I think that our warm temperatures have helped to hasten ripening. Our coolest daytime high temperature in the last 34 days has been 94º F. Twenty four of these have been 100º F. or hotter. This has provided ample opportunity to assess the blotch heat stability of the newest Hulthemias from 2012 when grown outside the greenhouse. The three below are real standouts. Photos were taken in the last 2 or 3 days.
Your roses continue to improve...SO lovely! Do you put damp paper towels in with your hips to refrigerate & clean seeds later? Looked like there was paper in the baggies...just wondering. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSally
I did not realize that it got quite that hot in your area. 94 degrees is about our maximum temperature in St. Petersburg Fl. Best of luck this year! I hope you get a breakthrough you've been waiting for.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Andrew Grover
Hi Sally, Thank you for your comments. No, I do not use paper towels with the hips, and I no longer use them to stratify the seeds once they are out of the hips. I keep the hips stored in the bags until all are harvested and then the seeds are extracted. I like to get the seeds out of the hips by the end of October. Extracted seeds are then lightly misted with a spray bottle and store in the refrigerator for 6-8 weeks before planting in the greenhouse.
ReplyDeleteHi Andrew, Thank you - I am always on the lookout for something new and unusual. Yes, we do get hot here. Since the beginning of August though we have not hit 100º F. (but we haven't gone below 90º either!) Best wishes to you as well with your hybridizing goals!
Thanks for the explanation, Jim. The harvested hips don't rot in bags while the rest ripen on the bushes? I just haven't been clear on the best way to handle the ripened hips & seeds til planting time, and my results in germination haven't been good. Thanks for your time!
ReplyDeleteSally