This is a fantastic way to cross roses or grow wild rose seedlings for pals. From pollination to transplanting, I'll explain.
Choose a healthy mother plant blossom once the plants bloom. Keep the center stigma and style while gently removing petals and pollen-covered stamens. This stops flower self-pollination.
When the mother flower stigma is sticky, pollen can be accepted. Cut off a pollen-rich father plant blossom gently. Pollen collection and distribution are best on temperate days under 85°F (29°C).
Even with two plants, label each cross afterward. I'm ashamed I didn't label plants, thinking I'd remember. I'd visit days or weeks later and regret not labeling the plant.
If pollinated, roses produce rose hips. Hips develop quickly after germination and mature after many months. Small bulbous masses grow underneath the blooms.
Green rose hips turn red, orange, yellow, or a combination. Collect plump, colored hips. After maturity, hips can sit on vines for a few weeks, but avoid dry, shriveled fruits.
Stratification exposes seeds to a specific environment for germination. Roses must be exposed to cold, moist environments for weeks to break germination barriers.
Late winter is ideal for rose seed planting. Cover seeds with 1/4 inch of soil in seedling trays filled with well-draining potting mix. Place seeds in wet soil at 60-70°F (15-21°C).
When rose seedlings reach a few inches or outgrow their containers, move them to larger pots. Moving the pots outdoors to acclimate the plants begins when the weather stays above freezing.