Results of 13 Years Quietly Breeding Daffodils

[@petekooshian5595]

Dude I totally agree with the ignoring excess information. There's a lot of freedom in experimenting innocently.

[@SkillCult]

I think both can be useful, but it is easy to be influenced. our whole education system and knowledge bases, are essentially about thinking in boxes. Theoretically, we can learn the box, then not live in it, but it's maybe not as easy as we think it will be. In some way, it can be like mental pollution lol. I just thrive operating with out too much information.

[@petekooshian5595]

@@SkillCult On top of that, we live in a society that demonizes straying from that box too! Like people actually get upset when you decide to just experiment and make mistakes rather than follow their prescripted guidelines (not that they don't have their place of course)

[@TrueEcologyNerd]

this might be one of your best videos. I really enjoyed it and I’m not even interested in growing daffodils, though this video kinda makes me want to breed them.

[@MrWildplum]

Best channel on the internet

[@timmain8177]

The daffodil at 22:40 amazing. Never seen one with a bifurcated split corona before

[@SkillCult]

Ive never seen any thing remotely like that. I'm pretty sure the parent would be Integer, a Grant Mitsch variety that I had which actually died out. It's not a very hardy garden flower. I'd like to get it again though if it's going to produce unique stuff like that.

[@timmain8177]

​@@SkillCult it does look a little like phantom, the pollen parent of interger.

[@SkillCult]

@@timmain8177 I'll look that up. Never heard of it.

[@Christian-jz3xt]

This is awesome. I want to start trying this for Gardenia to try and develop a cold hardy

[@SkillCult]

Cool. I hope you do. There are so many plants to work with and many are very far from being fully developed.

[@Dacoyoteman]

Love the tug-of-war outro!!

[@SkillCult]

Pitcat

[@3FeathersFarmstead]

12:20 that is an absolutely stunning flower! Been following for a few years and didn't get to see all of this!

[@SkillCult]

It's pretty nice. Last year it had more of a narrow distinct pink rim, but it's still really nice this year. I have only mentioned this project in passing a few times in videos and on instagram.

[@karendavidson394]

I know of you because of Gretchen and am impressed with your apple breeding. As a small time flower farmer in Arcata I collect bearded iris and almost anything with bulbs, corms, tubers and rhizomes. My son, same farm, collects fruit trees and would love some of your pink fleshed apples. good work.

[@Hayley-sl9lm]

Arcata is like one of the prettiest places ever...

[@SkillCult]

Aww, I miss Gretchen, she's awesome. I think I might remember her telling me about you guys. I do always have scion wood available in the winter.

[@karendavidson394]

@@SkillCult great ! We will be in touch,

[@senorjp21]

There are micropropagation techniques ("tissue culture") that can multiply plants very fast. If you've got a winner you could contact a micropropagation company.

[@SkillCult]

Yeah, I've had someone contact me actually. If I get something that might justify the expense I'll consider it. Or I could learn to do it, but I'm not very interested in that really.

[@senorjp21]

@@SkillCult There's a great introductory textbook I am churning through: Plants in Test Tubes

[@senorjp21]

@@SkillCult One more thing... micropropagation can typically get a phytosanitary certificate so you can sell worldwide

[@newfoundlandrules]

I was just thinking about this project of yours a couple of hours ago! I asked about a video on it in a comment on a video where you mentioned it and while I won't take credit for inspiring you, I'm glad to see a video on it finally!

[@SkillCult]

You can probably take partial credit at least :)

[@paulyounger1190]

The one at 9:42 (and I think also at 22:40?) is wild! In my unqualified opinion I think it could be highly marketable if it reliably produces blooms like that, its very distinct from other daffs.

[@SkillCult]

It really is different. I'll be moving it to a better situation in the fall for further observation.

[@LearningCurves123]

I love it!! It's wild and weird that's what makes it unique! Great job on this!!@@SkillCult

[@migarden2ourtable705]

The yellow green one is gorgeous🎉

[@stephenluna7932]

Very cool. Excited to see how they turn out. Cute field cat

[@janxious]

Some of those doubles look almost like carnations. Wild and neat project. 👍

[@Theorimlig]

Cool project! I've only ever really seen the common large yellow ones and some simple white ones, I never knew daffodils have this much variety to them!

[@DeeSixHomestead]

I love that you are using your passion for many things! Thanks for the update! ❤

[@ogadlogadl490]

💖💖💖💖💖love love love the daffodil at 22:41 💖💖💖💖💖 Very beautiful and unique!!! Stunner!

[@SkillCult]

That one seems to be popular. I'm noticing that people have possibly different tastes than me and from each other. Perhaps letting other people decide what to end up propagating or not is the way to go! If I started a daffodil business, it might be called Not Your Grandma's Daffodils. It would be fun to actually aim for weird effects like that one shows.

