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Sparta, NC

I did a little research and found the following melons over 250 lbs.

268.8 Bright AR
267 Edwards MI
267 Pleasant NC
262 Carson TN
260 Bright AR
259.2 Kent TN
258 Rouse NC
255 Mitchell MI
252 Rouse NC
251 Mudd KY

I alos listed the state grown in. Are there anymore to add to this list? Please correct the list if I have made any mistakes.

3/17/2010 7:36:06 PM

Lexington,IN

There was also a 262 Bright. I added it to the bottom of your list and don't know if UOW counts or not but I also added that one. I also added year grown and parentage that I know of. Anyone else know parentage of the others? Mr. Bright could help with a few, and maybe add others...

268.8 Bright'04 AR - 157 Bright X Open
267 Edwards'08 MI - 255 Mitchell X 262 Bright
267 Pleasant'09 NC - 217 Pleasant X Open
262 Carson'90 TN -
260 Bright'85 AR -
259.2 Kent'09 TN - 239 Leonard X Open
258 Rouse NC -
255 Mitchell'07 MI - 168 Johnson X 157 Bright
252 Rouse NC -
251 Mudd'08 KY - 178.5 Mudd X Open
262.6 Bright'05 AK -
UOW 285 Edwards'08 MI - 157 Bright X ???

3/17/2010 8:46:43 PM

Okla

there was a 255 Vernon Conrad of Bixby, OK in 1983. Don't know what the cross came from. Maybe Brights will know.

3/17/2010 9:09:39 PM

Sparta, NC

The 252 and 258 Rouse were grown on the 189 Rouse.

3/17/2010 10:22:54 PM

sevierville, Tn

Sam, What year was Rouse's grown ?
Thanks

3/17/2010 10:56:14 PM

Garner, NC

Allie Collier of Angeir NC 252.25 grown in 2005

3/18/2010 9:12:48 AM

Bill Carson, Arrington, TN grew seven watermelons to maturity in 1990. The melons on his other five plants didn't reach maturity. The largest two of the seven weighed 262 and 257. His 242 Carson from 1986 was the seed melon for the 262(264 when 1st weighed) and the 228. The 257 and four others over 200 pounds were from 200 Bright and 205 Bright seeds. All seven grew from hand pollinated flowers.

Rusty and Donnie Sistrunk, Converse, LA grew a 252.4 pound melon. They started their seed collection with a 121 Bright display melon purchased at a Hope motel. The 121 Bright was grown on the 148 Bowers row. They grew a 190 plus melon the first year from the 121 seeds.

Jason Bright's 260 grown in 1985 was from a 181 Bright.

The 262.6 Bright and the 268.8 Bright were grown in 2005 from the 157 Bright.

The 2005 melons on the adjacent row were from a 204 Bright that also grew on the 148 Bowers row. The largest sold from the row weighed 230. The largest on the row weighed 246.

The 157 Bright was grown from a 148 Bowers. The 148 Bowers was a hybrid produced by a 232 Carson and a 179 Bright cross. The 179 Bright was sold and delivered to the Bowers family in 1983.

A large offspring of the 157 was on display at the 2006 Hope Watermelon Festival and discarded somewhere. It was not weighed because it ruined in the heat with none of the family available to care for it. The plant later produced similar but smaller melons that were collected for seeds. Those seeds included the 157 offspring seeds that were used to get the hybrids that are doing well now for large size. None of the 157 Bright seeds of 2004 were sold after the 2005 planting season.

Vernon Conrad grew a 255 melon in 1983. He grew a 219 the year before. Both were records. His seed collection most likely started with the purchase of a watermelon at the Rush Springs Watermelon Festival. The 255 Conrad seeds are brown.

I am not sure about Mr. Collier's seed line. He is the real deal as a grower.

3/18/2010 12:59:10 PM

Garner, NC

Mr Bright, I was very lucky to be able to meet Mr. Colleir last year and spent abour 5 hours at his house. I could have spent days talking about melons with him, he was just that type of person you want listen to. His knowledge of watermelons amazed me to say the least. Last year he said that he was no longer going to grow watermelons due to his age and health, but I firgured that was just talk. After talking to Mr. Boyette this week he said Allie was only going to grow a plant or two this year in his garden. I'm not sure off his seed line either, but hearing him talk I would think that the seed came from years of Harnett County watermelons.

3/18/2010 2:36:37 PM

sevierville, Tn

Thanks Lloyd !!
So the 157 bright was an open pollinated seed from the 148 Bowers ?

3/18/2010 2:45:40 PM

Yes, it was one of a group of late melons I was holding back for the Minn. State Fair. When that didn't work out, I just collected the seeds from the group. The row was between a row of extra long watermelons and a row of Carson melons from the 262 and 257.

3/18/2010 2:56:40 PM

Okla

LloydB was you able to get some of the Conrad seeds from his 255? I wonder why the Conrads never grew anymore giants after that record year and what happened to their seed stock.
I know Joel Tumbleson who has been winning the Rush Springs Festival several times over the last 10 years with his line of Rush Spring Giants. That watermelon is a very dark green in color melon and the seeds are mostly dark black.

3/18/2010 6:42:40 PM

I have not bought seeds from Conrad Farms but they did sell seeds for a few years. They have grown more large melons since the two records and Melvin has entered winning melons at Republic, MO. They have downsized their farm as I understand.

3/18/2010 7:56:19 PM