| Author | Content |
critterologist
Frederick, MD
(Zone 6b)
June 05, 2008
04:19 PM Post #5058824
| Please post additional tips and helpful information here! I know we've got a lot of experienced DL growers and hybridizers on DG, and I'm hoping some of them will find their way here to fill in additional information. I'll put a link to this thread over in the DL forum...
:-)
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LaLambchop
Chapin, SC
(Zone 7b)
June 05, 2008
06:41 PM Post #5059503
| Hi Critter,
What a good job on the article. You've done a good job of covering the subject. In the south one can plant the seeds and put them in the shade outside from the start. Be sure to keep the soil moist.
Good luck and go for it! |
critterologist
Frederick, MD
(Zone 6b)
June 05, 2008
08:02 PM Post #5059918
| That's a good thing to know... and especially good to know that shade is the place to start seeds (if I lived in the deep South, I'd probably have tried this... but I'd have put them in full sun and fried them!).
Thanks, Lala! |
wagsworld
Kingsport, TN
(Zone 6a)
June 06, 2008
11:49 AM Post #5062911
| I'm a small hybridizer and I learned this method from another hybridizer (sorry can't remember who told me)
What I use is a bean sprouter. This is the thingy folks use to make sprouts for salads. It has three trays and a bin to hold the water. You pour water in the top and it trickles down to the bottom. Holds 2 cups of water and I add 1 capful of H2O2. I've also made little basket out of screen so I can have different crosses per tray. Sorry I have pictures of this set up somewhere but can't find them right now.
After seeds sprout (about 2 ") then I plant them. Used to use those red plastic drinking cups. But I find them to bothersome so after hearing Lee Pickles and seeing his greenhouse, I went with the tree seedling trays he uses. They make better use of space. And grow them in the basement under fluorescent lights. Of lately I've been starting in February (after the AHS Region 10 Mid Winter Symposium ) and then start taking them outside when the weather starts warming up. Moving them back inside if it gets below freezing. I start seeing blooms within one year doing it this way.
I've tried different methods, like the mini greenhouse and planting them directly but the seed sprouter has given me the best germination rate. This year was 99% |
critterologist
Frederick, MD
(Zone 6b)
June 06, 2008
01:14 PM Post #5063371
| What a neat idea! I've got one of those salad sprouters... :-)
I hope you'll be posting photos of your new blooms on the DL forum! |
wagsworld
Kingsport, TN
(Zone 6a)
June 06, 2008
07:31 PM Post #5065065
| I usually wait till after the season till I start posting on my Yahoo group just to help keep the flow of pics all winter. But I do post them in forums as I feel they are worthy to post. |
AlohaHoya
Keaau, HI
(Zone 11)
June 16, 2009
01:22 AM Post #6694032
| Your information is GREAT and I am going to try. I have pods forming on a bunch of plants...and would like to grow them all out to plant...we have lots of room and they are SO beautiful!!! Do you think I could put them out when young...in the spring? We get a lot of rain here, sometimes hard and I would hate for them to drown...
Carol |
critterologist
Frederick, MD
(Zone 6b)
June 16, 2009
02:08 AM Post #6694109
| I think most folks do just plant them out when they're little. I don't have a seedling bed as such, so I pot them up for a year or two because otherwise they would probably not do as well essentially fending for themselves out there. LOL
You're going to love seeing all those cute little sprouts... and later, the excitement of first blooms! Have fun! |
AlohaHoya
Keaau, HI
(Zone 11)
June 16, 2009
12:10 PM Post #6695729
| Many thanks, Critter. I did a trade this year with Cicada and the fans arrived about 3 months ago...are blooming now. They seem to be happy!!! |
