No luck with any of the May crosses. All of the April ones are doing nicely, though. I guess the roses know April 30 is the cut-off here.
The 106-110 degree heat for a week didn’t seem to affect the developing hips, luckily. I’ve lost some open pollinated ones, but so far, none of the purposeful pollinations have been lost from March or April. Approaching 60 days now on many and they’re looking great. Brandy hips are the size of plums!
Uh, just found 1 that took May 5! Nancy Jean x Bees Knees. As I recall, I had that one covered with foil for 5 days after pollination. I’ll have to try that again now.
Well, I am officially done with pollinations. Yesterday was my last day. I suspect that I will “sneak” in a few more in the next few weeks… but the bulk is finished.
Jim Sproul
Ive just started now. Im up to 35/75 to 100. Im thinking of stopping at 75ish this year, though. I have enough excess stuff to do (portland rose show, finals, taking care of the current seedling batch, landscaping more garden space, etc etc etc). Pollination is probably the most time involved process of hybridizing due to timing and planning everything. Well, that and dreaming up possibilities although that is definitely the effortless fun part!
Really, Jadae, you’re right! Dreaming up possibilities is truely the best part, unless of course a cross meets your wishes. Then that becomes the best.
Jim, were you able to reproduce the pollinations that you lost from the gardeners?
Judith, thanks for asking. No, those hips were lost and not replaceable (I still feel sad about that.) Most of the crosses though had also been done on my one remaining ‘Fairhope’ rose that didn’t get attacked with the hedge trimmers…
Jim Sproul
That’s a shame. I’m sorry. I hope the rose gods give you some nice Fairhope seedlings to make up for it.