Leslie, I need further information about long crosses:

Do the seeds have to all be from the same season?
What is the minimum amount of seeds for a long cross?

Thank you,

Gerry

Steve, why did a hybridizer advised you not to build a greenhouses?

Do you have a greenhouse?

Gerry

Hi Gerry,

It was around 2000, just before the first rust scare. Both of my best daylily friends, John Rice and Joe Kunkel, had one...and they were truly magical places to visit. I had drawn up plans for one by the side of my garage, and Joe came up from KY for a visit. He said that a greenhouse needs constant attention, and that I would end up resenting it. This was before I had any of my grandkids, and I am so thankful now that my time is free for them.

I am not saying that folks should not have greenhouses. Joe just understood that I should not be one of those folks...lol.

Gerry, long cross is a term, not a definite number. It's like saying you had a long or short winter. Since I'm a small seed producer a long cross for me is anything above 30 seeds. To some folks it would be more than 100. The idea is that with many seeds of the same cross one gets more of an idea of what that cross can produce. If you are breeding for a genetically recessive trait, the more seeds you have the more likely you are to see the trait appear. I don't think it would matter in which season the crosses are made. Hope that helps.

Yes, Leslie, that helps.

Thank you.

Back in the sixties, there was a delightful lady from Tallahassee who was active in daylilies. Her name was Mary (Mrs. J. Ritchie) Rosa.

She said, "Honey, when you cross crap with crap, you're going to get crap."

profesora said:Steve, why did a hybridizer advised you not to build a greenhouses?

Do you have a greenhouse?

Gerry

They are "work"

Rich howard told me the following-

Bugs.. Once in, never out.. No natural predators (Spray programs must be in place, and aren't cheap)

Rust- He cuts everything that goes into the greenhouse to the crown, and dips in bleach-

Pots- Everything must be potted "mushroom" tables are ineffective for daylilies

Heating- If you want four seasons, You must heat it during the winter to 65 degrees

Fans- You MUST have air movement


So, a greenhouse adds a level of complexity to gardening. I personally am building one for overwintering tender plants, seed starts. I dont know if I will use it for seed setting since I grow nothing in pots, and really don't feel like growing in pots either.

farawayfarmer said: She said, "Honey, when you cross crap with crap, you're going to get crap."

That is so true. Dan Hansen says if you cross a $5 daylily with a $5 daylily you will get a $5 daylily!

I think flowers are close to cattle breeding. Dad always had a great herd of angus. His advice was buy the best stock available.

Leslie,

But the opposite isn't then true, because I have crossed a $250 daylily with a $250 daylily and gotten a $5 daylily (not even)...lol.

Here is some good advice:

If you are interested in hybridizing, go find one that has been doing it for a long time, that has done the work, and wants to move the plant forward.

They are a rare breed!

Have any of you ever visited Karol Emmerich when she has plants in her greenhouse.
Take a look at some of these pictures that show them not potted, instead they are in ground where it looked to me like mounded soil for the plants between the paths for walking.
http://www.springwoodgardens.c...

I was there for one of her hybridizing classes years ago and saw this for myself. The blooms were just amazing, plus it was so informative (now if I could just remember everything she told us). My dream of hybridizing just for fun never materialized due to working odd hours.

Wow, those long shots of her garden showing all of the daylilies are awesome. I didn't realize she had that many.

Hemlady said:Wow, those long shots of her garden showing all of the daylilies are awesome. I didn't realize she had that many.

I think she also tests all of her seedlings outdoors as well. She was showing a patterned seedling on Facebook that when she planted it outside, lost all hints of the pattern. She is a wealth of information, and nothing if not thorough!

Yes, James she does test her plants outdoors. I have been there when her greenhouse is empty. I really need to visit her place next summer during bloom season it is a thrill to see all of those plants in bloom.

Ahead said:Leslie,

But the opposite isn't then true, because I have crossed a $250 daylily with a $250 daylily and gotten a $5 daylily (not even)...lol.

You are quite right, Sir. I was also thinking of some of the older plants I work with, like Margaret Tucker, that might sell for $5.

Well some of the older plants have great branching so all is not lost using some of them.

Ludlow Lambertson - You don't have to do long crosses to get good results.

This has been a fun and very interesting thread. Lots of good advice from some great hybridizers. I have had those ah-ha moments when reading some of the advice comments. Thanks for all the words of wisdom posted here!

So Steve @Ahead how did you go about breeding the splendid Clown Pants?