The Daylily Hybridizer's Summit . . .

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The Daylily Hybridizer's Summit meeting was held in Chattanooga on December 3-4, 2010 at the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel. There were daylily images for everyone . . . round and bagel, spiders, doubles, unusual forms, patterns, etc., etc. Over 1,000 images were shown on Saturday. 


I could rattle on for a long time on here and not be able to say it any better than Karol Emmerich of Minnesota wrote on the email robin: (Used with permission)

"A big thank you to David and Lee for organizing the Chattanooga hybridizers' event. They were very welcoming and supportive, and set the tone  for a great day. There were lots of gorgeous pictures, including: the deeply saturated and beautifully formed Barbara Mandrell and Mary Baker(from David K); heart-throbbing purples and lavenders from Bill Waldrop, Mort Morss, Randy and  Ted Preuss, and Josh Jacques; double and triple edges from Tommy Maddox; patterns in colors I had never seen from Sandy Nall. Beauties from diploid breeders, doubles breeders, unusual forms and spider breeders, pattern breeders, and those who love the color yellow (like Lee's Wonder of it  All kids) also caught my eye even though those forms and  colors don't always "talk" to me the way the purples and roses do. It was  fun seeing the diversity, and the results of folks focusing their efforts  in specific areas.

But what impressed me the most was how much we enjoyed being with each other and the joy written all over the faces of those attending. Lots of smiles and beaming faces as folks talked about the flowers they were creating, the  videos they were making about daylily people (Charles Dorsey), the rewards of  being able to do the daylilies with the next generation of their family (like Dan and Ben Bachman), or the work they were doing outside  of daylilies (like William Marchant - an elementary school principal who clearly has a passion and vision for transforming the way kids are taught). So thanks again, David and Lee, for making it possible to be together."
 

After the meeting, we had several visitors to the greenhouse. Seedlings are growing nicely and several thought I would have bloom this spring in many of them. Here are some pictures.

Josh Jaques from Louisiana and Tommy Maddox from Mississippi

The next group was Randy Preuss from Mississippi, Barb and Bob Pappenhausen from Illinois, Ted Preuss from Mississippi, and in the back, Tommy Maddox from Mississippi.

Another group was Tommy Maddox from Mississippi, James and Sandy Nall from Arkansas, David Kirchhoff and Mort Morss from Kentucky, and Josh Jaques from Mississippi.

I really think that Tommy Maddox left after the first picture, but as you know, an old penny just keeps showing up everywhere.

I hope you will plan to join us next year in 2011 for the Daylily Hybridizer's Summit on December 2-3 in Chattanooga, TN.

Now is the time to start planning to attend one of the many symposia that are coming up, including The Mid-Winter Symposium in Chattanooga, TN on January 21-23, 2011. Please join us and greet old friends and meet new ones.

Exciting things happen to those who hybridize daylilies!

Life is very, very good. Remember, when the bloom is gone, you still have your friends!

Lee

 

New greenhouse cover . . .

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Bill Waldrop and I must be on the same greenhouse cover schedule. A couple weeks ago he had his re-covered, and Monday, I had ours re-covered. For the last couple years, I have not been able to maintain air between the two layers of cover because of small (and bigger) holes in the outer layer. After 5-6 years, the plastic becomes brittle and anything that touches it punctures holes. Also, age contributes to the weakening of the plastic and it gets "stress fractures." Here is the process:

 This is the greenhouse from a distance. I show this image because of the field that it is showing. I have tilled it with the Kubota and Woods tiller and leveled it with the bucket on the John Deere. It is ready to sow perennial rye grass and for transplanting daylilies next spring.

A crew arrived about 1:30 pm on Monday, October 18 to install a new cover on the greenhouse. Before they begin to install the new plastic, they remove the clips on each end of the greenhouse and allow the old cover to protect the new cover as it is installed. The plastic is 44 X 100' and comes folded on a roll about 12' wide. A steel bar is placed through the roll and each end rests on a ladder.

Two of the crew work on the end with the roll and feed the plastic up and over the crown of the greenhouse. At this point, they start unfolding the roll and the other two crew pull the ends of the plastic toward the far end.

Here you can see the crew pulling the plastic toward the far end. You can also see that the old cover is still in place to protect the new cover.

