Re: HYB:seedlings:criteria
iris@hort.net
  • Subject: Re: HYB:seedlings:criteria
  • From: P* A* <p*@mindspring.com>
  • Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2011 14:57:54 -0500 (GMT-05:00)
I do have the most seeds this year than I have room for to be sure. The most I've ever had.  I will make space somehow and cram them all in wherever there is a space even though it goes against my tidy (or trying to be) "Garden Plan".

First the very weakest ones just simply will not get planted.  There is usually at least one or two that have been weaker from the start and despite my coddling and extra fertilizing are still weak.  I'm not talking about small, just not putting out leaves like the others.  They could be smaller than the rest because they are dwarfs.  I like those that do pop up.  If you are not interested in those then toss them as well.

I usually plant the seedlings about 4 inches apart.  This way if ones dies not alot of space is wasted. This also plays into later selection when I cull seedlings based on foliage characteristics (no blooms yet). Once bloom has occured on the majority of the cross I'l decide to keep the best of those.  If some have not bloomed yet (by the second Spring bloom) I cull the non-bloomers based on foliage, growth clump arrangement. If the whole cross was rather disappointing I might just toss the non-bloomers never seeing a bloom.

Paul Archer
Indianapolis, IN



-----Original Message-----
>From: Betty Wilkerson <autmirislvr@aol.com>
>Sent: Jan 9, 2011 2:08 PM
>To: iris@hort.net
>Subject: [iris] HYB:seedlings:criteria
>
>Hi all,
>
>While we wait for the ice storm to hit, maybe we can have some fun?
>
>In the spring we will, collectively, have a lot of seedlings to plant.  How
>will you handle this situation?  Do you plant all of these seedlings, or does
>your seedling selectivity start at this point?
>
>Since I am, primarily, breeding for rebloomers, I pay a lot of attention to
>the seedlings at this stage.  In 2007, I planted some of the 2006 seedlings.
>There were a couple that really stuck out due to strength and root growth.
>One was a Decadence seedling (2128-01) and the other was an Arctic Fox
>seedling (2102-04).  Each contained one of my reblooming seedlings as the pod
>parent.  Both of these seedlings have continued to be very strong and
>productive.  They are tall well branched and give a good stalk to fan ration.
>Both have good form, but nothing spectacular.  Oh, they also increase better
>than others in their respective crosses.
>
>Ponder this--This spring, you have 50 seedlings from one cross.  Do you plant
>all 50 and wait for them to bloom?  How do you make your reselect choices?
>
>Share your process!
>
>
>Betty W.
>Bridge In Time Iris Garden
>Zone 6  . . . is the storm hiting SOUTH of me?
>
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