Seedlings germinated in 5 days

Last year I purchased peat pots to plant many of the seeds that I planned to transplant to trade one gallon pots and grow in the greenhouse over the winter. These peat pots were in flimsy trays of 50. To be able to handle them, I placed them into regular trays. The peat pots were 2" x 2" x 3" deep. I did enough to plant into approximately 1000 trade one gallon pots. I grew these pots in water beds, so the plants were never dry. I would estimate that I had 50% bloom in 9 months. So, I thought I would try it again this year and push the seedlings more and try to get a higher bloom rate in 9 months. It is fun to see 9 month seedlings like the BIG boys in Florida.

This year I purchased more peat pots, only these are 2" x 2" x 2". We will see if the smaller depth effects the germination or growth. I really appreciated using 1/3 less seed starting mix as it is rather expensive. In the image showing the peat pots on the growing bench, you can see the difference in height, the 3" pots are in the back.There are 24 trays. You can see that the first 6 trays are even with the top of the tray and the last 18 are approximately 1" above the tray.

The first seeds were planted in the peat pots this year on Saturday, July 23. The first seedling that I saw germinate was the one to the left in the picture below. The seedling on the right germinated the 6th day. The cross was (Cimarron Rose X [(Camelot Red X Doug's Caress)]. Today, there were several more seeds from this same cross that had germinated.

How can you not get excited when the seeds begin germinating? More later.

Life is very, very good.

Lee

Planting Seeds 1

Seed planting has begun . . . 700 seeds planted the last two days in 2" x 2" x 3" peat pots. These peat pots were left from last year's plantings. This year I purchased 2" x 2" x 2' peat pots to plant the seeds in. They should use 1/3 less seed starting mix, which is rather expensive. We will see if germination or growth is affected using the smaller pot.

So far, it appears that this is going to be my "RED" year. I have more seeds using red parents than all the others put together . . . and yes, it was on purpose. My red seeds involve crosses using a lot of seedlings, many of them mine, one of Larry Grace's and one of Bill Waldrop's. Then named varieties, like DAVID L. HANSEN. JEAN PICKLES, MAX PICKLES, CHRISTMAS GREETINGS, CIMARRON ROSE, HAWKEYE PIRDE, CHERRIES JUBILEE, and the wonderful CAMELOT RED. Yes, these are exciting days contemplating what magnificent wonders I have created.

I do remember planting SOME seeds from HORNY DEVIL, BASS GIBSON, RAZORWIRE, IRISH HALO, ANGEL'S GATHER ROUND, and a multitude of others SO YOU CAN SEE THAT ALL WERE NOT RED. It is fun to look into my crystal ball and see what beautiful cultivars I have created. So you see, I have been busy!




I would like to take a look back at the 9 month red seedlings that bloomed this year, in particular those involving H. 'Camelot Red' (Salter 2010). I was really excited about the kids I saw blooming from CR. The depth and clarity of red was just outstanding. Here is an image of CR.

H. 'Camelot Red'
(Salter, 2010)








Here are some of the kids

Seedling No. 1004
(Camelot Red X Doug's Caress)

Probably my favorite of the group and one that I used a lot of pollen in the greenhouse this year. The seedlings that I am going to show you all bloomed as 9 month seedlings in the greenhouse in March of 2011. This is the first time I have bloomed 9 month seedlings and it was really a pleasure to be able to use pollen from these seedlings.

Seedling No. 1016
(Camelot Red X Jean Pickles)

Seedling No. 1028
(Camelot Red X Jean Pickles)

Seedling No. 1040
[(Awesome Bob X Larry Allen Miller) X Camelot Red]

Seedling No. 1042
(Waldrop Seedling X Camelot Red)

Seedling No. 1052
[(Shores of Time X Larry Allen Miller) X Camelot Red]

Seedling No. 1061
[(Shores Of Time X Larry Allen Miller) X Camelot Red]





The next blog page I will show some of the parents used in making this years crop of seeds. I am excited about my red crosses this year and can't wait until next March to see some of them bloom in the greenhouse. They are then moved to the display beds outside and we hope they are as good out there.

