I agree with you, Seil. Roses, like apples, produce all manner of coloring and variations. As long as the hip has been on the plant for at least the requisite 110 or so days, I collect the ones I want. I don't float test them and unless what comes from the hip is obviously not viable (too thin and too small to contain anything viable) I plant it. If it germinates, great, if not, it will decompose and become part of the soil. Some breeders don't know the parentage and many others consider it "proprietary" and deliberately prevent anyone from knowing it. That's long been the "Austin way".

"Should I even bother?"

As Kim said, yes - absolutely worth the bother.

This rose came from seeds collected on a whim from a "mystery OGR" in a neighbor's yard 25 years ago:

'Barbara Oliva', a Centifolia Moss type. Registered in 2005.

I collect mystery hips too! I've gotten a few pretty seedlings from hips I collected from neighbors and even once from a rose in front of my doctor's office. The big orange hip was just to tempting to leave to be destroyed when the landscapers mowed them down for winter.

I would never have guessed Paul's rose just above was a chance seedling. A rose that intricate looks like years of work.

My why bother remark did sound a little brusque, but at that point, I thought the seeds were no longer viable if they had been in freezing temps for a couple weeks. I've learned a lot since then.

I hope Deanna, who originated this thread will check back in. I would like to compare notes since we are both beginners. Perma n' Posies, and anyone else, I hope you will share your results, too.

Seil- have you had luck getting seeds to germinate that were from a hip closer to 60-90 days? I would really like to try some seeds from the cold hardy varieties but have such a short season. It been freezing October through May and beyond the last few years... I haven’t had luck yet but end up throwing them as they get moldy...

Kelly, just try them. Are you leaving the seeds in the hips and the hips get moldy, or do the harvested seeds mold for you? Perhaps if you harvest the seed then rinse them in a mild bleach solution (perhaps a tablespoon per gallon of water) then rinse them in clean water and allow them to air dry before cold stratifying them, you might be able to hold them without mold. I hope, even if they are molding, you're still planting them. Mold happens and is often beneficial.

I've found they need to go around 90 days to be ripe enough. I think 60 days might be too short.

I never worry about mold. There is even some thought that certain molds help in germination by softening the seed coat so the embryo and emerge easier. Moldy hips or moldy seeds I use them all. .

I remove the seeds from the hips and scrub them good In a colander. The have tried the damp paper towel with a tiny bit of peroxide in a baggie in the fridge veggie drawer. They always turn black and fuzzy and have never sprouted. Are some hips seeds not fertile? They are all OP

thanks!!

Yes, some rose varieties are not seed fertile, just as some aren't pollen fertile. Some require some pretty specific treatment to get any germinations while others are like grass seed. Do you refrigerate because where you live prevents planting in fall/winter or because you've read that's how it's done? It also could be the hydrogen peroxide damaging any emerging roots preventing germination. It could also be the toweling being too wet.

I am in tropical Mn zone 4, so both reasons..

Have you read any of the articles on the Rose Hybridizers Association site?Rosebreeders.org I gave up on the damp toweling in the refrigerator when the fungicide, Captan, was removed from the market over carcinogenic concerns. It's what was used to ward off damping off of seedlings. Perhaps Seil has suggestions for getting around the mold issue? Generally, mold doesn't seem to pose problems for germination, unless it's due to being just far too wet so the germinating seedlings drown. I know quite a few who plant them in potting soil in unheated basements and set up grow lights.

What a wonderful resource—thank you Kim! I just spent some time poking around, and there are quite a few interesting pages, and many articles. :-)

I just printed out “The ABCs of Rose Hybridizing” so I can pour over it—-great stuff! :-)

As roseseek said, the mold doesn't matter. Mine are always moldy and they still germinate. My thought is maybe your paper toweling is too wet. Just like roses themselves don't like to sit in a pool of water, I've found the seeds don't like to be swamped either. Wet the towel but then squeeze it out really really, good before you put the seeds in it.

I experimented with just planting the seeds themselves right into the seed starter trays but found I got far fewer germinations that way. I think I couldn't keep the moisture level as even that way and lost seed to dehydration/drowning. And it took up a ton of space that I don't really have to put all the seeds into trays and under lights. With the towel method I only plant the germinated ones so there are fewer trays to light.

Thank you, Seil! Perma n' Posies, don't miss the forum. There is much there, too. http://rosebreeders.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=2

Thank you everyone for so much helpful advice and the beautiful photos of your own seedlings!

Flowers I sent you a message through your profile with my email address if you want to email back and forth and share our journey together.

I'm very excited about trying to grow roses by seed! I've grown lots of plants by seed but never roses so this will be a new adventure.

Deanna

hope you continue sharing it here.

Deanna, I sent you a message.

Vapor, you bet! We all should.

Kim, a million thanks for the links.

You're welcome, flowersaremusic! I hope you enjoy and glean lots from them!

Let’s see if it will let me post pics from the app...I harvested some hips to give it a try!!

They are prob not ripe yet but nothing to lose!!

