Re: Seed Exchanges


>Carolyn writes
>
>:        Would anyone care to tell about their experiences with the seeds from
>:signa??
>
>Yes, the SIGNA seed exchange is really neat. I have grown plants of
>I. unguicularis, I. setosa, I. foetidissima, and Belamcanda chinensis
>from SIGNA seed. I have a few minor problems with the seed exchange,
>though.
>
>One is the time of shipment (which can hardly be helped, of
>course). The seeds come in January and that doesn't given them much
>cold weather after planting to aid germination. So sometimes they
>don't germinate well. In my small garden, I have to plant them in
>pots, so it's a little trouble to hold them over another year to
>wait for more germination.
>
>Another minor gripe is that members who donate seed are "served
>first" when distributing the seed. I guess this makes sense on
>some level, but it is frustrating for someone new to species who
>doesn't have seed to donate yet. I ordered bearded species for
>three years, and never got one seed, despite ordering early, because
>they were "sold out". I pay my dues, and pay for the seeds, so I
>feel I shouldn't be a "second-class member" when it comes to the
>distribution.
>
>Those little things aside, though, SIGNA is a great way to get
>started with species, particularly the beardless ones, which are
>usually abundantly present in the seed exchange.
>
>Happy irising, Tom.


I have had great success with SIGNA seed also.  The plants are worth the
wait.  Those seed that do not germinate by the time your soil is warmed up
can be held over the summer in a cool out of the way place such as along a
north foundation wall of a dwelling or even in a basement. Ungerminated seed
can be stored sown in a pot by wrapping the pot in a breathable poly food
bag if it never gets sun, which would quickly cook them.  The soil should be
only slightly damp for best keeping.

Seed donors are given preference in order to encourage submissions. Foreign
donors are given special preference to encourage diversity of choices and
greater international exchange.  Dues generally only cover publication
costs, etc. 

The North American Rock Garden Society lists over 6000 varied species and
cultivars of plants of all kinds including many Iris, generally close to a
hundred listings. I have more beardeds from this exchange than from SIGNA,
possibly because as Herman stated in a message awhile back, Iris are not
universally popular among RG folks, yet there is a large pool of donors.

If you can afford to join a Botanic Garden, some of them offer seed lists to
members and lots of other goodies such as classes and special tours. However
SIGNA has the best overall variety that I know of.  Here is a popular seed
list strategy: order a balance of rare and more common seed and list plenty
of alternative choices, that way you won't be too disappointed or too
overwhelmed with the tough ones.  Too many empty pots gives me the blues!  

Does anyone out there know if the British Iris Society and the Aril Society
International have seed exchanges? 

I am also curious to know which of the other AIS Groups have seed exchanges
besides SIGNA and SPCNI.  Perhaps eventually we could get this type of info
on a web page. 



Louise H. Parsons  <parsont@peak.org>
Corvallis, OR  USA
USDA zone 7 , Emerald NARGS, AIS, SIGNA, SPCNI, transplanted Oregrowian
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