I let a few go to seed this year, because I've never done that before. I thought I might try a few for winter sowing, but there's a scad of seeds. If anyone would like some, please dmail me. I'll also have some oriental seed later; Dordogne and Aktiva. That is, if it doesn't snow first. I tried to let some LAs go to seed and not one of them is forming a seed head. How come???
Beak-- LA's are not forming seed probably because they are interspecific hybrids to start with. LA's are made by crossing longiflorum with asiatic. Also, it sometimes helps to "help" them along, meaning hand pollinate. Before you send out Centerfold seeds you might want to sample them for fertility by holding some of them up to the light (a sampling if not all).
beaker, I am game. I would like to try to start some. Do you want something in return or SASE? LMK
I would love to try some -- trade? SASE? candles & incense?
Pard, you gotta be kidding! They are like tissue paper. I do see that some are light colored all the way and other have a darker spot in the middle. I'm assuming the darker spot is an actual seed.
Defoecat and Greenjay - postage is fine, but now I have to separate out the nonviables, if that's a word. And I think there's a lot more nonviable than viable. Why can't things just be simple?
I guess I should have explained further. Hold the seed up to the light and look for a line in the middle. It is really a sprout inside the seed. Really thin tissuey ones without the line are probably chaff. Another way to separate the two is to put the seed in say, a plastic sandwich bag and shake them up. Static electricity will cause the tissuey lighter ones to stick to the sides...
On the other hand if you want to drop several of each into an envelope and send them to me I will take a look at them and let you know what I think. Or better yet if you can put them on glass (I use pyrex pie plate) and back light them (I put pie plate on lampshade lol) and then take a digi pic and post we can have a lesson on lily seed viability.
OK, I'll see what I come up with, but may not be until this weekend.
Beaker,
I would like to try some of your lily seed. I have pink and white asclepias and baptisia. LMK if you are interested.
Here is a pic of lily seeds.....
Excellent picture esw. Beak needs to take a look now...
Great pic.
I did some pollinating and have lots of pods, haven't broken any open yet. My Schez actually has pods!
Thanks folks for all of your help
intercessor
esw, that picture really helps me know what good seeds are suppose to look like. Thanks a bunch for the photo, excellent quality for detail.
my pleasure...
Great, now I know what to look for. So, even if they have the darker center they are not viable unless there's a little squiggle running through it?
Anyone who's asked for seed, you're on hold until I figure this out. No sense in sending seed that won't do anything. Hopefully, I'll get it done this weekend.
Wow, this is really interesting. I'm enjoying reading this to find out what's a good seed and what's not. Your pic was great.
Thanks
Maureen
ditto what maureen said
If you belong to the Lilium forum on yahoo. Here a link showing Chaff from good seed.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lilium/files/Seed-pix/
This message was edited Oct 1, 2006 8:08 PM
declfi - that was very interesting. I noticed this difference in seeds I took from Schehezarde (spelling??) most of them had the line and most of my others had no line.
Just an update. It looks to me like some of the seed is viable, but I'm not going to guarentee anything. Also, I have Regatta seed now and it looks like I have more of the Regatta than I do Centerfold. Anyone who wants seed, dmail me your address and everyone who responds by next Wednesday 10/18, I'll make sure you get one or both seeds. Still waiting on the Oriental seed.
Beaker, my lily seeds arrived today. thank yo so much! I'll need to research the poppies, not familiar with those. You have d-mail
mine arrived too. thanks!
In case anyone else is looking, these are all gone. I may have some oriental seed later on. Pods are still ripening. In addition to Aktiva and Dordogne, I also have pods off of Acapulco and Abade.
Mine arrived today. Thanks so much!
