Maurice and Sue - Wished I had some acorns as I would be tipping BOTH of you for sharing such terrific information and references!
Sue - So basically if seeds are viable, then letting them air dry should not kill them? I've never had that problem before. It also could be that I wasn't able to hand-pollinate those blooms until much later in the day because I work. Perhaps they pollinated, but the pollen or ovary was not viable by that time. In humans, it is called a blighted ovum. I am just surprised it created so many seeds that all withered up when I air dried them. Other seeds (mainly the tets seem to be okay so far). You are right about the article not mentioning 1 day to dry. I guess I was reading between the lines and assuming it was a day. Maybe I should try an experiment to see what happens with some of the dip seeds?
Larry - I know exactly what you are talking about. Most serious hybridizers only grow them until they bloom or they evaluate the foliage and then decide whether or not to cull them. Those that they keep are often moved to a different bed, so they create different beds for different stages of a new seedling. The article mentioned using such a close planting for the first through second year seedlings. Though I do have a few robust seedlings that have definitely outgrown their siblings and other seedlings of the same age. If I was doing regular culling, then that idea of growing them close together would be quite good. Instead, I am being sentimental and have not culled a single seedling.
I guess I need to toughen up and get a bit more serious with my daylily hybridizing goals!!!!