Life is very, very good

Lee

Northern Mecca/Display Bed Lineout

Jean and I climbed into the car about 7:30 AM last Thursday (June 30) to make the trip to Northern Mecca. We arrived at the hotel about 2:30 PM and when we walked in the door, I could smell some type of cleaning agent. I did not pay any attention and should have. Over the next two nights my sinus swelled to what seemed double their size and my nostrils swelled to where I could not breathe through my nose. By Friday night I could not sleep because of the swelling. So after visiting only two gardens, those of Jamie Gossard and Mike and Sandy Holmes, we headed home on Saturday. Since arriving home, I have started on a prednisone (sp?) regimen to reduce the swelling in my nose so I can breathe. What a disappointment not to see the remainder of the gardens.

We met Bob and Barb Pappenhausen at the hotel and rode with them to the two gardens on Friday. We enjoy their company and friendship. Here we all are with Jamie Gossard in his garden.

Now that I have been home a few days, my breathing has returned to normal. I will be seeing an allergist on Monday because I have a chronic problem with my nose.

Since returning home, Jean and I have completed transplanting the selected greenhouse seedlings from their trade one gallon pots to the display bed that we started before heading north. The bed is 8' wide and 40' long, and plants are planted 2' apart. Their are 20, 19, 20 and 19 plants in respective rows, plants staggered between the front and back plants in each row. Except for having the pine bark mini nugget mulch, the bed is done. Here is what it looks like.

Thanks for looking at my blog

Life is very, very good.

Lee

Starting to get ready for next year

This morning I started getting ready for next year. We have three display beds that are 8' X 40' between the greenhouse and the front side yard. It is to these three display beds that selected seedlings are transplanted and grown for evaluation until they are either selected for introduction or composting. Normally this happens within 3 to 4 years.

This images shows the three display beds and the one I am working on at present is what I cal B2, which naturally is the second or middle bed. These beds are about 17 years old and during those years, have had mushroom compost, topsoil, nature's helper, etc. added so they have been amended substantially. The middle bed has just been tilled.

This closeup image shows just how pliable the soil is. Looking toward the front of the house and the street, you can see part of Jean's perennial border at the end of the bed. Visitors come to look at the daylilies and end up ooohing and aaahing over Jean's perennial beds. She does a great job with them.

A left click on the image will make it larger and you will be able to see the lined out selected seedlings. These were seedlings that bloomed in 9 months in the greenhouse this spring in trade one gallon pots. I lay out a row with a string and I have a 100' tape that I lay down so that I can plant the seedlings every 2'. A hole is dug, and a little composted cow manure is added and mixed in. The plant is removed from the pot and planted in the hole. Some Nutricote 18-6-8 180 w/ minors is added along with some Milorganite. When the bed is completely planted, I will broadcast some Dolomite Lime for PH and Snapshot for weed control. On top of all of that, I will mulch with some pine bark to help hold moisture and for more weed control.

Thanks for taking the time to look at my blog. Please leave me a comment below so I will know that I am not just doing this for myself.

Life is very, very good.

Lee

Outside blooms 6/24

We have been having afternoon rains for the last few days which has given new life to the blossoms. You can water all you want with "city" water, but nothing is like the real stuff that comes down from above . . . it just seems to have some magic in it! Our weather has also been HOT! We have broken sever high records already this summer.

I took a couple pictures of seedlings this morning to share with you.

Pollen Parent
H. (Larry Allen Miller)

Pod Parent
H. 'Awesome Bob'

Seedling No. 9040 (Awesome Bob X Larry Allen Miller)

This is just as cherry red as seen.