When they have the new cover pulled over the far end, they fold it over and start pulling the second layer over the first.

They are now straightening and evening the two edges of the cover.

They begin stretching between the two ends and the holding clips are put in place.

The old cover is then removed from under the new. 

The cover is then stretched to the bottom and the retaining clips are added. Below is the finished greenhouse. They still need to return and pick up the old covering. This cover should be good for 5-6 years. The cost of the plastic and the labor was approximately $1,500.00. Cheap by any means for the amount of pleasure it returns.


Now is the time to start planning to attend the Daylily Hybridizer's Summit in Chattanooga (formerly the Myrtle Beach meeting)  on December 3-5, 2010. For more information, contact: LeePickles@epbfi.com or David Kirchhoff at Hybridizer@aol.com.

Exciting things happen to those who hybridize daylilies!

Life is very, very good. Remember, when the bloom is gone, you still have your friends!

Lee

Greenhouse seedlings . . .

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On my Sunday, August 29 blog I gave the recipe for using Essential Plus 1-0-1 for stimulating growth in daylily seedlings. Supposedly, it helps with earlier and a higher percentage of seed germination as well. If you want to see the whole story, along with the formula for mixing, see my blog of August 29, 2010. Here is a picture of the chemicals.

 

I am a real believer in the Essential Plus 1-0-1 concoction. I don't have a control group, nor do I have pictures of root systems at the same age without the formula . . . all I have is my experience, and it tells me that these root systems are much larger at 6 weeks than those of the past. Here is a typical 6 week seedling root system.

Or the root system on a single seedling.

One of the pleasures of hybridizing is watching the various stages of seedling growth, from the initial seed planting to the transplanting of the germinated seedlings, then the growth. In previous blogs, you have seen the seeds as planted in the greenhouse, and images of these trays as they have germinated and grown. 

On July 29, I started planting seeds in the No. 1020 trays in the greenhouse. They germinated, they grew, and it became time to transplant into No. 38 Seed Trays. I started transplanting on September 12 and finished this morning, October 3. I ended with a total of 62 No. 38 Seed Trays with 2456 seedlings.

Above is a typical No. 38 Seed Tray. After the seedlings are planted, I sprinkle Marathon over the top for aphids, gnats, thrips, etc. They also get some Milorganite and Nutricote slow release fertilizer over the top.


Below is the first 36 trays line out on the growing bench. A frame is built and a plastic liner is added so I can grow in a water bath if I am going to be out of town for several days.

In addition to the No. 38 Seed Trays, I started some seeds in 2" X 2" X 3" peat pots to transfer to trade one gallon pots. The seeds were planted in August and transplanted to the one gallon pots in September, finishing on September 14. Here is a picture of one of the growing benches taken 10/3/2010. You can compare this with the picture taken on the September 10 blog to see the growth in 23 days.

Here is an up close picture of the same above seedlings. Nice growth isn't it? I ended up with 749 one gallon pots.

I do have a few more seeds that I would like to start in peat pots to transfer into the one gallon pots, so I may not be done yet. It is hoped that the seedlings planted in these pots will get enough growing time and be able to generate enough root mass to bloom this coming spring.

Now is the time to start planning to attend the Daylily Hybridizer's Summit in Chattanooga (formerly the Myrtle Beach meeting)  on December 3-5, 2010. For more information, contact: LeePickles@epbfi.com or David Kirchhoff at Hybridizer@aol.com.

Exciting things happen to those who hybridize daylilies!

Life is very, very good. Remember, when the bloom is gone, you still have your friends!

Lee

Potted seedlings . . .

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I just made a trip to the greenhouse for some information and checked the thermometer. This morning we had a lot of cloud cover and about 1:00 pm (eastern) the sun broke out from behind the clouds and the temperature has soared inside to 106° with the sun going in and out of the clouds.

On August 2, I began transplanting seedlings that I had started in peat pots to trade one gallon pots (sometimes called cheater pots). The first 150 peat pots were started on June 21. The remainder were started on August 2. I completed transplanting the first 500 on September 1st. So it took me almost a month to transplant the first 500. I will admit, I did not work too hard at it working mostly mornings unless I had doctors appointments scheduled. This was a lot more labor intensive than I had figured . . . but isn't that the way with most daylily stuff? The bench they are sitting on is 4' X 40', divided into 4 10' sections. I have inserted a plastic lining to be able to water from the bottom if I so choose, or IF I go on a vacation, I can put water in the beds to keep them from drying out. The potted seedlings are above.


