RE: new to iris growing
- To: "'i*@egroups.com'"
- Subject: RE: [iris-talk] new to iris growing
- From: M* M*
- Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2000 09:26:23 -0400
Hi,
I must have missed your name in a previous post. I highly recommend that
you skip the triple mix if you are planning on planting bearded iris. We
made that mistake when we put together a new bed. We had a grand battle
with rot. I think that the mix is too rich. The manure and peat moss is
fine. These days, we just use mushroom compost for bearded iris beds and
peat moss for beardless. We have heavy clay soil too. Without amendments
the first year that we grew bearded iris, we lost more than half to rot.
Siberian iris do well without amendments. Some Japanese do well, but most
need more acid -- hence the peat moss. You should try some bulbous iris too
-- Alan McMurtry is in your vicinity and he has a great collection of
reticulatas and junos. In the Montreal area is Tony Huber who probably
carries the largest collection of versicolor in Canada and specializes in
wide crosses of Japanese iris and versicolor. You should definitely plan to
visit the McMillen's and Chuck Chapman to see the bearded iris. McMillen's
is probably the largest grower of tall bearded iris in Canada and Chuck
Chapman probably carries the largest variety as well as his own
introductions. Jean-Marc Boileau of Borealiris specializes in siberian iris
and probably carries the most up-to-date collection in Canada.
As to catalogues for Chuck Chapman and Borealiris, last I heard was that
both are at the printers.
Mark your calendar for Canadian Iris Society events. There will be shows on
the first weekend in June, at the RBG on the Saturday and in Toronto on
Sunday. Come and introduce yourself.
And if you're interested in picking up a lot of iris inexpensively (or even
just a few), plan to attend the sales and auctions planned for August for
the bearded and September for the beardless.
Maureen Mark
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (zone 4)
> Thanks to everyone who replied
>
> I will be living just north of Toronto, Ontario, zone 5, I think
>
> The soil is "new subdivision clay" and I was going to simply add
> triple mix, peat moss, and aged cattle manure to prepare a number of
> beds, but was wondering if there was anything else I should add for
> iris - a bit of sand for drainage?
>
> I found McMillen's Iris who sell bare root iris' located at
> www.execulink.com/~iris/ Can you direct me to other suppliers
>
> With it being new beds I am also toying with having raised beds to
> allow for an earlier growing season. Can I do this with Iris as well?
>
> I have only been a member here for a couple of days and really enjoy
> the comraderie
>
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