Best advice?
Make sure to do some crosses that don't seem to make any sense, and then force yourself, even when your are space challenged, to actually plant a few of those seeds.
I am especially bad at this. I spend the whole season whittling down from a gazillion seeds (had over 1000 pods this year) to a select few (300 seeds or so) to actually plant. I have to force myself to try a few crosses that don't fit into my focus.
The CLOWN PANTS was such a cross. Had no idea I would get such a thing...complete shock! There is nothing visually in either parent that would suggest stripes. I continue to get shocked every time it blooms...lol. Here is a picture from this year.
