To make a Unique Rose Variety we need two parents. The Seed Parent and the Pollen Parent. The Seed Parent receives the pollen from the Pollen Parent. The seed of the new variety grows within the Seed Parent. It is this seed that will make the Unique Rose Variety. In choosing Parents we are looking at their colour, scent, height, type, form, growth charactistics, etc. It is the combination of the two Parents that will give the New Varieties their unique charactistics. To put it simply we will cross two pink varieties together in the hope of creating new pink varieties. The real skill is knowing which varieties to cross, and this comes with many years of experience and trial and error. Once we have decided the various Parents – we will produce our Breeding Program. This will identify which varieties will be crossed. This Breeding Program forms the back bone of the Summer’s activity.

The actual Crosses are made from May-July. We will use the Breeding Program and undertake all of the Crosses that we had planned. I would love to say that this goes to plan 100% of the time – but it doesn’t. In effect the pollen is removed from the Pollen Parent and the Seed Parent is prepared to take it. Once this is complete the pollen is applied – and we let nature take its course. Each Cross is recorded – the record will show Seed Parent, Pollen Parent and date of cross.

We let the plants mature through the Summer. Once the Autumn sets in we keep monitoring the Seed Parents to see when the Seeds are ready for harvesting. At this point we will harvest all of the seeds. The seed will be placed in Envelopes – each envelope will be labelled with the cross from which the seeds originated.

To maximise germination we will alternate the seeds between freezing temperatures and warm temperatures. This simulates the seeds in the wild. This preparation will take place from seed harvest to seed planting in January.