Kelly, there's a few hips there that "might" be immature, though all the others will have matured adequately or fully. When a hip begins to blush with orange, it's generally ready to go! Today, I'm extracting seeds and beginning the stratification process and in a few months time should have hundreds of babies from crosses done this summer.

I so enjoyed this topic. It brought to mind the Robert Browning quote, "Stung by the splendor of a sudden thought."

Years ago, I decided I wanted a section of my garden to just be plants that I hybridized myself. It was a lot of fun, but I ended up concentrating on waterlilies. And I still do waterlilies. I didn't even like roses because I associated them with finicky hybrid teas, and then I was introduced to OGR, and a new love took off. I recently moved to east Texas and bought a dozen roses from ARE. I had hips on Cole's Settlement and thought it would be fun to give a try to growing a rose from seed, or even, just for fun hybrizing a few myself.

I have never understood people who get bored. Off I go to explore this more....and I agree, all of our babies are beautiful.

Marilyn_c, would you wish to show any of your waterlily hybrids, love to see! Over the years, I think I had grown some 50 or 60 named varieties and later winnowing that down to those which perform best in tubs. After thirty years, I begrudgingly gave them up to help cut down on my often overwhelming workload. Though, I'm now certainly tempted by some of the newly developed blue hardies! As for roses, I hybridize in order to create very hardy healthy hybrid tea and floribunda types that do not require winter protection in the coldest of growing regions.

"I have never understood people who get bored" ... funny, but I've met a few individuals that claim to have no hobbies or driving passions in life! One fella had hummed and hawed when I had asked him of such, and when he finally did reply, he said, "I guess, it would have to be talking on the phone! .... like sheesh! :(

Took my rose seed out of the fridge and they are moldy, but also sprouts!! Whoo hoo!!

Kelly i'm glad you decided to share those photos, now I know what to expect next winter!

That's a beautiful sight, Kelly. And, these are seeds you thought may not be ripe. They look ready to go into a starter mix. That's encouraging.

Mine all molded and didn't produce any sprouts. The ones in the fridge and also the ones I wanted to try without the fridge, since they had been out in the cold for weeks already, all molded. I'm starting over with a very few sad looking hips I scrounged last week. They will be getting a late start, but I still want to see if they'll do anything.

Oh! I'm in awe!! I recently planted rose seeds but remembered I was supposed to refrigerate so shrugged and left the pots in my unheated greenhouse (cold frame). and about a month later I had 4 seedlings come up in one 4 inch pot. After they each had a few leaves I attempted to separate them into separate pots. 3 survived. This is my largest at about 8 inches with it's first bud!!!

Congratulations! I think you'll find that unless you're dealing with Arctic hardy species or really low zone cold hardy stuff, most seeds don't require any real refrigeration. Most species seeds don't, either. I haven't cold stratified anything in more than five years and I always have far more than I can handle germinate.

I forgot to say that I planted seeds from Thomas Afleck and possibly seeds from Prairie Harvest. They were OP.

Soo exciting!! Please post pictures when they bloom!

So, it seems that it continues to lay over and now its putting out basel shoots. Could it be a climber? Oh and its blooming!

oh, just wanted to add that I had to go to my son's to babysit so I brought it with me. I didn't want to miss the bud opening! its usually in the greenhouse

the rose blooming nearest during pollination was Madame Alfred Carriere. this baby seems to be thornless so far. which MAC is also.

Lesli, I am thrilled for you. That is a real success story, and this is your first attempt, right? I would be happy with any seed sprouting, but with MAC a possible parent, puts it over the top. That's one of my favorites that I can't seem to grow. Congratulations!

I'm anxiously awaiting photos of the bloom.

thank you. I have no glorious notion that it will be some grand rose, but I hope its healthy and pretty. My mother is fighting stomach cancer and I told her if it's pretty I'd name it after her, Elaine. 😍

How awful! I'm so sorry! Blessings your mother kicks the cancer's posterior!

I'm praying for her AND you.

What a loving gesture, Lesli. I hope that little seedling will be just the boost your mother needs to get through the days ahead and that she will be growing her namesake rose in her garden in the very near future.

I have to ask how many of your first blooms look like the beautiful pictures your are all showing?

Great job, Leslie!! It’s very exciting!!

I‘m sorry to hear about your mom, and I’ll also be praying for healing and a good visit. Keep us posted on your new baby! :-)

the Elaine rose not fully open but I think its pretty. My Mom is over the moon!

Ok, last picture. Its open about as wide as it will. Better than I expected! 2nd seedling has a bud its more compact and upright. Anxious to see them all as adults

Congratulations are in order, Lesli. That is a beautiful rose. Looks fully double with good form and color. I'm eager to see the second bud open.

this is the second bud--looks like it's going to be white, yellow or very light pink

Maybe it will get more color as time goes on? Mine are still babies but growing well for being indoors. It’s still in the 30s for highs here.....

Bravo! Looks like you have quite a few successful starts there.

How would you recommend transitioning /acclimating the seedlings outside?

Be very careful, Kelly. After all frost put them in complete shade and move gradually to sun over 2 weeks or so. I sunburned mine in Alaska.

Most of my seedlings leaves are rounded like the first pic. What class of rose has longer leaves?