The last image that I posted of the seedling trays that had been treated with Essential Plus 1-0-1 was made on August 29. The following picture was taken today, September 10. Go back and forth to compare. I believe they have now had three treatments with Essential Plus 1--0-1.

A seedling was re-blooming today out in the display beds. It was Seedling No. 0739 (Rage Of Paris X Wonders Never Cease) both parents are introductions from the late Bob Carr. It has a 6"+ flower on a 27" scape. I wish the scape were a little taller, but ya takes what ya gets! Here is 0739.

Now is the time to start planning to attend the Daylily Hybridizer's Summit in Chattanooga (formerly the Myrtle Beach meeting)  on December 3-5, 2010. For more information, contact: LeePickles@epbfi.com or David Kirchhoff at Hybridizer@aol.com.

Exciting things happen to those who hybridize daylilies!

Life is very, very good. Remember, when the bloom is gone, you still have your friends!

Lee

Essential Plus 1-0-1 . . .

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Essential® Plus Organic 1-0-1 Root Stimulant and Soil Conditioner is a 100% organic liquid that can be used year-round as an amendment for soils and as a safe, effective root stimulant. (Taken from their website at http://www.growthproducts.com/pages/arbor_care.asp?tables=featured&product=81 


Phil Reilly talked about Essential 1-0-1 on the email robin and gave the following information:


"Good "ol Danny boy (Dan Trimmer) has been consulting with some super breeders in the backwoods of Georgia, and has "borrowed" their technique. Dan swears by this and is really getting super results. So I'll pass the info along to all of you so we can all achieve better results together.
There's a product called- "Essentials Plus 1-0-1". It comes in both gallon jugs, and 2.5 gallon jugs, and it is a powerhouse of bonafide nourishment for daylilies, especially seedlings.

Here's the recipe--
In a two gallon watering can, (available for $1.99 at K-mart, wal-mart and lowes,etc.),
Mix- 3 ounces of liquid "Essentials Plus 1-0-1"
3 drops of SUPERTHRIVE, (yes-Just three drops, not more.).
3 levels tablespoons of Peters water soluble 10-10-10

That's it. don't add more than what is shown here. You may burn your little babies.!
Water your seedling trays well, or thoroughly.
Repeat every four days for about six weeks, and stand back. You will witness a small miracle that will be the envy of every daylily nut for a hundred miles around.
Your little babies will grow into lush juvenile plants in one season, and may even send up a scape to surprise you. Just don't overdo it. A little "extra" in the mix does more harm than good. Be warned.! That's it. Enjoy,!
Phil Reilly, down in Mecca, dead center......"

I have just made my second application on the seedlings in the greenhouse and I can see dramatic results in growth. Here is an image made on August 20 prior to using the above formula.

And below is an image taken on August 29th. The First application was made on Tuesday, August 24, and the second application on the 28th. These are now 4-week old seedlings. Here is the image.

 
Essential Plus 1-0-1 is rather expensive at $170.00 for 2½ gallons, but it is available in gallon jugs also. I googled for Superthrive and found it on Amazon for a little less than $7.00 for a 4 oz. bottle. You only use 3 drops in the formula, so it doesn't take a lot.


Since I have so many to water, I use a "Hose On" applicator which connects to the faucet and with a rubber tube that is attached and in the bucket of mix, it will apply about 16 to 1 ratio. So, my mix is 24 oz. of Essential Plus 1-0-1, plus 24 drops of Superthrive, plus the water soluble fertilizer into one gallon of water which I use soak the plants. It does have a pretty bad odor.


A seedling which is reblooming here today is Seedling No. 0642 (Doc Branch X Yo Rick Yost) of which I am quite fond.

Now is the time to start planning to attend the Daylily Hybridizer's Summit in Chattanooga (formerly the Myrtle Beach meeting)  on December 3-5, 2010. For more information, contact me at LeePickles@epbfi.com

Exciting things happen to those who hybridize daylilies!

Life is very, very good. Remember, when the bloom is gone, you still have your friends!

Lee