Lots to learn from this thread! FOCUS- yeah, working on it... Maybe like others, there are a number of traits I am breeding for, so I do many crosses with at least one of those traits in mind. Since I really like veining but I'd like a larger and more open flower form on a taller scape I did a bunch of crosses on spiders or larger blooms that were on taller scaped plants. Since I also like the speckles, I set pods using lighter colored selfs. And as I want a large spidery, UF (with teeth), in a dark brown/red, I used my limited stock of toothy parents on dark spidery flowers. I do crosses for the fun of it, too. I try to give those seeds a chance for the students who get into my school's gardening club.
Space is not a concern for me with 1.5 acres of full sun, and the summer time commitment is also not a big deal. I guess right now I have the time, room and energy to start as many seeds as I can. Perhaps I'll become more picky as I develop my lines and I see whatever traits pop up in the seedlings of last year's and this year's seedlings/seeds/
...And I have a good sized mulch pit for all of those who deserve a one way trip...
