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Re: Collecting Hosta Seeds??

Amber, I could not AGREE with you move.
My main point is Hosta are unlikely to resemble the parents. They are
relatively easy and most if not all of the seedlings will be garden worthy,
BUT will not resemble their parents. The question is what do you want?


At 09:36 PM 10/7/97 -0500, Amber Hearn wrote:
>Butch Ragland writes:
>
>>Hosta seed are not likely to produce anything of any value unless you've
>>collected some of the unstable plants. Most will self seed if there is a
>>little mulch around the plant but only produce an unimpressive green plant. 
>>With all that said, harvest in Oct-Nov when the pod is ripe. Look for a
>>sort of black to dark brown winged seed with a little kernel that can be
>>felt. Sow under lights in Dec-Jan and plant after frost. About 5-6 years to
>>maturity.
>
>Lisa writes:
>>
>>At 02:23 PM 10/7/97 -0400, CottenClan@aol.com wrote:
>>>When the hosta shoot up the beautiful lavender stem of flowers, can I
collect
>>>seeds from them when they dry?  How and when to do it?  Thanks,
>>>Lisa
>>
>
>I could not disagree more with the statement that "Hosta seed are not likely
>to produce anything of any value..."  While it is true that many of the
>hostas currently in cultivation are hybrids and the seed from them will NOT
>produce a plant even remotely similar to its parent and the chances of
>producing one with any variegation at all is incredibly remote, it is simply
>a matter of opinion as to what is of "value". If my customers are any
>indication whatsoever, the plain green or blue hostas produced from such
>seed are of great value. I sell several hundred of such seedlings every year
>for a couple of bucks each. I myself have used these seedlings to great
>effect as a groundcover where a mass planting of hostas was desired but the
>pocketbook wouldn't stretch to cover that much area with named hybrids.
>There have even been a few that have turned out to be better than some of
>the hybrids I've spent good money on. 
>
>Variegation is rarely transferred from the modern hybrids to seedlings, but
>I often find plants with interesting color nonetheless, including many
>shades of green, from pale lime green to deep sea grean, and various shades
>of blue. Leaf form and plant size is also quite variable, often with
>pleasing results. I have one little cutie that came from H. 'Thomas Hogg'
>that turned out to be a tiny yellow thing with frilly little heart shaped
>leaves. It's nice enough that people ask me for starts of it, and it's sun
>tolerant. Although 99.9% are not worth giving a name, I certainly wouldn't
>say they have no value as I've yet to grow one I couldn't find a home for. 
>
>So while I agree with Butch that you would not get anything that resembles
>the parent plants, I disagree with discouraging the starting of the seeds.
>Just be certain that you do not retain the name of the parent(s) on the
>seedlings to avoid confusion.
>
>Grow well,
>Amber Hearn
>
>WANT TO TRADE SEEDS? CHECK THIS OUT:
>
>http://wcn.simplenet.com/seeds/sdstrd.htm 
>%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
>Amber & Wayman Hearn                    jadare@accessus.net
>Whippoorwill Creek Nursery              USDA Z-5
>943 Foxville Road                       mintemp = -15F/maxtemp = 102F
>Kell, IL 62853
>618-822-6000
>Whippoorwill online - http://www.wcn.simplenet.com/Welcome/welcome.htm
>%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
>
>

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