Growing Roses From Seed

I've been experimenting with growing roses from seed.  The best article I've found on the web is by Sharon Kardos called "Growing Roses From Seeds" (click on the title to go to the article).  Everything you need to know to get started is in the article, and it's full of great photos.  I've only gotten one plant to grow into a mature bush so far.  It is 2 years old now and should be blooming in a week or two.  I'll post a pic when the flowers open.

In the Fall of 2010, I gathered a number of hips from roses that developed via open pollination.  I cleaned the seeds with hydrogen peroxide, put them in a damp paper towel, placed them in a plastic bag, and put them in the crisper in the refrigerator for 8 to 10 weeks.  The seeds didn't sprout in the fridge, but I planted them anyway in February 2010. I put them in pots and placed them outdoors in a sunny location (that's not too early in Southern California). No sign of germination for weeks and weeks, so I assumed the seeds were bad.  To my surprise, in late April 2011, two months after planting, a seedling popped up, then a second, and then a third. The seedling pictured is from a rose called Honey Bouquet.  I've since planted about 100 more seeds and hope a few will germinate. There are still many perils that may befall my tender seedlings, but I'm hopeful they will mature.  Stay tuned for updates on my babies!