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Post by rdback on Nov 17, 2022 16:58:52 GMT -6
THAT is a beautiful sight Mr. Ron!
I am so happy for you and your success this year, despite all the challenges of 2022. You rightfully should be very proud of your achievement. I know I am. WooHoo!
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Post by chrysanthemum on Nov 17, 2022 19:25:22 GMT -6
Woo Hoo X 2
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Post by heavyhitterokra on Nov 17, 2022 19:28:12 GMT -6
I still haven't taken the time to count out a pound yet. I don't have a scale accurate enough to 'guesstimate' by counting out 100 seeds or so. My son is a painter at a body shop though and has a computerized scale that can weigh a drop of paint. I might take a few over to his shop someday when I'm not busy.
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Post by woodeye on Nov 17, 2022 22:09:51 GMT -6
Good going, Mr. Ron!
Heavy Hitter Okra ain't going extinct anytime soon, you've made sure of that. Outstanding production!!
I'd like to add a YAY! to the Woo Hoos above if possible...
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Post by Tucson Grower on Nov 17, 2022 22:16:57 GMT -6
I look foreward to hearing the results of that. I'm wondering if there is any difference between your Heavy Hitter Okra variety and the standard used to estimate the number of seed per pound, of okra in general.
And there is now another trait to select for. By keeping the seed, separately from each plant, then only keeping seed, for replanting from those plants with the heaviest seed.
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Post by Tucson Grower on Nov 18, 2022 6:39:35 GMT -6
I remember, I once read a story about the domestication of the wild soybean. Initially the soybean hardley had seed much larger than alfalfa seed, and you couldn't really say they were even edible (they weren't). But, look at them now, and what an incredible variety, too. Soybean domestication. Variations in soybean seeds -->
I can visualize okra seed the size of golf balls, and imagine how that might affect the size of the pods, and even the plants. It may or may not be possible - you never know until you try.
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Post by heavyhitterokra on Nov 18, 2022 13:10:37 GMT -6
Tucson Grower,
That was a very interesting article on the development of the modern day soy bean. If only a person had the time and the space, the possibilities would most likely be limitless. It amazes me what I come up with around here just in the space of one season, but I have no help or extra land to pursue other avenues.
A few years ago, my youngest son and I came across an okra plant that only grew about a foot tall, but was bearing full-size pods like crazy. I pulled it up by the root, to remove it from the gene pool, but commented to my son at the time. "I guarantee if a person were to develop that tiny plant, there are people out there who would buy the seed because it's a novelty."
Fast forward a few years, and "Baby Bubba" comes onto the scene.
A couple of times, I've found plants that bear three to five pods at each fruit node, like spokes on a wagon wheel. (Though, I've not been successful at capturing that gene). Mostly due to deer depredation. I've lost more good okra gene stock to deer than Custer lost soldiers to Sitting Bull.
This year alone, I've come across everything from siamese twins, to foot-long pods.
Hopefully, I'll have a deer-proof fence in place before Spring, but so far I've not had any time to work on that project. Maybe, that will change with time, now that I've got my seeds shelled out.
Siamese twins and foot long pods. Looks like I'll have another interesting year in 2023.
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Post by heavyhitterokra on Dec 7, 2022 21:58:13 GMT -6
I thought I had everything ready to go today, with 180 pounds of Heavy Hitter seeds boxed up and ready to ship out, but the FedEx truck stood me up. Very frustrating!
Oh well, I kept twenty pounds in reserve that still need to be shelled out. That will be a good project to keep me busy tomorrow.
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Post by woodeye on Dec 7, 2022 23:14:09 GMT -6
Way to go, heavyhitterokra. Hurry up and wait mode has been engaged.
It used to be "When it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight"
Those days are gone. I have the same problem here, Fedex has tanked in my area, I guess the problem is widespread.
Now it's closer to "When it absolutely, positively has to be there next month sometime, maybe"
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Post by heavyhitterokra on Dec 8, 2022 12:08:39 GMT -6
Teddy, you crack me up!
Above, while speaking of FedEx's new policy of show up any time they please, Woodeye mentioned, "Now it's closer to: 'When it absolutely, positively has to be there next month sometime, maybe."
I like that phrase. I think it should be their new Motto.
If I could get a hold of a real person when I called them on the phone, I'd pitch that one to them.
It's now past noon on Day 2 of playing the 'Waiting Game'.
Yesterday when I called them at 6:00 pm to ask them where their truck was, I was told, "Rest assured, that if they said they would be there today, the truck will arrive today. They may just be running late. Give them until 8:00 pm.
Today, when I called them to ask why the truck never showed up yesterday, or even last evening by 8:00pm, they told me, "Rest assured, that the truck that didn't show up yesterday will arrive as scheduled today for sure."
