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Pollinating...how late?

Posted: Sep 20, 2008 3:04 pm
by steg
I'm debating trying to pollinate another hosta before too long. I have leftover pollen from Grand Slam and Moonshadow is almost ready to bloom. I have no particular reason to cross the two other than I have pollen and a hosta about to bloom.

Any thought on if this is too late to pollinate? or if these two would even set pods anyway?

Just playing around and looking for input.

Thanks,
Mike

Re: Pollinating...how late?

Posted: Sep 21, 2008 7:15 pm
by Seedseller1
Hi Mike,

Can't answer the questions about the viability of the pollen or the pod setting ability of the two you mentioned, but I do know that it takes 6 to 8 weeks from pollination 'till seed maturity. Go ahead and make the crosses and see what happens. You can always cut the scapes before a killing frost and finish them inside in sugar water. My Grand Slam isn't half done blooming yet (haven't used it) and my Marilyn Monroe, Red October, and One Man's Treasure are still a few days away from opening their first blooms and I am still planning crosses with them. My Outragous just finished flowering a week or so ago so I know those scapes will end up in sugar water to finish.

Good luck!

Re: Pollinating...how late?

Posted: Sep 22, 2008 1:58 pm
by steg
Thanks Mike. We'll see what happens.

When you cut the scapes and put them in sugar water - how much sugar to how much water?

Re: Pollinating...how late?

Posted: Sep 22, 2008 8:08 pm
by Seedseller1
Hi again, Mike

I knew you were going to ask this, and since I didn't remember, I didn't answer your quesion in my last post. Maybe somebody will chime in here or you could ask the question on the hosta forum. Dr Dave or somebody should know the answer. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

Re: Pollinating...how late?

Posted: Sep 25, 2008 8:47 am
by playinmud
Hi, This was discussed in another forum last year. The ratio of water/sugar is: 1 teaspoon of sugar to 4 ounces of water. You can even cut the scape, put it in the sugar water while they're blooming, pollinate the flowers indoors, and then leave the scapes in the sugar water for a few months while the seeds ripen.

Re: Pollinating...how late?

Posted: Sep 29, 2008 10:56 am
by steg
Thanks for the help. I haven't had a chance to search too much for the sugar/water ration so your help is really appreciated.

I may move them indoors soon, but I'm worried the cat may enjoy it as well.

Re: Pollinating...how late?

Posted: Oct 07, 2008 8:19 am
by steg
Haven't seen much flowering on my hosta out doors. I'm debating bringing it in to finish. 2 flowers open last week and I pollinated them, however no new blooms since then. It's gotten a little colder, but the next 10 days look like highs in the low 70's and lows in the low 50's.

Any idea what temps are too cold for flowering/pollinating/seed formation?