I just harvested several hundred seed heads from my crosses this year and I hope the rest of you are beginning to harvest your seed, even if it's not hand crosses, to get some seed to grow some new seedlings. It is such fun, even though you might give away 99% of the plants you've created.
I'm VERY excited about some of the crosses this year. The most exciting are 'Borscht' X its darker sibling and crosses of these 8+" greens with red and purple marks from (huge greens X 'Killer') intercrossed. Hopefully I'll get back the full gamut of colors you see in the 'Killer' seedlings but with the HUGE rosettes. Those crosses made a ton of seed and in those crosses where many will be NOT what I want (smaller, greener) I probably need the larger numbers to get just what I wanted, a 10" dark purple or brilliant red. Of course not being satisfied even with that I want it to be a COBWEB too. One can dream can't we??
Anyway, I'd be very interested to hear who is gathering seed or has made crosses. I saw Dave and Cynda at the Salem Hardy Plant Society sale yesterday and Dave said he was crossing the heuffs.
I only have a few seeds I will be harvesting this year. All bee pollinated. Things just got away from me this year.
My one seedling that I find interesting has been holding up with that unusual salmon/orange/pink color almost year round. The main rosette is blooming, so I will keep that seed for sure. It is a smaller semp about 3 inches across.
Yes I came after lunch as I had garden company that morning to see the Helenium seedlings. I have three nice low ones with brilliant colors.
I haven't counted but it looks to be over 100 seed heads gathered to this point. If the germination is at all good I'll be rowing out seedlings in the parks in Salem!
Lynn, often times when a plant blooms early it retains its color longer than if it didn't bloom. Stil it's a good sign that it is holding onto its color, especially this year where everything has faded badly. My best coolor is on 'Forever Midnight' which is still a good dark purple although not as black as it is in spring.
It is a two year old rosette, and I am pleased to see that the offsets are keeping the same color as the original rosette. It will be interesting to see this coming spring.
Kevin, how are you going to manage all those seedlings planted throughout the Salem parks.
Name: Mother Raphaela Holy Myrrhbearers Monastery NY (Zone 4b)
I clipped off the bee-pollinated flower stalks from my NoIDs and from Semp Clipper at what I hope was the right time (the rosettes were definitely dead) and put them in paper bags. I think the Clipper rosette bloomed because it was stressed rather than ready -- although I still have a rosette, if I'd known what I know now, I would have clipped that one before it budded. Will it set viable seed? I should probably keep it separate so I'll know.
My NoIDs are at least as attractive as any named ones -- so I'm guessing I should just mix up the seed and plant some? They are not exactly what you could call the result of scientific selection...
Today I took some mature seeds from one of the semps out in the beds. I had a small area with nothing growing so sprinkled the seed on top of the soil. Just wanted to see if that would work. We are supposed to get rain Thurs.
Name: Mother Raphaela Holy Myrrhbearers Monastery NY (Zone 4b)
Good idea. I'll put most of them out in the bed where I've cleaned out the annuals and mark it, leaving enough to start a few indoors -- I don't need hundreds! Although I'd better check with Mother Michaela and see if she wants enough to roof an experimental shed... MR
Well Julia came to visit my semps yesterday and she was telling me that I really should collect the seed heads, so I guess I am going to do that tomorrow!!! Kevin, I'd love Salem even more if it were filled with semp seedlings!
Well Lynn after all my careful training and you're "doing a Skrocki" on me! actually I'm glad that you're at least raising seedlings. That's the first step!
Good on you Julia for pushing Greg too. and yes Greg, Salem could only be better with more semps. I have given LOTS away including to a garden in one of the high schools.
Can't wait to see you all in the spring and hope you all have thousands of little babies to talk about. I'm going to prepare a couple of new beds to hold all the new seedlings.
Kevin you really do amaze me! But you are lucky to have the space for the beds!! And for all your flowers!
I have to remember to get seed from my Jeanne d'arc, cause I know whatever would come from that one will probably be cool!! This was in June, the colors are so cool! In this photo you can see the base of the flower stalk which ended up being huge!
Looks like a fun one to use! It may be a 'Killer' type of breeder, giving wonderful kids with intense colors. GO FOR IT DUDE!!
Get some potting soil so you can start the seed!! Yes, I'm going to NAG! You also were going to plant seed of the velvety ones as we need more of that type.
MR yes I can send you some!! Kevin - okay a little nagging is good!! Also I'm glad I checked back on here, because I am about to go see the plants and need to bring a couple paper bags! I am going to collect seed from Jeanne D'arc and Downland queen (a downy one) Help - more plants really??!!
I heard a rumor the other day that my building may be sold - and my building manager has been out of town, so today when he returned I asked him, and it looks like that it is true, but that it is going to stay with the type of housing that is here currently (whew!) so I'm not going any where soon! I heard the rumor on Saturday afternoon, so for a couple of days I have been a bit anxious thinking about leaving all my plants - or moving them or whatever! And - I've been working on letting go!
Two seed heads won't give you lots of seedlings and you can row them out very tightly the first year and then you just save the special ones for a second look.
Am glad things are staying stable for you although I always feel better when the land is MINE. Of course with 3.5 acres I've got a good bit to plant. If you lived in Salem I could let you plant a 1.2 acre all to yourself... do I hear the sound of someone packing???
I should probably keep it separate so I'll know.
MR
MR
And - I've been working on letting go! 
