How to cull seedlings

General Discussion
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Interested in the criteria/practice used to cull new seedlings

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mine is like this

  1. no once flowering/ not flowering

  2. is it pretty/charming ?
    petal count / color / bloom form / flower size
    sometimes i let less pretty seedling live if it has strong smell

  3. is it original?
    i don’t need seedling that looks same to another rose already selling

  4. black spot resistance

  5. shape of growth
    i want FL/HT, not CL or Mini rose

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Thanks! I have been following the topic on seedlings that don’t bloom as well. It appears that the consensus is to probably eliminate.

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If I had followed that protocol, ‘Mel’s Heritage’ would never have seen the light of day.

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Criteria has only started to be figured out since been lately getting germinations of my crosses ~ for three seasons.

First criteria is easy, as l don’t have to make a decision. If they’re around next spring move forward to next check box. Not worth the time if tender.

If it disease resistant - only really have to worry about PM in my garden climate- check second box - some show it in first season … apparently others develop it later ? Delayed box

Have to wait awhile for bloom. I only used non recurrent. If blooms pass check mark - low bar as it as might be useful later.

Look at form - lowest weighted criteria as it is only for my self satisfaction…

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Disease-free without spraying, vigor, branching from the base, at least 10 broad petals, hybrid-tea form, miniature-to-patio size, and later, fast repeat, floriferousness, dense, symmetrical, compact habit, ideally glossy foliage, and good rooting ability. As you might guess, by June of each year, I’ve already tossed 95% of the ~400 seedlings I create each year. By November, I’ll keep one to three for further testing or if one is really good, I’d offer wood to rose companies for them to start their multi-year testing process…

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