Learning to grow seed.

Hi folks. While i'm waiting for cuttings to callous up and eventually pot out, i was wondering what to do with myself other than the two million jobs i have around here. I'd like to get into growing seed. I'm thinking after reading the story on RMV on here lately that it might be a good idea to grow from seed also. On one of my favourite roses (Many Happy Returns - ground cover rose) i have a wonderful large hip developing. All the rest of the hips are usually small but this one is a lot larger. Do i take it that the rest were unpollinated and this one alone has been pollinated ?? If that's the case, i need to pollinate the flowers myself to ensure a good pollination rate. I used to do this years ago when we used to grow the odd granadilla. I used a small artist brush with fine hairs and gently swizelled it around in the pollen of one flower and then gently swizelled it around in the centre of another flower. Is this how you do it with roses ?? Also, once you have a hip that has formed, how long do you leave it on the bush before picking ?? I have a fair idea how to process the seeds in the fridge after that. Any info would be much appreciated !!

G'Day Dave... in general hips take between 120 and 140 days to mature. This is only a rule-of-thumb and you will have to take your lead form the rose as well. Some will say when the hips turn red/orange they are ready but some hips never turn orange/red so I use the three months guide more than the colour. It's also good, when you are first starting out, to just get a feel for how rose seeds grow by just growing these open pollinated seeds. The ones on 'Many Happy Returns' are an excellent choice to start with because not only do they have a proven and reliable track record but there is a very real chance of getting some excellent seedlings ideally suited to Australia. If you want to pollinate... forget the brush... fingers are a far better weapon of choice. Just collect the flowers that are almost open, snip the anthers off into a small container... allow them to dry so the pollen is released, then swizel your finger through the pollen and dab it gently on the anthers of the previously emasculated seed parent flowers. Stick your finger in your mouth to clean it before doing the next one (pollen don't taste half bad either kinda peppery). That's about it. Choose the seed parent at about the same age as the pollen parent flower... pull off most the petal but leave a few on (seems to help - easy to do with 'MHR'), use a small pair of scissor or tweezers to remove the anthers (you need to get them before they release their own pollen) and then they are amasculated ready for pollination. I cover mine with little gauze bags to keep other pollen gathering insects out for four days.. after that the flowers are not receptive to pollen anymore and put a small string tag (like a jewelers tag) on the flower with the name of the cross. I should get into the habit of putting the date on them as well so I can tell, with late crosses, when I'm getting close to 120-140 days... but I never seem to get around to it

Thank you very much Simon !!! I'll start that in a few days as i have 2X Many Happy Returns. I'm not sure what i can use for guaze bags but i'm sure the wife will have some idea. Fingers eh ?? ...well, i'll be buggered !!! I'm really looking forward to it i have to admit. Sitting here watching roses grow is starting to get a little boring so i need something to keep me amused !!! And what better way than to make more roses !!!

Patience is a virtue,

Thank you for those words of wisdom Roseman. After being married for 35yrs, i'm sure i'm ably qualified !!!

The answer is with your wife! Stockings!!!

And a dozen long stem red roses ????? Bugger 'er, let 'er grow 'er own m8 !!! Chuckle chuckle !!!

Ohhhh...now i get it !!! Geez, i thought you were trying to crack a joke then Simon !! Hehehe. The wife showed me some small bags that you can buy from Spotlight stores but the stocking idea sounds great !! Geez i love this site...always learning something !!

I'm sure your lovely wife would love a dozen long stemmed red roses too Dave, you SNAG you...

I'm sure she would Simon...but she ain't gonna get 'em !!! Santa is bringing her a macro lens for her camera. SNAG ??....damn but i love it when you talk dirty to me. Makes me all warm and fuzzy inside !!!