LarryW,
Wow, the first thing that struck me when I saw your pictures was "how nice and neat", I am afraid my garden and beds are not nearly so eye appealing.
What are the dimensions of those beds? What spacing did you use between newly planted seedlings? What spacing did you use for the keepers, did you vary that over the three year evaluation period. I am thinking that when I select and move my keepers I will go to 2'x2' spacing.
I really do appreciate the photos and explanations, I am beginning to re-evaluate many of my plans already. I am thinking maybe I should cut way back to only 100 seedlings per year. It looks like it would be pretty easy to overload my time and energy if I am not careful. Of course this year after some more thought (being my "hybridizing goal" will not really be able to advance much till next year and now I am even rethinking that) I have decided to go ahead and plant more of the crosses I did back last year and grow them out.
I selected another thirteen cups of seeds and plan to plant them today when the weather warms up. I estimate that will be about three more rows of seedlings when they are separated out of the cups and planted. So I should be getting up close to the 300 rage of seedlings in the beds . I know I will not be able to keep that rate up. So now I thinking maybe in the 100 a year range (nice round number that will fit nicely in one bed) that makes things easier on my back and brain.
Thanks for the info on the time it takes to get first bloom, it looks like I should plan on the plants being in the first original bed for two years in order for most of the plants to have blooms to be evaluated. Experience will teach me a lot that I am really just guessing at now.
