Few last pics today...my seedlings

[HostaDesigner]

Well 2004 was "the year of open pollenated seedlings" since there was no chance for actual hybridizing. It actually paid off very nicely. Here are my seedlings from 2004 (planted last year).



I've got about 500-600 enclosed in deer fencing. There'll be a heavy cull around early June.

From '03 here's a couple of keepers...no names yet:

Open pollenated 'Fragrant Blue':


A seedling of a HUGE seedling of 'Ginko Graig'...of all plants. It looks like 'Tortifrons' but has amazing vigor. The flowers are deep, deep purple.


From last year, an open seedling of 'Delta Pride':


That's all for today.

[Jamie]

Very Nice!!!! Thanks for sharing

[renaldo75]

WOW!! There's sure some nice looking seedlings in that 500-600!!

When you get around to doing your heavy culling, let me know & I'll come help.

[barbara]

WOW is right! How neat and organized...don't even want to tell you what my set up (what set up?) looks like!

[wishiwere]

Wowzer! I'll be there with Renaldo at culling time! Great job!

[Blackkat]

Yowza! There's lots of nice lookin' hostas in those beds. Your 'keepers' are certainly that.

[flowerchild59]

Beautiful seedlings and love your growing out beds.

[thy]

Looking very good. Some of the seedlings look special

Ver ywell organized and what a lot of space you have

[Dirtpig120]

NIce,very nice...that last one..

[hummingbird]

I'm impressed!!! Definately some future winners there for sure.

[gregory2327]

I really like the organization. Can you tell us more about your set up? How you collect, sow, and care for the seedlings? Maybe some info on spacing, grouping, culling, etc?

[HostaDesigner]

I really like the organization. Can you tell us more about your set up? How you collect, sow, and care for the seedlings? Maybe some info on spacing, grouping, culling, etc?

Hey, thanks for the kind words. My growing area is about 30' x 40' completely enclosed with 7' deer fencing. Deer are everywhere, so I don't have a choice. There are 5 rows about 30' long. 4 of the rows have 4 lines of hosta, and one of them have 5 lines of hosta. All the plants are spaced about 1' apart. This given me enough room to grow plenty of seedlings and cull them hard so I can make room for the next year.

I start my seedlings around December 1st. I grow them in the basement under 24-hour lights on a home-made rack I built.



I used to collect every hosta I saw and liked. I bought them everywhere. That became disasterous. I was blessed with a plethora of nematodes, among other pests and diseases. I've since moved away from that house...leaving ALL of the hundreds of named hostas behind.

Now, I like to only grow my own. I never buy any hostas unless it's from a 100% trusted source...ever. Now, I have some of the nicest plants I've ever owned. And I can be proud of the fact that I started it, grew it, named it, and most importantly it's nematode free.

As for culling, I used to "believe" that a little plant may one day be destined for greatness if it was too small the first year. No more... Now I cull at least 90-95% in May directly from the flats of seedlings. If it doesn't have a single exceptional quality at that size, it's cut. I'll go thru last years hostas and cull out at least 50% again. If I can get 2-3 truly good plants from 12 flats of seedlings, I'm happy. Here are this years hundreds of culls. I saved about 75 for evaluation.


My breeding plants have the genes of (favorites):
'Dorothy Benedict'
'Delta Pride'
a Hatsushimo seedling
'William Lachman'
any "Olga sale" variety
'Fragrant Blue' (my FAVORITE to work with)
longipes hypoglauca

Aside from Hostas, my other passions are ferns and Trilliums...obviously, from this pic.


Whew, sorry so long.

[BillyB]

Great Hosta's! Great Trillium's! Great Rocks!

Welcome to Hallson's!!!!!

Billy