H. 'Minuteman'

This 'Francee' sport called 'Minuteman' was also a 2004 addition. From the 2 points you see here in this picture taken about 2 weeks after it was planted, we had 6 or 7 come up this spring 2005: big enough to split it in two. And it looks as if it's vigour continues in 2005; the rate both these divisions are growing is very promising.

After we made the division late March, April 29th, 2005, sees us with this unfurling in progress of 3 points.

This is the other part of the division. It's in a different part of the backyard with a different exposure to light, so it'll be interesting to see what sort of growth and colouration difference we'll see. Certainly thus far I'd be hard pressed to identify any.

In most of the pictures of our 'Minute Men' it is easy to see the cupping of the leaves and the moderate corrugation. At least that holds for all the pictures taken this year, you'd be hard pressed to notice any sign of cupping in the shot at the top of the page, which was taken last year. Nor is there any mention of this as a regular trait for this sport, but there is for another 'Francee' sport and that's 'Patriot'.

Bob Axmear has the following to say about this variety in the Hosta Library:

'Minuteman' was registered by Machen in 1994 as a 'Francee' sport. It is different from, but similar to 'Patriot'. The size is 24 x 12" with 18-30" scapes. The leaves are dark green with a wide creamy-white margin. The margin is smooth and the coloration of the leaf makes a more dramatic contrast than its progenitor. The leaves are broadly ovate with a rounded base. The leaves have good substance, are slightly shiny on top and dull grey underneath. The flowers are tubular, pale lavender, and striped.

Let's not forget however that this plant is far from mature and it could very well be a different thing with the cupping next year. Wait and see is all we can do.

The same plant 9 days later, June 14th, and I think you'll agree that it's off to a great start in it's new location; although there's no sign as yet of a flower stalk.......Cannot help but notice how the cupping we first showed on April 29th continues strongly.

In early January 2006 I took a close look at how the Hostas are overwintering, paying particular attention to the size of the new buds which seem to be appearing on most roots. The weather has been quite mild for the past 3 weeks, after having seen 2 weeks of nightly frost in early December 2005 and I'm a little concerned with a somewhat premature sprouting of the new buds since it is not at all unheard of for another brief cold spell late February or early March. The two roots of 'Minute Man' we have both show signs of pretty near doubling their size from last year and that's very encouraging. Let's keep our fingers crossed that we have the sprouting of new points slowed down sufficiently by the weather over the next couple of weeks so that a late frost for a night or two February/March will not have too drastic an impact.

On the 14th of January this is what one of the roots looked like, it's the same one you see at the top of the page and I must admit I'm pleased as punch to see that for 2006 we're going from the 3 plants we saw on this root last year to more than double that number.

April 10th, 2006 and the division that started out with 3 shoots last year has doubled in size. Must admit that at this point I certainly am tickled with the vigour this variety is showing. I was frightfully tempted to cut this root in half again, but I'll hold off....Can't complain about this variety's growth, we have gone from a plant with just 2 shoots in 2004 to two plants in 2006, each with 6 shoots on it!.One of the two will get sliced again next year, perhaps even this year if I can find space for the cuttings.

The crown you saw at the top ended up being dug-up and divided in August 2006. It really was getting a little too crowded where it was and once it had been dug up it wasn't much of a stretch to make several divisions and pot those up in preparation for our spring 2007 plant sale. Certainly with the vigour this cultivar has shown one or more of those divisions will end up as subjects of another one of our slice-n-dice routines late spring of 2007. I must admit that between 'Patriot' and 'Minuteman' there is no doubt the latter has done much better for us. In all fairness though, 'Minuteman' has always had better spots in our garden, and if they don't get adequate moisture the size suffers.