Seed Time - Hybridizing Bearded Iris

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I was asked if it took a long time to grow Iris germanica from seed? The answer is a big Yes. And did I grow many? No. If you wish to try, there are many hurdles to jump over.
First choose a mother parent, and a male pollen parent for the characteristics for which you are looking, assuming you have a choice! Not all parents are compatible. My Solid Mahogany never produced any decent pollen, and is slow to increase.

Remove the anthers and place the pollen, by rubbing the anthers on the upper surface of the 3 stigmatic lips.
Each is located above the beard, where the anthers were, above the V where pollen would be brushed off a bee’s back. Although I have not used Jane Phillips this photo shows the parts quite well.

Then wait to see if fertilization is successful. This year was so wet that many of the my pods failed.
Immortality turned out to be a good mother and I had 3 good crosses, but can you believe I knocked off all three pods, well before they were ripe! I got 13 pods from various crosses, unlucky for some, as only six have survived me, cats and other hazards.

Wait until the pods are ripe and begin to split. This pod, which is beginning to split has only 2/3 fertilization. I think because rain spoiled some of the pollen. There was only seed in 2 out of the 3 pod chambers.

Do not go on holiday in August or turn your attention elsewhere or the seeds will be lost on the ground, and you might see the ants marching off with the spilled beans. This year I put sockies over the remaining pods at the last minute just in case, but you stand the risk of them rotting or snails hiding around them.

Seeds from the above pod. Some of the seed was ready in late July.

Sow in Autumn. When is Autumn? I put mine in pots on dry seed compost somewhere cool, protected by netting against mice etc. and leave till spring to see if leaves develop.

Plant out the little plants in rows, if you have space and 5 years later they might flower.

The 2 plants above were from bee pollinated Sultans palace, same pod. I have had to lift these as they were sitting on top of each other as they developed thro’ lack of space.
The plants from 2 years ago have been moved twice because of lack of growing space, not good for growth continuity. Last year I didn’t bother making any crosses because of bad timings.
As Iris need a period of cold to break their dormancy, this year I put some pots in the fridge for a couple of weeks after sowing in July as a trial, then put the pots under the car port. Would you believe it this little green shoot appeared, certainly looks like a Iris seedling, not grass, one out of 20 in the pot, so I carefully put it in its own pot. I will put the original pot back in the fridge for another chilling.
This is an imposter, a Gladiolus from an adjacent pot!

Here is a picture of the mother – Chantilly pink and yellow with frilly edges.

And the father – Role Model
I would like the frilly edges of the mother with the darker pink of the father. I hope he lives up to his name.

September 13, picture of 2 Iris seedlings that I spotted yesterday.
They actually resemble mini Iris!

But hurdle 5, where do I put this little seedling to over winter? Just as well it is still the only one to germinate since otherwise there would be another 200 plus hurdles to cross.

Watch this space 2019!

• 1 Sep, 2014
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