Gabe, always remember that some real nice things come out of small packages ! I'm not sure just how many square feet of space he actuall had, but check out this article:
http://www.historiciris.org/dr...

Great article! Either he's really short or those are really tall too! I could only hope to have a yard that nice. Maybe down the road though.

The choice in need to make is do alot from to see the possibilities that could be. Or do I chose some now and possibly get that diamond in a rough...or all fools gold. Oh the anticipation...

Gabe, a few years ago I got 72 seeds from one pod. if you get a lot of seeds per pod it doesn't mean you have to plant all of them. Just store them (with all the cross information) then if you get a lot of nice iris from that cross you can always plant the rest of the seeds.

I found a left over pod from about 3 years ago 56 seeds. I will plant them in a box (pot) & see what germinates. So you see that irises will last a long time. So plant half & keep half.

I really wanna try to grow these little ones from Corey. I try a couple pots. Those dwarves can bo vigorous I'm starting to see.

besides, it opens the iris season.
Black Lightning (Chuck Chapman) & his photo.

Cuzz4short said:For a very small backyard hybridizer, what's a fun number of seedlings to try for? For just the first year's set. What would you shoot for if you had only 800 Sq ft to work with.

I want to try maybe for 100-150 the first year's set myself. Is that too many for a rookie? And this is taken account not all will bloom or live to see spring 2018.

Good question Gabe! I was wondering the same thing because I got around 350 seeds from my first ever crosses. Yesterday I sowed half of each cross into flats and have trenched those in my trial beds. I had intended to do the whole soaking (in tea?), stratification and indoor germination process with the other half but iciris does make a point ...

iciris said: if you get a lot of seeds per pod it doesn't mean you have to plant all of them. Just store them (with all the cross information) then if you get a lot of nice iris from that cross you can always plant the rest of the seeds.

On the other hand, from my experience with roses and what I have read here, not all will germinate.
Seem to remember reading that you can expect about 30% germination with the outdoor method and more with the indoor method. So if I sowed all my seeds and counted on optimistic 50% germination, I would land up with around 175 seedlings that would, as Gabe mentioned, if they survive, take up bed space for a minimum of two seasons before I actually see blooms and can start selecting worthy candidates. That gets me thinking! Especially if I want to do more crosses next year. Don't have this problem with roses because you see the blooms quite quickly and I only plant out the ones I want to keep.

Still very undecided about what to do?

Space, time and energy to keep them weeded seems to be some of the controlling factors in deciding how many one can manage. I know I made too many crosses last summer and have more seeds then I will plant, but I have a friend who takes my extra seeds. Also note that not all of them will bloom even on that second year, and you might end up keeping them for a 3rd year before you see them bloom. I try to keep the seeds that are from crosses that support the goal(s) I have for outcomes, but I also always seem to make some crosses that I think could make really nice offspring too, just for fun. Then I end up with more seeds then I can manage. I wish I had gotten hooked on this when I was younger. Oh well, it is what it is, I think you should just go ahead and do what you think you can manage, and learn from that and move on. I know I have had to curtail my iris purchases because I am getting near the point where I have too much to manage.

If you have a goal 'what if?' just plant part of your seeds. If you have a specific goal plant those first. My MTB cross was a see what's there cross, but now I can go ahead with specific goals.

I can't see the photos...............

Yeah, I'll always play with pollen. I do have goals. Some not too drastic, but nothing too specific. I'm not trying for a "breakthrough", just something different.

Tom, Lucy, thanks for the comments
I think for me space would be the deciding factor at the moment.
As this was my first attempt at hybridizing iris all of my crosses this year fall into the 'just for fun' category. I actually didn't expect so many takes and was quite surprised at the number of seeds in some of the pods.
Next year I will definitely give a little more thought to my crosses. Winter is a great time to do a bit of homework and study lineages.

I think I'll shoot for 75-100. I think I'll work with something I'd like to achieve first. Besides, I'm always looking more land. There's always time for now I hope.

The following year I can increase. Also, I can keep more stock around of the named.

Gabe, I am interested in what you would like to achieve.
As I said, all of my crosses were 'just for fun' and I haven't given much thought about what to aim for.

For one,I love rims on standards. There's so many yes, but wonder how I can dramatically change it. Gold rims are my favorite, so I acquired Super Hero and Mixed signals. I also have some with strong veining. If I could dream I'd make a all gold diamond dusted, small compact blooming iris. With a self setting in either, black/purple, yellow, or white...any other those, but heavy gold.

Next I want dramatic colors or the darker pastels,yet again with heavy veining. For those I got one's like French Lavender, Ghost Writer, and Haunted Heart. Not necessarily for their colors, but possible characterisctics within.

I'll post some of my seed crosses after I get some permission. Though they're mine now, I still respect hybridizers wishes as some may not want their work or shared work given out. Some already save me steps and are or could be keepers alone down the road. Some with really great parentage. Some I'm still trying to fully acquire full parentage.

Ultimately like any hybridizer I want something that is mine and in time you'd say,"hey, that's a Gabe Rivera iris." Just a dream I'm forcing into action.

You'll do it, Gabe!

Gabe, I had to look up all of those iris. Super Hero and Mixed Signals are stunning and I find the heavy veining quite appealing. Your goals seem very specific to me and I hope you achieve them.
'Gabe Rivera Iris' - has a nice ring to it!

I am working on SDBs. Red amoenas (see avatar 'Reddy Set'.) The idea is to spread the red spot on the falls to cover the entire petal & add an interesting beard. I also like pink SDBs, but many more experienced hybridizers got ahead of me so that goal is dying down.

In regards to my seeds, I've been sent a CD of pics in the mail. Maybe this week coming I'll post some pics of the cross's parents. Hopefully it'll arrive Monday. I'm kinda excited.

Also after negotiation I'll be welcoming a 6×8 greenhouse into my backyard. That's all I get for now and all I'll need...for now. I'm not in a rush because I'll have to grind a tree stump first. Hopefully, Black Friday or Cider Monday I can find a great deal.

'Gabe Rivera Iris' does have a nice ring to it.

May I ask what people feed their seedlings? I have some seedlings which started sprouting between March and September this year and they look a little pale and hungry. Should I add some fertilizer and do I need to reduce the strength?