I too have just begun hybridizing but I have had the gardening bug most of my life. I have been collecting daylilies for some 25+ years. When my collection reach the 250 variety mark I decided I needed to start a business because I couldn't bear the thought of throwing away flowers when they needed to be thinned out.After talking with several growers in my local area I realized none of them did any hybridizing themselves. I started the business with the goal in mind to some day pass it down to my grandchildren, I have three. The first year I tried it I had no success with germination,I dont know what I was doing wrong. Then after going online a found a method for germination that really works for me. It's called ( On the rocks) I have had about 95% germination with this method. I am a small grower and dont have a greenhouse so unlike southern states, January thru May my window sills are full of souffle cups or whatever type containers have a clear lid.Yogurt cups with the raised clear lids work well too. After the danger of frost has passed the seedling are put outside daily for a week or so and then they are planted in the bed.I have one bloom so far from a two year old and several that are nine month old seedlings that have made 4 or more fans. Hopefully I will get some next year to bloom and be worthy of registering as I want my grandchildren to have one named after each of them. Daylilies are addicting and I have always had the bug. It will be nice someday when my grandchildren are older and I hear them tell someone that my grandmother made that flower and it's named after me!!
