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Very interesting Adrian ! Actually what gave me the first insight into this strong rerooting phenomenon is, while harvesting my 200 maximas, my around 35 interspecific hybrids 3/4 maximas, originating from random crosses made by bees in my 2024 moschata patch. From Tetsukabuto too. So most of them were still alive, healthy and ... showing those rerooting capacities! Later fruiting though.

Then I went to my maxima patch and I sow that phenomenon in most moschatas, AND less appearant in the 3/4 maximas that weee in there, also originating from random Tetsukabuto crosses, but with my maxima landrace.

Oh yes! If that's a maxima it's what I am looking for: rerooting with fine roots and some soil sticking to it : signs of good microbial activity / capacity.

Here is an example in moschata with double primordial roots, dense fine root branching and soil aggregated around (very rare in my sandy soil)


Then the expression of this capicity seems to be also relative to growing conditions, meaning it's those plants, i.e. the most "collaborative" IN ONE PLACE,that I'm looking for. For example in my place it's the 1-5% of my maximas (though a really diverse and selected for vigor over the past 3 years modern landrace) that shows significant rerooting capacities, and always less than on your picture.

Just had confirmation by Tessa Gowans from Seed Dreams that she is still selling seeds 🥳

Oh thanks for insisting Andrew: as the website seemed outdated I thought sales were off. Reaching out to the owner now, who seems to sell mainly to a local level, focusing on bringing locally adapted seeds to her community 👌

Thanks for that Andrew.though I haven't seen Hopi White in any catalogue, there seems to be Hopi Pale Grey, which is probably about the same. Did you keep any seeds or know someone who could have

Hi,

I've just sent a first overview of my observations there where I talk about the huge difference between Maxima and Moschata rooting systems in my fields.

https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/thomas-cucurbits-garden-summer-2025-some-solanaceae/3928/77?u=thomaspicard

I want strong Maximas. So what I'm gonna do?

- find known maxima strains with strong rooting systems - and retooting abilities - to crossbreed my populations with.

- continue efforts to bring in those moschata's properties in maxima by backcrossing Tetsukabuto's offsprings with Maxima and then select for that type of rooting systems.

If you know very strong maxima strains I'll appreciate your inputs. If you would like to get involved in that breeding effort, let me know. I already have some stuff advanced on the interspecific side of things.

After nearly 2 months of growth I confirm prior remarks on GTS: there is impressing difference of growth between crosses with Tetsukabuta: some being really small and slow others being big rapidly. Thus that doesn't match up with the size of the fruit in prior generation. It must have to do with the pollen donor, i.e. the other (unknown) parent.
Also: my 3/4 maxima are overall fast and big like maximas whereas my 3/4 moschatas are overall smaller and slightly slower growing like moschatas.

My updates on GTS relative to differences of early growth in the following generation of a series of Tetsukabuto random crosses : https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/network-and-potentialization-of-a-squash-selection-loys-studies/3216/44?u=thomaspicard

Got seeds for people in Europe willing to work on that

And by "that" I think primarily about 2 different lines of thoughts:
- breeding for ultra long storage with excellent eating qualities (may it be in moschata or maxima)
- breeding for creating an intermediate form, may it be a bridge between the 2 species.

Hi, building up landraces the way Joseph does, last winter I have bought 4 strains of Tetsukabuto and equivalent (Iron cup, Maukai, and Shiatsu), all looking really really similar to Tetsukabuto. I actually had no perticular intentions behind that, just willing to see how it will show up.
Nonetheless, I have separated my 10 plants of each in 2 places : 1 in my moschata patch, one in my maxima, all oriented long storage, under first year of heavy selection for germination and vegetation vigour at early stage, in order to go to direct sowing post crushing my winter cover crops during May.
So I'll have seeds of each, I can't tell who's the daddy, but if you want some let me know. Could upload pictures later.

Got those seeds out for about 2 weeks from those crazily long storage squashes!!! None of these was even slightly damaged after a 6-7 months storage.

So each of those tens of random crosses are in separate bags. Some are 3/4 maximas, others moschatas, and noted as such.. I'll do direct seeding of these shortly. Breeding strategy still to be defined.

Got seeds for people in Europe willing to work on that

Thanks Adrian!
Here is how these look like right now:
...
Sorry I can't find a way to insert a pic in here!?! Can someone help me?. You'll find a piccture of them down at the end of this post, with ficifolias and kiwanos around, as of today: https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/direct-seed-exchange-among-eu-members-2024-2025/3037/21?u=thomaspicard

I'll open them around the 1stvof April. If some wants randomly pollinated Tetsu squashes with either moschatas or maximas please let me know.

It's meant for gardeners, market gardeners and networks sharing this same will to create modern landraces, a.k.a. evolutionary populations.

My 2024 squash selection (maxima and moschata) detailed on Going to Seed forum:

https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/direct-seed-exchange-among-eu-members-2024-2025/3037/21?u=thomaspicard

If some Europeans are interested in some seeds out of that, please ask.

It's two grexes Joseph's style which I brought to Antibes for the Farmer's Seeds International Conference. From first to third year crosses, depending on fruits.

I got some fresh of this year from a friend who encouraged me to do some crosses with corn too. I am in France as you are. He uses that in pastures, cows love it.

Hi, building up landraces the way Joseph does, last winter I have bought 4 strains of Tetsukabuto and equivalent (Iron cup, Maukai, and Shiatsu), all looking really really similar to Tetsukabuto. I actually had no perticular intentions behind that, just willing to see how it will show up.
Nonetheless, I have separated my 10 plants of each in 2 places : 1 in my moschata patch, one in my maxima, all oriented long storage, under first year of heavy selection for germination and vegetation vigour at early stage, in order to go to direct sowing post crushing my winter cover crops during May.
So I'll have seeds of each, I can't tell who's the daddy, but if you want some let me know. Could upload pictures later.