaff]

Originally Posted by imp

So, how is the vining squash project going?

I'm glad you asked. It's been a mixed bag. The project is fun, have gotten some variety when growing F3s over the last 2 years. One thing I've come to realize, is in our kitchen, we would do better with a more zucchini shaped fruit. These generally are a slightly tear-drop shaped fruit. The flavor is good and production good, seed cavities can get large. I may get crazy in 2020, grow an F1, use it as male pollen to cross with a bush zucchini and then try to select for vining habit with more of a zucchini shape. A robustly climbing vine with zucchini shapes would be the perfect outcome. Time shall tell!

[jmsieglaff]

4 plants showing some variation in leaf shape and shading. Always fun to grow these out! I need to double check my notes but I believe these are from F3 seed.