So as I've mentioned in an earlier thread, I've just moved to southern Portugal. Now I've found out the soil in my backyard is all heavy clay. It starts to crack on hot days and drains very poorly. The owners of the property have some pepper plants in the backyard, which aren't doing great. They do produce fruit, and quite a bit even. Just the leaves and fruits are very small and the plants is very bushy.
Getting to the point. Since my interest in plants started, I've been wanting to start crossing, breeding etc. So I thought I what better place to start then here? I've collected seeds from the best growing of the two plants, because they are supposed to be the same variety but one is doing much, much better. I planted some of the seeds and one of them has come up already. I know it's late (or very early lol) but we don't experience frost here and as of now it is still 30 degrees Celsius outside. Anxious to grow, what can I say.
The way I had in mind was to start with a mixing in 1 part dried clay with every 5 parts of my normal soil. I would only save seeds from the very best growing plants. Then every generation add 1 part of clay extra, repeating the proces until the mixture is at least 50% clay. The thing I'd like to accomplish is creating a strain that has thicker and stronger roots, to more easily dig through the compact clay.
Who has any thoughts on this? I would love to hear some experts' opinion as I've got no prior experience in breeding, and this is just a side project/hobby. All the things I think I know have come from reading on the internet, and everybody knows how reliable that information can be
Thanks in advance!
Ps. If this could be a feasible endeavour, I will keep a glog for everyone who's interested to follow.
Getting to the point. Since my interest in plants started, I've been wanting to start crossing, breeding etc. So I thought I what better place to start then here? I've collected seeds from the best growing of the two plants, because they are supposed to be the same variety but one is doing much, much better. I planted some of the seeds and one of them has come up already. I know it's late (or very early lol) but we don't experience frost here and as of now it is still 30 degrees Celsius outside. Anxious to grow, what can I say.
The way I had in mind was to start with a mixing in 1 part dried clay with every 5 parts of my normal soil. I would only save seeds from the very best growing plants. Then every generation add 1 part of clay extra, repeating the proces until the mixture is at least 50% clay. The thing I'd like to accomplish is creating a strain that has thicker and stronger roots, to more easily dig through the compact clay.
Who has any thoughts on this? I would love to hear some experts' opinion as I've got no prior experience in breeding, and this is just a side project/hobby. All the things I think I know have come from reading on the internet, and everybody knows how reliable that information can be
Thanks in advance!
Ps. If this could be a feasible endeavour, I will keep a glog for everyone who's interested to follow.
