Next year, I plan to do no crossing, since most of the irises are in their first year, and some are small for the second year. Yet I would like to prepare for next year and/or the following year. A lot will depend upon the growth and development of the rhizomes. At the same time, I will be evaluating each of them for not only color and form, but branching, vigor and overall health.
As many of you have discovered, some fare better than others in erratic weather patterns, and the weather is one factor of which we have no control. That being said, when you discover an iris that "laughs" at the inclement weather and performs remarkably, then isn't it a beauty to behold?
Those are some of the qualities I am hoping to add to the gene pool of my feeble attempts to create something different, beautiful and resilient. I have read about beautiful, but finicky irises. Of what value are they if you wait 2 or 3 years for it to bloom, and then rot or something else sets in to disappoint us?
So, my question is: How do you successfully freeze pollen just right? Or does it matter? Just collect it, then freeze it?
If I save pollen on all good ones I see, then I can check their development and further evaluate them before making the crosses. Yes, I am anxious to do this, but I want to not waste my time on weaklings. Yet I want to give them all a chance to get up to size before rushing to judgment. Does that make sense? I realize that some just grow faster than others...but others though slower, can still turn out to be beautiful in every way.
Give me your thoughts on this, but most importantly, the very best method for freezing pollen.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