Pollen Parent

H. 'Tempest Keep'

 Pod Parent

H. 'Crazy Ivan'

 Seedling No 0119 (Crazy Ivan X Tempest Keep)

It is difficult to see in this picture, but there are teeth all around the petals.

Thanks again for looking. Maybe we will see you next weekwnd (July 4 weekend) in one of the Northern Mecca gardens.

Life is very, very good

Lee

 

More Garden Seedlings 6/7/11

I have really gotten behind reporting on seedlings blooming in the field. We had a wonderful visit from Bob and Barb Pappenhausen over the weekend and we traveled to Marietta, GA to visit Bill and Diana Waldrop and to Delano, TN to visit the garden of Steve and Karen Newman. Plus, I have not been well lately with some heart problems and now a nasty summer cold. Hopefully I am on the mend. Here are some new seedlings . . . some may have a same parent, so you will need to look for some of the parents.

Pollen Parent
H. 'Spectral Elegance'
(Stamile, 2002)

Pod Parent
H. Wonder Of It All'
(Carr, 2006)

Seedling No. 1107 (Wonder Of It All X Spectral Elegance)

Pollen Parent

H. 'Diana's Evening Gown'

(Wladrop, 2009)

Pod Parent

H. 'Wonder Of It All' (Image Above)

Seedling No. 1105 (Wonder Of It All X Diana's Evening Gown)

Pollen Parent

H. 'Robert W. Carr'

(Pickles, 2010)

Pod Parent (No Image)

Seedling No. 0786

(Mandalay Bay Music X Wonders Never Cease)

Seedling No. 1109 [(Mandalay Bay Music X Wonders Never Cease) X Robert W. Carr]

And from the same cross

 Seedling No. 1109 [(Mandalay Bay Music X Wonders Never Cease) X Robert W. Carr]

Isn't it amazing what happens when you mix these genetics. Here are two seedlings, probably from the same pod, looking very dissimilar. 

I am very pleased with the seedlings that I am getting from H. 'Robert W. Carr'.

 Seedling No. 1110 (Wonder Of It All X Robert W. Carr)

Images above

Pollen Parent

H. 'Larry Allen Miller'

(Stamile, 2005)

Pod Parent

H. 'Belle Cook'

(Brooker, M. 2001)

Seedling 0019 (Belle Cook X Larry Allen Miller)

Pollen Parent

H. 'Shelter Cove'

(Corbett, 2002)

Pod Parent

H. 'Wonder Of It All'

(Carr, 2006) Image Above

Seedling No. 0745 (Wonder Of It All X Shelter Cove)

Pollen Parent

H. 'Larry Allen Miller'

(Stamile, 2005 (Image Above)

Pod Parent

H. Awesome Bob'

(Pickles, 2001)

Seedling No. 8071 (Awesome Bob X Larry Allen Miller)

I believe that is enough for today. This will get me about half caught up. Jean and I are looking forward to taking the Northern Mecca trip the first weekend in July. Maybe we will meet somewhere along the trail.

Life is very, very good.

Lee

 

More Garden Seedlings 5/31

The seedlings are really beginning to come on. Blooming today . . .

Pollen Parent
H. 'Larry Allen Miller'
(Stamile, 2005)

Pod Parent
H. 'Max Pickles'
(Pickles, 2007)

Seedling No 8157 (Max Pickles X Larry Allen Miller)

Pollen Parent

H. Diana's Evening Gown'

(Waldrop, 2009)

Pod Parent

H. 'Wonder Of It All'

(Carr, 2006)

The following  two seedlings are siblings from the cross above.

 Seedling No. 1103 (Wonder Of It All X Diana's Evening Gown)

Seedling No. 1104 (Wonder Of It All X Diana's Evening Gown)

The color of these two seedlings is almost indiscernible. Both of these images were taken in the sun, a day apart at about 10:00 am. The differences are in the width of the petals, and the ruffling on the petals.Both have that nice green throat and light sculpting.

Thanks for taking the time to look at my blog.

Life is very, very good.

Lee