[@rosehavenfarm2969]

Our homestead had hundreds of amaryllis belladonna planted all over. Those bulbs are the same, I've found I can dig them up anytime (even with the leaves attached) replant, and they will keep growing every year.

[@SkillCult]

they are super tough. Try them as an understory. It is pretty amzing how good they are at completely smothering annual weeds.

[@gardenheiress1990]

I love that rose-looking one!!! I’ve never seen one that looks like that!!

[@SkillCult]

Most of the parents I would have used for that have a more open and less doubled appearance. I have seen some like that, but they are less common. it's a nice one for sure. One of the best seedlings so far.

[@bertbert2725]

the ones you called messy and weird are the ones i was most drawn to :D

[@SkillCult]

Cool.

[@paxtianodirtfrog8947]

Very cool, I asked about this once so I was glad to see this video. It pretty much showed what I was wondering about, thanks!

[@nima16042]

Whoa this is amazing, you are an inspiration as always! 💡

[@bigsky5102]

I like the weird pinwheel white that you didn't. And the white one with the peach inside. You showed it twice. I doubt some people would know it was a daff.

[@poetryandhiking]

Fascinating video. Thanks for sharing about your breeding program. I like the wild and crazy formed seedlings, even if maybe not commercially viable. I’ve been growing narcissus seeds for a few years now. I only have two that have flowered but hopefully more next year. I really liked your comment about relying on intuition, not just received knowledge.

[@SkillCult]

If the market is daffodil snobs, they are probably not viable. If it is the general public, a lot of people seem to like them best.

[@TJHutchExotics]

Beautiful, exciting stuff!

[@mr.fraedd693]

They really are fascinating! I had a farmer plow my Vegetable gardenbed last spring. The daffodils just didnt care and are still growing in a row. A few have been dragged a couple yards and growing there. Planted by my grandpa, he died 21 years ago. They got zero care. But i really did not know these Colors. Wow. As a kid I always wanted to grow them from seed, but never had enough patience.. I will at least plant some more this year. Maybe try to gather some seeds. Thanks for the very intresting and inspiring videos!

[@SkillCult]

mine rarely produce seeds on their own. Some of the small ones do and some of the big yellow ones, but most just don't.

[@cholcombe973]

You make a great case for including these under the fruit trees. I've had similar thoughts about the water competition here in oregon. I just don't want to spend all my time watering and having a plant that will go dormant at the dry time of the year sounds ideal.

[@SkillCult]

I doubt naked ladies will perform there. I'm on the far edge of hardiness for those, but if you stay above 18 or 20f, might be worth a try. I'd go with the chinese sacred lily and/or erlicheer. I may end up digging and selling some bulbs this fall. Not sure I'll get to it though.

[@cholcombe973]

@@SkillCult Yeah might barely be ok here. I'm in zone 8B and we do get down to 18f pretty often it seems.

[@scopescaroutdoors]

This kind of thing is so interesting it’s amazing the verity that many plants have. Great work 👍🏽

[@geri7942]

Beautiful!! My yard seems to be hybriding the daffodiles on their own. Fun to watch what comes up each year. Love your work!! And about the comfrey...good call.

[@НазарійДубинюк]

Thanks for this information. It's really just wonderful information for people who like doing new types of daffodils. You have very beautiful flowers. And I also want will try do it.

[@SkillCult]

It is all about getting good breeding stock. go through some catalogues and buy a few things that you really like. it is worth it.

[@Hayley-sl9lm]

I love your mutant daffodils, that is so fascinating! I am in Oregon and I have the basic yellow daffodils (I'm not even sure they produce seeds??). I've been so torn about them because they seem so waxy and sterile, I hardly ever see any insects interacting with them and they're not native. However I don't really have a native replacement, nothing that can bloom that early and honestly they are kind of like a symbol of hope during our depressing rainy winters. So I've kept them in my front bed, but I want to experiment with things like glacier lily, or fritillaria/chocolate lilies or fawn lilies but buying native bulbs is very expensive (and most of them are very attractive to animals so you lose them to squirrels and gophers, deer definitely too for people who have those). Thanks for sharing your experiment, that is so inspiring. 😊

[@daveyjoweaver6282]

Beautiful Steven! This year in south east Pennsylvania everything has been and is as prolific as I can remember. The daffodils here in my woods were amazing! Dogwoods, Red Buds, Cherries and all blooming things are bursts of brilliance! And the Bloodroot made areas of the Forrest floor white. Your land is no exception to my eyes, Lovely! I’ve been making many leather items from the leather I made, learned Skillcult skill! I’ll send some pics sometime. I’m grateful for your great instruction and sharing of your knowledge. As with any art/skill, one masters it through experience, in the doing. I still check in on some of your tanning videos to refresh. Great Kitty footage by the way! Kind Thanks Steven! You’ve been making a great difference in the world for the better! Many Blessings and Joy of Being! DaveyJO in Pennsylvania

[@SkillCult]

Good to hear from you buddy. I hope you're feeling well. When I get a new place, I have so many bulbs to move that I'm going to carpet bomb the place with daffodils lol. It's going to be a lot of work but epic. I have to move many thousands of bulbs.

