Hello everyone, I just wanted to see if any one is able to send me some pollen from a few varieties that I want to try but either cannot grow here (too tender), have not been able to locate a source of a plant, or have not gotten around to getting it. I am located in Iowa. The list is quite eccletic as there are multiple lines being established before I start putting them all together. I’m not sure if everything on the list produces enough pollen to use in breeding but still I’d like to try. If any one is able to provide any of these, I’d really appreciate it. Hopefully the list isn’t too long but I don’t expect to get everything on it. Thanks in advance.
Anne Endt
Applejack
Basye’s Purple/Blueberry/Legacy
Blush Noisette
Cardinal Hume
Cecile Brunner
Chromatella
Comptess du Cayla
Crepuscule
Hazeldean
High Voltage
L 83
Lichtkonigin Lucia
Madame Norbert Levavasseur
Marechal Niel
Mutabilis
Prairie Magic (J 5)
Purpurea (china)
R. spinosissima var. altaica (actually any spin would be great)
Red Dawn X Suzanne (Simonet’s)
Serendipity
Sevilliana (the Buck one)
Suzanne
Veilchenblau
Any hybrid musks especially Trier and its F1 descendants.
I think this works: put pollen on piece of aluminum foil, fold it; put in envelope and mail it.
Foil keeps pollen from getting moist.[/quote]
Yes, but make sure the anthers are shriveled and the pollen is well dried (2-3 days in most climates) before you enclose the pollen in foil, or you’ll simply ensure the arrival of moldy anthers.
With the humidity right now, it’s taking two to three days for much of the pollen to release from the anthers here right now, and at least that long for them to dry sufficiently to be ground to release it. It appears much of it is remaining active for up to a week from the looks of the hips forming out back.
I have used waxed paper to make the fold-up rather than foil. fold a piece say 5 x 5 inch in half, then fold in the two sides to touch. Tape these two flaps. Fold down the top an inch and tape again. Ends up 1.5 x 2.5 inches in this design. You can put in a little ziplok for shipping, in a regular envelope for 44 cents if you keep the thickness below 1/4 inch. This yer I just wrapped the waxed paper in another half sheet of regular paper and figured the mail doesn’t get wet most of the time.The anthers can be dried on the waxed paper directly then folded for keeps , if you crease the paper first. Removing anthers from pollen is optional but it needs to be dry. No one really knows how long rose pollen keeps but I have used some kinds successfully for several weeks. That is an obvious project for someone who has a test host, or a microscope and nutrients to check viability. It may be CV dependent.
I do have a Blush noisette and Cecile Brunner that I could get some pollen from-was planning on raiding the Blush Noisette in the next few days, and it is loaded with bloom-just bloomed and is about to start again. Will send by end of next week.
Thanks every one for your responses. I will repond with a PM with my info and for yours if you need any of my pollen for those of you that I have not already done so. I am looking forward to using what has been offered and I will definitely be able to send anything from my list too - as long as I am able to. 'Central Iowa Garden' plant lists I don’t think there are any issues with sharing the pollen except that they may not produce anything or are new this year. Send me a PM if you find anything that interests you. You can ask for pollen even if you don’t have any to share with me. If there isn’t anything available I’ll let you know. Thanks so much.
BTW watch out for what Larry sends you, my doubloon pollen included a pop quiz. lol
Removing anthers from pollen is optional but it needs to be dry. No one really knows how long rose pollen keeps but I have used some kinds successfully for several weeks.
Interesting point here–I received some Carefree Copper pollen from Larry Davis, wrapped as indicated, and just in the process of going through the mail sorting machines, handling, etc., the pollen had separated very well from the anthers, and because it was well sealed, it was very easy to use by running ones’ finger along every paper/plastic crease.
Regarding time lines for pollen life, it may be longer than we think. last yr I received some Suzanne and R. Altaica from P. Olsen sent just before the Postal strike in Canada. Because of the strike, he sent out replacement pollen as soon as the strike looked like it was to be settled, and 2 days later I received the original pollen, which I went ahead and used because the buds that were to get the pollen were fast becoming to mature to use. Many of the roses went on to form hips and seeds with that pollen, although some did have reduced seed counts (a few had one seed each-all 5 of which germinated) and I do have these seedlings now, and they are definitely not selfs (because of the uniqueness of the altaica thorns/bristles). I did not use as much of this pollen as I had planned believing that it was probably no longer viable, but I think it was in the mail for about 14-16 days, and what I used did produce seedlings.
We regularly send/receive pollen from all over the world…heaven only knows how long it hangs out in the public postal systems…and usually we have no viability problems that I can recall.
-Of course, I am speaking of peach pollen in this instance, but peaches and roses are closely related!