Amateur Plant Breeding- Growing out an F2 Lettuce Population
This is just an example of how much fun it is to grow out an F2 population of two vegetable varieties and observe the segregation of traits. The original cross did not happen here on Oxbow Farm, but we found the F1 plant in amongst a planting of Black Seeded Simpson lettuce. We have speculated that the male parent must have been a modern red variety similar to Cherokee given how intensely red many of the offspring turn out. Intense red varieties in lettuce are a fairly recent development.
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I know this is an old video but did the not so visually stunning ones have a better flavor by chance?
Its nice when you get one of those surprises in a seed packet, more so if you can make use of it. I think I got a Table Queen Acorn x Yellow Scallopini last year, was alright as a summer squash, interesting nutty taste as a "winter squash", but not real large fruit. Seeing this is making me think I should throw a few of the seeds in the ground again and see what happens. Also, and I may have missed this in the video, but did you self the F1 or allow it to outcoss with your more typical Black Seeded Simpson?
This is great Tim. I love your style. You convey a lot of information and technique just by observing and reporting what your process is. I am definitely taking notes. On a different level, I would love to hear your approach to preparing your fields and plots for planting. Are you turning in manure, cover, etc? You once mentioned alfalfa meal. Are you dressing your crops during the season? Just curious. Also, are you plagued by pests of any sort? And what is your approach toward that? As for lettuce, I have been growing Grandpa Admire's. It is extremely bolt resistant. I got it to seed and I'm growing out last years now. It was very tasty, with a blush of red and only got bitter right at the end. It also formes a pretty nice loose head. I have been trying a lot of different lettuces to see which one I like best for all around taste and performance. So far that one is at the top. I will have to try some Simpson.
Wow, lovely. How did those varying degrees of red ones taste? Was there lot of difference in flavor? If you can remember last summer...
Damn you Tim Springston! Now I'm thinking about lettuce breeding and I can't even keep up with growing food to eat. My fav lettuce is Esmeralda, a heat resistant, and most importantly, consistently heading, butter lettuce. never grown any other butterhead that comes close to in in overall performance and quality. Funny, just before you mentioned forellenschluse (sp) I was thinking maybe I'd cross that with it and make a pretty speckled butter lettuce beloved by everyone! I thought ruby streaks mizuna would do well at market and hardly anyone looked at it. You never know til you put stuff out there I guess.
I thought lettuce didn't cross that easily