[@daveyjoweaver6282]

@@SkillCult Yep, after a mild heart attack, stents in the kidneys before open heart surgery, then stents in my legs, another mild heart attack last May and a week in the lovely hospital,,,,oh yea and more stents in the heart, I am feelin like mo old self. Just built a deck with stairs for a friend, repairing gun stocks for a local gun smith and making leather works. Made a holster and accessories for my 22 revolver, fixed up two old 12 gauge single barrels and some other stuff for others. Big storm gotta go.

[@daveyjoweaver6282]

@@SkillCult Big wind to bring it in and now badly needed rain, Lovely! A t-storm. And you are receiving this email from the,,,,”STENTMAN”! No, not a Marvel hero but AKA JOman. I also reproduced some Susquehannoux Indian artifacts collected by a guy from Sweden 350-400 years ago that had been stored in a trunk in Sweden. The only known artifacts known other than stone and pottery. One was a quiver of leather with a wolf skull end. The skull was covered with red dyed and woven deer tail hair, the color the Swede was very impressed by but the Indians refused to tell the secret of the method. A wolf skull pendent also covered with red deer tail hair including the necklace. The skulls I used were castings of real skulls and both skulls had been cut down. The Susquehannoux were known to be tall, 7’ and very muscular. A modern name after the Susquehanna River. I’m working on a 26” ceremonial was club at present. I tried bloodroot, Schumac berries and other stuffs before I discovered the secret,,,,,now don’t tell anyone,,,,,,,Loral from the Dollar Store. Pretty damn close I must say. I do have your email someplace and I’ll send some pics. The quiver was made with Skillcult deer hide,,,YEA BABY! You’ve much digging to do but where are you moving to? You’ve put so much into that land, which is only natural for you. I remember when you hit 10,000 subscribers and I wondered why not more. I’ve created some Skillcult fans. Well I’m sure you have plenty to do besides reading this shit. And I must say that your content is Loved and Appreciated. The apple trees are family and wonderful to see them grow. I learned to have apples around when you’re wondering about the orchard taste testing. More later my Friend. You Kitty is effin Cool! DaveyJO

[@СерджиоБевз]

Cool....❤

[@adamelliott3694]

Great tip on the naked ladies. We have some new young fruit trees and some established clumps. I'll try moving some this fall after they flower. This took me back to looking at the Dutch Bulbs catalog with grandmother every summer/fall to choose new daffodils.

[@SkillCult]

I plant the amaryllis about 10 to 12 inches aparrt in every direction. If you have perennial weeds under the trees, it can actually make them worse, but it completely smothers annuals once established. When I move, I'll be setting up phase two of that experiment to get more data. So far though, it seems to work well. the big questions is how much they will compete with the trees for nutrients.

[@glassbackdiy3949]

really interesting, for mass propagation of bulbs you could try twin-scaling rather than waiting for division, never done dafs but I've had success with snowdrops putting the scales in vermiculite sealed in plastic takeaway sauce tubs, sometimes as many as 16 scales from one small bulb (more often 8) I imagine you could get 32 from the much bigger daf bulbs.

[@SkillCult]

Thanks. At some point I will be trying all that. I know about that and about scooping and splitting bases. I don't know which are best for daffs or if scaling works at all. Pretty soon I'll have stuff that I'm ready to start propagating faster. A lot of times damaged daff bulbs will throw a bunch of bulblets if the base is cut with a shovel or something.;

[@glassbackdiy3949]

@@SkillCult out of interest I looked it up fwiw the 'RHS propagating plants' book recomends chipping (easier because fewer cuts) & twin-scaling for Narcissus

[@SkillCult]

@@glassbackdiy3949 cool. I'll dig into it soon. I might actually have that book. I'll also ask the narcissus people.

[@Kozu604]

I've always bloody hated the generic yellow daffodils that are absolutely everywhere in britain during the spring. Stupid derpy looking things but some of yours are really awesome looking, really unique.

[@SkillCult]

those big yellow ones have grown on me a little over the years, especially once I got a couple of good seedlings. But they are kind of weird.

