Re: HYB: TB: Germination/how many yrs.

Thanks for the feedback, folks.  Back when I had fewer than 10 pods to
keep track of, things were more manageable.  This winter, I've been
trying to dump out the oldest pots, but all those experiments with split
lots of seeds has meant multiple pots with sometimes obscure labels!
Most are legible, just obscure <g>

I've seen some seedlings come up after 5 yrs, mostly (I think) in pots
where the seeds weren't covered well enough with soil or where they were
too dry, too hot too early etc.

Now that I'm retired and am taking better care of seed pots (ignoring
this spring's great damp off event.!.), germination rates are much
higher, but even with the extra round of chilling in the fridge, some
crosses still have higher germination rates the second year.

So, Francelle, I think part of that has to do with the genetic makeup of
the cultivars you are working with.  About 70% of seeds germinated all
at once day before yesterday from a cross with one of those puny west
coast critters <g> as pollen parent.

Tom Parkhill always plants seeds directly in the ground.  He's about 50
miles north of here, but has <lovely> ancient river alluvium soil.
Almost as good as that volcanic stuff in iris heaven.

<....for the past three
                   years I have planted my seeds directly into the
ground......                  .....  In three years of dumping plenty
                   of ungerminated seeds, only one came up.  For some
reason, seeds
                   that don't germinate immediately for me just don't.

                   Francelle Edwards  Glendale, AZ  Zone 9>

--
Linda Mann east Tennessee USA zone 7/8
East Tennessee Iris Society <http://www.korrnet.org/etis>
American Iris Society web site <http://www.irises.org>
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