New Cantaloupe, Pumpkin, And Squash Seeds Available

New cantaloupe, pumpkin, and acorn squash varieties have been developed at the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station (NHAES) at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) by a researcher who represents the longest continuous squash and pumpkin breeding program in North America.

Brent Loy, emeritus professor of plant genetics, continues his ground-breaking plant breeding work as an NHAES researcher. His most recent work has resulted in the commercial release of nine new cucurbit varieties that are well suited to state and regional growing conditions, have improved yields, and exhibit disease and pest resistance.

Shockwave, a long shelf-life cantaloupe with higher sugar content than most varieties is available from Holmes Seed Co. and Harris Seeds. Credit: Holmes Seed Co.

Shockwave, a long shelf-life cantaloupe with higher sugar content than most varieties is available from Rupp Seeds, Holmes Seed Co., and Harris Seeds. Credit: Holmes Seed Co.

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Loy and his team also have been focused on reducing farm inputs of pesticides and labor for weed control by incorporating better disease resistance into new varieties and developing varieties with a more compact and upright growth habit for better weed control through cultivation.

“Traditional breeding projects at the University of New Hampshire have been highly successful in developing new varieties of melon, ornamental pumpkin, winter squash, summer squash, and gourds which enhance the capacity of farmers to provide a diversity of produce at local markets such as roadside stands, farmers’ markets, and related retail markets,” Loy says.

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Loy’s experiment station-funded work, which has largely taken place at the NHAES Kingman Farm, has resulted in more than 70 new varieties of squash, pumpkins, gourds, and melons sold in seed catalogs throughout the world, many of the varieties being joint developments with seed companies located in the Northeast.

“Development of new varieties has been a key underpinning for production of abundant and nutritious vegetables in North America. With increasing land prices and increased costs associated with inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, and labor, improved variety performance in terms of yield, quality, and ease of culture is paramount to successful farming,” he says. “Moreover, income generated by regional seed companies in producing and marketing locally adapted varieties helps maintain their profitability.”

Two new cantaloupe varieties are available to home gardeners and small growers. First Kiss cantaloupe is an early cantaloupe with medium size available from High Mowing Seeds. Shockwave, a long shelf-life cantaloupe with higher sugar content than most varieties, is available from Rupp SeedsHolmes Seed Co., and Harris Seeds.

A new yellow pumpkin variety, Sunlight, is in the pie pumpkin class, and is especially attractive when marketed next to white pumpkins. Available from Johnny’s Selected Seeds, it also has tolerance to powdery mildew disease. Photo credit: Johnny’s Selected Seeds

A new yellow pumpkin variety, Sunlight, is in the pie pumpkin class, and is especially attractive when marketed next to white pumpkins. Available from Johnny’s Selected Seeds, it also has tolerance to powdery mildew disease. Photo credit: Johnny’s Selected Seeds

Pumpkin growers have several relatively new types of pumpkin to consider.  Naked Bear is a hull-less seeded pumpkin with small fruit, high seed yields, good tip fill, semi-bush growth habit, tolerance to bacterial leaf spot, and intermediate resistance to powdery mildew. Designed for snack seed production, it is available from Rupp SeedsHolmes Seed Co. and Harris Seeds.

In addition to Moonshine, the first white pumpkin released from UNH breeding, two new white pumpkins are Blanco and Snowball, and both are noted for retaining white rind coloration well. Blanco, a 4- to 5-pound pumpkin, was developed in a cooperative effort with Seneca Vegetable Research. It is available from Harris Seeds, Jordan Seeds, and Stokes Seeds.

Snowball, a small, round pumpkin, was developed in a collaborative effort with Hybrid Seeds of New Zealand and is available from Johnny’s Selected Seeds. A new yellow pumpkin variety, Sunlight, is in the pie pumpkin class, and is especially attractive when marketed next to white pumpkins. Available from Johnny’s Selected Seeds, it also has tolerance to powdery mildew.

Three varieties of acorn squash with higher starch content and improved eating quality as compared to most standard varieties also have been released. Honey Bear is a small acorn variety with very compact or bush growth, available from Johnny’s Selected Seeds. Sugar Bear, a slightly larger acorn variety is available from High Mowing Organic Seeds, as is Sugar Dumpling, a small, striped acorn type squash. All three varieties have powdery mildew resistance.

This breeding research is based upon work supported by the NH Agricultural Experiment Station, through joint funding of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, under award number 233554, and the state of New Hampshire.

 

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