[@terrancecoard388]

That is the second flower that pops in my part of northern PA in spring. I can see them on the banks of the creek outside my window. Just found out their name last week after admiring them for thirteen years. Tomorrow I am going out with my tweezers and play god. How are with Day lilies? Last year we enjoyed a variety of African Daisys growing in pots on the deck...really looking forward to them this year. I admire the passion you put into things and you made me appreciate the price of leather after watching the tanning series.

[@SkillCult]

Daffs bloom at many different times here. the first flowers were late January and the last have not even opened yet. I don't grow day lilies. They are pretty neat and show a huge range of colors, so probably fun to work with.

[@bayareasparky9180]

Great stuff Steven. Hope I'm not bogging you down with dumb questions. Bulbs are generally not preyed on by pocket gophers? Also the seeds come from the dead flower heads? Thanks!

[@SkillCult]

Most bulbs are eaten by gophers, but I have never had them touch any daffodil species. I think they are very toxic. it seemed like I lost a few seedlings to voles last year, but I've never seen that before or since. deer won't eat them either. Like I said, they're super easy. The seed pod will form underneath the wilted flower. YOu have to catch it when it's turning brown, but before it splits open and drops the seed.

[@tomomt99]

have you tried day lilies as an undercover? + a lot of varietes of day lily are perfectly fine to eat.

[@SkillCult]

No I haven't I think the timiing might be wrong. I'm sure I considered them.

[@richardsailors9762]

OMG the cat! Thx

[@timobreumelhof88]

Great video. We live in a part of France where they grow in the wild but they are also protected. We don't have them on our property yet (the wild variety that is) but I'm going to collect seeds this year. I'll plant them around my apple trees as apparently the local vole variety does not like daffodils... 😊

[@SkillCult]

I'm pretty sure voles ate some of mine last year, but I didn't think they ate them at all. I'm pretty sure they are fairly poisonous. as far as the bulbs actually repelling them, I'm pretty skeptical that will actually work, but it's worth a try.

[@timobreumelhof88]

@@SkillCult Right I have no idea either, but it will at least look nice ;-)

[@SkillCult]

@@timobreumelhof88 Yeah, right, can't go wrong with that.

[@mimibergerac7792]

Nice work, you might want to contact Markus Kobelt from Lubera nursery in Switzerland. He works with private fruit breeders worldwide and is proud of his red fleshed apple varieties. Is it not useful to remove the anther before the pollen becomes viable to avoid self-pollination ?

[@mimibergerac7792]

If you cut around in the edge of the baseplate of the bulbs you should get a bulb at each cut.

[@SkillCult]

I emailed with him back when I very first started breeding apples. He was very nice and helpful. I don't think daffs are self pollinating. In fact, they rarely even get pollinated naturally by bugs here. A few varieties will, but most don't. I don't even mark the ones I pollinate, becuase it's so uncommon. I just collect whatever seeds any of them make.

[@SkillCult]

@@mimibergerac7792 I haven't done that on purpose, but I have seen it on damaged bulbs. I'll probably try it at some point.

[@lagoya]

She says that’s HER bird 😂 Thanks for another inspiring video 👍

[@SkillCult]

Anything dead she thinks is hers! And anything alive she thinks she can take out. I've seen her chase wild turkeys out of the yard trying to stalk them down.

[@Mark-xb8yd]

what a cat 😂 amazing stuff dude, never seen anything like it!

[@MrVirkMedia]

Nice

[@wraith313]

Are they self-sterile? How do you prevent them from pollinating themselves when you are in there working? I feel like I'd tap the flower and it would just drop the pollen everywhere I don't want it and fertilize itself (if that is a possibility).

[@SkillCult]

Just a few varieties seem prone to being pollinated by bugs. I don't think they are self fertile though. So few are naturally pollinated, that I don't even keep track of which stems Iv'e pollinated. I just collect all the seeds except for the few I know tend to naturally pollinate.

[@wraith313]

@@SkillCult appreciate the reply. You've inspired me to start doing some crosses myself, I will confess I didn't even know they would go to seed. Not sure any I already have have ever produced seeds before (maybe I'm not looking hard enough haha)

[@SkillCult]

@@wraith313 I've pretty much just seen some large yellow ones and a few smaller narcissus types produce seed naturally. You could always mark them with a piece of tape. I'm just trying to do as little work as possible.

[@RdBTuinieren]

How do you keep the Daffodil from pollinating itself?

[@SkillCult]

They just dont' seem to do that as far as I've seen. they rarely produce seed unless hand pollinated.

[@leoshum689]

“You jerk don’t lay in my plants” 😂

[@amyclea]

cool

[@RobinKyle]

Why do you breed them quietly?

[@SkillCult]

I just haven't talked about it very much since I didn't have results until recently.

[@kelliott7864]

So he doesn't wake up the other daffodils.

[@СерджиоБевз]

Crasy cat😂

[@andruloni]

🐱