Tet. Handsome Ross Carter

Hello Daylily Friends,

If you look back at my "Post" on March 15, 2011, you can read about some of my efforts in trying to convert HANDSOME ROSS CARTER.  I kept hoping that I had it converted, but I could never be sure.  Then, this morning, there was a bloom that looked more promising on one scape as compared to other blooms on nearby scapes.  The bloom that I was looking at had bigger sepals and bigger petals.  The other blooms had noticeable smaller petals and sepals.  I was surprised to note that the signature, small circular red halo, was not as noticeable on the bigger flower.  I must also add that Spalding has HANDSOME ROSS CARTER measured as being 14 inches in height.  However, all of my scapes are 26-27 inches tall with 4 and 5 way branching.  The flowers are 6 inches in circumference as registered.

I  picked the two blooms and brought them to the Barn for closer examination.  I immediately noticed that the base of the flower was much "thicker" on the bloom that I thought was a tetraploid. The other flower had a more narrow and smaller size.  I took a picture so everyone could see what I saw.  Clearly, the flower which has had an effective treatment with Colchicine is much larger in size.

So, I had a flower that was bigger than the other flowers, the base of the larger flower was much larger, but the real question has to do with the size of the pollen.  I took pollen from the larger  flower, and also took pollen from the smaller flower.  I will show the pollen from the smaller flower first.  As you can see from looking at the size of the pollen, it is about a size 8 on my measuring scale.  Now let's look at the pollen from the bigger flower which I am showing on the right side of this page.  As you look at its pollen you can see that it easily measures about a 13 on my scale.  Quite a difference in size.  Tetraploid pollen usually measures about a 13 or larger, whereas diploid pollen often measures about an 8 to 10, on my scale of measurement.  I feel reasonably confident that I have converted HANDSOME ROSS CARTER.

I took the tetraploid pollen from TET. HANDSOME ROSS CARTER, and started trying to set pods.  I have one orange seedling that has just begun to bloom, and I think that it is magnificent.  I'm showing a picture.  The cross is as follows:  [1-389 {Kennesaw Mountain Hayride x Tet. Orange Velvet} x Grace Seedling], and I now call it Seedling 2-479.  It is 27" tall with one proliferation, and a 6 1/2" flower.  Whenever a plant is converted the final question is whether its pollen can be used to make new seeds.  I'm sure hoping that TET. HANDSOME ROSS CARTER will set seeds, especially on Seedling 2-479.

Before I go I have to show you another daylily that I now call Seedling 11-84.  Here is the cross:  [(Wild Hair x Fantastic Fringe) x Dr. Stump], and here are the measurements: 29" tall, 4-way branching, 20 buds, 6" flower.  It is very fertile.  I have six fans.  If only I could grow this beauty with sufficient speed to put it out this fall.  But alas, it will be at least two years before it is available.  By then I will have a better picture.  The picture you are seeing was on a rebloom scape.  How do you like the extra long sepals with many teeth there as well?  I'm thinking of calling this beauty TOOTH FAIRY NIGHTMARE.

Got to get back to gardening!

Bill