Re: Digest Number 632

Here are a couple of thoughts on parents in response to recent questions. First, to Harold -- Yes, Strawberry Fair gives some very nice seedlings if you're looking for the rounded ruffled tets. It works much better as the pollen parent than the pod parent for fertility. I have several children/grandchildren of S.F. going through final selection for introduction and probably one or two will make it. Then to Deb. I don't want to be too discouraging to someone just getting started but I doubt that either cross you mention will give you great things. I don't know of anyone who has got a tet x diploid cross to take, but you could be the first. The progeny would likely be triploid and therefore infertile, but that would be a triumph. If you do get pods, you would need to be sure that the cross was well-protected before you get too excited because self-fertilization is easy in Sibes. The Jewelled Crown x Dance Ballerina Dance cross I have done myself and you may find that the flowers!
 do not get above the foliage. Both of these parents are marginal in this regard and the offspring appear to be a bit worse. But you may get lucky and they grow up better for you. In crossing tets I always make sure at least one parent (and preferably both) have flowers that get at least 2-3" above the foliage. Most of the more recent ones do. Let me know if you want any suggestions -- choosing parents really depends on your vision of what you want to achieve. I would be happy to send two or three recent tet seedlings to you as guests with breeding privileges if that would help. I'd like to know how they do in CA anyway. I'm just playing around with MTBs and trying to figure out which are diploid and which are tetraploid -- so I made some crosses this year just to find out -- more or less exactly where you are doing with siberians. You have to start somewhere. Probably nohing much good will come of them but I will have learnt a lot in the process. 

Sorry you're having it hot. We are just the opposite - unusually cool. Which is nice because the flowers last well, but last night we had a mild frost (unreasonable even by Michigan standards) and got a few blossoms nipped (mainly red shades - I wonder why they are more sensitive?).       

Lots of good bloom this year -- but the most excitng thing is great progress in our "pixie" siberian line. Maybe 20" tall with lots of smaller, round, very ruffled flowers in just about every color. They are way cute! And one new seedling that is a completely black self - Judy forced the bud open this morning because she couldn't wait. Looks fascinating. This is when its good to be a hybridizer. Regards to all, Bob Hollingworth
--
Bob and Judy Hollingworth

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