Lynn,
Some definitely do develop color faster, I have a red that's been that way since it's first summer, even it's stolons are bright red. Think I might keep it just because. Not a bad plant otherwise, subtle velvet, pointed leaves, maybe not the biggest standout I've got but an interesting experiment should I ever get to cross with it in the future.
Kevin,
The 'Red Zinger's sound really cool.
Ok, so your saying come the second summer you'd toss things that don't have great color, but that it's not foolproof. Yes the beds I have are definitely getting out of hand, culling just on the basis of rot hasn't opened up much space. In an ideal situation where time and space weren't limitations I'd row them all out again, giving a good four inches between each one, but with thousands of seedlings that's just not practical. I've moved as many old seedlings to the new bed as I think I can to be able to plant the remainder of my 2019 handcrosses there as well. Now it seems like elimination is the only way I'll be able to open things up enough to allow for further increase. So far I've been "excavating" the area's around ones I like, planting the underdeveloped or unattractive seedlings that were choking them out elsewhere, but I've run out of room for that to. I'm also considering turning to pots to plant up some of the smaller family groups elsewhere for later selection.
Things like pinks, silvers, blues, and blacks I'd really like to row out next to each other with plenty of space so I can be certain I pick the right ones. There are favorites in these categories at the moment, but I can't be sure that a plant of the same genre struggling in an overcrowded area isn't actually a better plant.
I have a dark cobweb from one of my hand crosses that you might appreciate, one parent was a red tufted type and the other was an arachnoideum with seasonal color, so it's probably 3/4 arach and 1/4 something dark. The cobweb turns to tufts in the winter, but the color is year round.
-Sol
