Re: Seed germination
- Subject: Re: Seed germination
- From: p*
- Date: Tue, 02 Apr 2002 02:28:33 -0000
Vicki,
Thanks for the pep talk! But I could hardly get any peppyer (sp?) I
have ridiculously complete records, showing when I made the cross,
picked the pod, did the drying, freezing or refrigerating (some of
each cross), soaking, planting (in pot, in coldframe, or
seedbed)...etc. etc.
So I was encouraged to see that my first sprout was the very first on
my processing list, and feel confident that the rest will come along
when they're ready. And since my space is limited, I will trust that
the best emerge and need seedbed space. My seedbeds are rimmed with
concrete blocks and filled with my usual mix of 1/2 topsoil, 1/2
composted chicken manure, in good sun but covered with screens to
prevent our lovely deer from dining on them. Now we just need the
sun!
A most encouraging day: full sun and stalks with fat buds on three
iris: Anxiety, Aaron's Dagger, and Lamoyne (supposed to be an M). I
spent the winter compiling lists of crosses for my two hyb projects,
so I'm all ready to go with my little pincers and toothpicks. Let's
hear it for Spring!
Patricia Brooks
Whidbey Island, WA, zone 8?
-- In iris-talk@y..., craigiris@i... wrote:
> Hi Patricia,
>
> Our seedlings look just like miniature iris fans. The very first
that
> pop through the soil are tiny spear like leaves, usually quickly
having
> two distinct leaves showing. They develop roots that can be anywhere
> from an inch long to three to four inches long by the time they
reach
> 3-5 inches in height and develop a true 'fan'.
>
> I think Gordon Plough had the best seedling bed I have ever seen.
It was
> a raised bed about 4' X 8' bordered by poured concrete. Gordon
refreshed
> several inches of top soil each season, removing the old soil and
any
> seed that may not have germinated in the process. he was a Master at
> keeping detailed records of his iris.
> He insisted that anyone, who attempts to hybridized or grow any
plant,
> must maintain detailed records if their goal is to obtain plants
worthy
> of introduction. (This includes a chart of plant locations).
> He was an inspiration to us as beginning hybridizers way back in
1963.
> We took Gordon at his word and have faithfully maintained records
of all
> crosses throughout the years. We always chart the plant locations!
This
> proved especially valuable when our neighbors ducks and/or chickens
> thought The tags were something to peck at resulting in their
removal.
> When we get too old and decrepit to continue our program of
hybridizing,
> this information will be available to those youngsters who want to
> improve on what we have accomplished.
> However, at 67 and 72 years young, Vicki and Jim Craig plan to
continue
> hybridizing for many more years. Gardening helps to keep us agile
and
> young at heart. Just think, our good friend Bennett Jones is in his
85th
> year. What about Currier McEwen, Rosalie and our many seniors who
are
> active iris growers and hybridizers. I know there are more of you
out
> there!
> Yet, we are very happy that we have younger enthusiasts to join us
in
> carrying on. So I encourage all of you to continue to try and create
> (through selective crosses) better iris. Iris that will give longer
> seasons of bloom, iris that will rebloom, iris which fall into
various
> classes. It is a wide open field especially for those who can see
beyond
> the TB classification.
> There are Medians, Siberians, Louisanas, Arils, Onco's, Spurias,
etc.
> So go for it!!! But give Mother Nature a wee bit of help (raised
beds
> for bearded iris in wet winter seasons, shaded beds ( as Arnold
Ferguson
> has) for Aril to keep the rain off, in a wet winter season and so
on. In
> other words, try to repeat the natural growing conditions of the
> original species.
> Have a specific goal in mind whether it be a specific color, flower
form
> i.e. Space Ager's, or classification such as Standard Dwarf Bearded
> with pink standards and blue falls with a white beard, or You name
> it!!! Select a program for hybridizing and stick to it. It may take
> years to accomplish your goal! What a challenge, what a great way to
> look forward to the next season!!
> Good Luck!
>
> Vicki
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