I've been getting a lot of assured rest lately...
but what would be a lot nicer than that, is if my packages would get picked up someday.
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Post by Tucson Grower on Dec 8, 2022 17:59:27 GMT -6
. . . This year alone, I've come across everything from siamese twins, to foot-long pods.
Hopefully, I'll have a deer-proof fence in place before Spring, but so far I've not had any time to work on that project. Maybe, that will change with time, now that I've got my seeds shelled out.
Siamese twins and foot long pods. Looks like I'll have another interesting year in 2023. So, heavyhitterokra, do you remember what the seeds were like in those foot long pods? Do you think they might have been a little bit bigger than usual?
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Post by heavyhitterokra on Dec 8, 2022 23:32:11 GMT -6
Tucson Grower,
I haven't shelled those foot-long pods yet, they're still intact, so I'll know what they are next Spring while planting my next okra crop.
In years past it hasn't been unusual to find green pods as large as Atwoods water bottles, but I haven't been noting any unusually large seeds. Of course, when a guy processes somewhere in the neighborhood of 19,000 pods per year, a few things get overlooked.
That is a curious question though, it makes me wonder if that trait would be worth pursuing, if only for the oil seeds market?Heavy Hitter Okra Photo Taken August 1, 2019.
Heavy Hitter Okra Photo taken July 1, 2019.
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Post by Tucson Grower on Dec 9, 2022 2:33:17 GMT -6
My rural neighborhood is composed primarily one, two, and four acre parcels - nearby there are much larger parcels comprised of 100's and sometimes 1,000's of acres, most of those are just used to run cattle. Since we're also directly bordering the Saguaro National Park, West; there are copious areas where wildlife can approach, virtually to my backyard. we see coyote's almost any time we're driving to or from town (about an 18 mile ride). It's also not uncommon to see many different species of rabbit, rodents, including what behave similarly to prairie dogs, though these are much smaller than the latter. Of course Javelina, many different species of birds, bobcats, and many many other animals - especially reptiles and amphibians, and including Mule Deer. I must say, though the deer are rather small, as deer go. I would think my 6 foot high chain-link wouldn't be much of a challenge for them. I once even had a Gila Monster meander down my driveway.
My most exciting wildlife encounter, so far, outside of meeting my wife, was seeing a mountain lion cross the road in front of me as I was on my way to work. So far it is the only mountain lion I've seen outside of a zoo or stuffed animal museum.
Considering it is a minimum of 12 feet from the paved road edge to the center line, then another 12 feet (or more) to the opposite side of the road. This mountain lion crossed the road in front of me - it took one step from beyond the road edge, touched near the center line, then its next step was beyond the opposite road edge. It made this maneuver look absolutely effortless. I was, and still am, blown away. But if that wasn't amazing enough, once it had crossed the road so quickly and effortlessly, it was faced with a cutback of the hill on that side of the road - which was completely vertical and 20 feet, or more. You can probably already tell where this is going - you guessed it, its next move was to jump to the top of this short cliff - it did that as easily as it had crossed the road. I was able to see it land, 3 times, but it took less than 15 seconds total, to cross the road and scale the cliff, if you could even call it that. It certainly gave me a new perspective of Gods handywork, and a greater respect for mountain lions than I ever had before. It just gave me an entirely new perspective on crossing a road and climbing a cliff.
Edit (concluding observation): If I ever have occasion to again meet one in person I pray that I am, again, inside of a vehicle.
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Post by Tucson Grower on Dec 9, 2022 11:30:21 GMT -6
heavyhittrokra, Did FEDEX ever pick up your shipment?
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Post by heavyhitterokra on Dec 9, 2022 15:35:24 GMT -6
No FedEx truck as of yet. This is the end of day three of twiddling my thumbs 12 hours per day, sitting around the house, waiting on a FedEx truck that 'REST ASSURED' has never arrived. I've got things to do, but I'm afraid they'll show up if I ever leave the house, so I've been putting off other obligations to try and work around their poor business practices.
When I call FedEx, (which I've probably done a dozen times over the past three days) all I get is an assortment of thickly accented foreigners who can barely speak English and cannot make heads or tails of what I'm asking them.
If they'd be honest with me and say, "Sorry, but there will be at least a 5 day delay on your scheduled pickup." I'd be okay with that, but instead, they lie to me and say, "Your driver is in transit, he'll be there by 3:00 pm." Or, "Rest assured, he'll be there by 8:00 pm without doubt."
I'm sure that's just second nature to a person native to a communist or socialist country, but I don't cotton to being lied to repeatedly.
If I had anything to say about FedEx getting my future business, I'd tell them their name says it all, Fed-"Ex" They'd be my 'Ex' carrier service. I'd hire just about any carrier in the world to avoid messing with these guys again.
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