Re: iris farmers
- To: i*@Rt66.com
- Subject: Re: iris farmers
- From: L*@aol.com
- Date: Wed, 3 Apr 1996 10:15:34 -0500
In a message dated 96-03-30 11:09:14 EST, you write:
>Doug Wood:
>
>So, we have a farmer growing irises! Welcome aboard. I know a Doug Wood
who
>is a Dupont Chemical sales rep.
>
>Doug, I am a Extension Agent in Citrus in southwest Florida.
>
>Robert Turley
2 farmers and one ex farmer - i used to raise cattle and grow tobacco, and
until last year, was on the county board of supervisors (scs/tacd) - not a
very active organization here.
last year i drove around looking at as many iris 'gardens' as i could find.
there is no such thing - the successful iris growers all grow them in rows
like tobacco plants or field corn. so i figure this means they respond well
to deep regular cultivation and have planted my new cultivars in rows where i
can use the farm tractor to cultivate them. it also gave me the bright idea
to take a spade fork to each of my established 'garden' clumps and dig under
it as if i were going to dig it up - just lifted it out of the ground and set
it right back down. the clumps i treated that way (some varieties actually
do make clumps for me) do look better than the ones i left alone. maybe this
is one of the bad effects of luxurious rainfall (>50 inches/yr) - it may
settle the ground so much that aeration and root growth are a problem.
linda mann e tenn usa
