Anyone else growing hosta seedlings?

[Carol O]

Here is a seedling for today, 2-26-15. Anyone else growing seedlings? Can you show us your seedlings?

[Tigger]

I did start seeds this year, and they're almost ready for their first cull. Nothing too promising to show yet, but there are a few streakers. I got streaker seeds from last fall's HSG auction: two sets from Trudy van Wyk and one from Don Dean. (my "selfie" Christmas present) I also started seeds from Madelon Gilligan (New Zealand) from her monstrous 'Master Class', which I got in 2013. I still got a good germination rate from those, although they were slow to emerge.

David

[Carol O]

That's great, David, and I would love to see photos.

[Carol O]

Here's one for today. An unknown orphan x Miss Linda Smith.

[Tigger]

Tomorrow shall be culling day, i think. I didn't get as many streakers as I had hoped, but got at least one from each of three batches (maybe 25 seeds each) from purchased streaked seeds. Plus I'll keep a set of seedlings from Master Class seeds for a potential mass planting.

[Carol O]

Another seedling showing streaker's promise.
Please post any seedlings you have, David.

[Tigger]

Here are the whole set and the best 6 streakers, post-cull. (In truth, the seedlings from the streaked moms didn't get tossed; I'll hold on to them a bit more in case I really like any of the solid-color babies or if some show streaking on new leaves.)

(iPad pic upload. Sigh, it makes them upside-down, but I guess you get the idea.)

David

[Carol O]

Nice, thanks for posting.

[Tigger]

A few weeks later. We like a couple of these. Clockwise from upper left, #s 2, 4, and 7 seem most interesting. #2 shows red petioles, too. The last two are seedlings of 'Master Class', so no streaks.
David

[Carol O]

Nice, Tigger. Are they outside already?

[Tigger]

Yeah, I'm leaving them outside during the day and when nights are above 50°F. It hasn't been too windy. I'm never sure about the balance between good light and warmth in growing on seedlings, but our electric bill took a hit from the heater running in my basement growing room for 2 months.

Updated pic today, focusing on best 6 streakers. Some of the others are settling to all green. If I get 4 good ones out of this effort, that's probably as many as my hybridizing bed can handle.

[redcrx]

Here is a Red Dog OP seedling from a couple of years ago. Hopefully it's big enough to flower this year.

Red Dog OP 12 - May 4, 2015

Red Dog OP 12 - May 4, 2015

Red Dog OP 12 - May 4, 2015

[Carol O]

Nice seedling, Ed, what will you try to cross it with?

[redcrx]

I have horrible luck making crosses but I keep trying. The bumble bees seem to do a good job.

I have a couple of seedlings from Art Wrede (dark #102 and Miss Angie seedling Q2B) that I will try. The flower time on one may be a little too early but that plant seems to be late coming up this season. We will see in early September.

[Carol O]

Well, good luck, Ed. Or should I say, may the crosses take.

[redcrx]

OP seedling from First Impression.

I was really late getting seeds planted. These were planted April 2.

First Impression OP 14 - May 13, 2015

First Impression OP 14 - May 13, 2015

First Impression OP 14 - May 13, 2015

[Carol O]

Looks like some streaks there. I have ones started before Christmas that don't look much bigger.

[redcrx]

I have a pot of Granny's Rouge OP 12 (planted 2013) with a couple of green and yellow seedlings in it. I went to separate them (the greens are huge comparatively) and I found a tiny yellow not much bigger than these.

[ViolaAnn]

I started a few in early March, also late, but the rest didn't get started. Has anyone had success with starting them now? Or should I keep the seeds for next year?

[Carol O]

Last summer, I tried to start some in the summer (June), but they didn't germinate.