CULT: summer chilling

Sharon McAllister wrote (about I. pumila):
> Our minimum temperatures are
> sometimes even below 0 F, but
> I think the key is accumulated chill
> time, not just the coldest temperatures
> endured.
> 
> As for summer heat -- I agree.
> The shallow root systems of the
> pumila derivatives cook without
> shadecloth.  =

I'm assuming the accumulated chill AND absolute temperature are
important in triggering fall rebloom in at least one fall rebloomer
(HARVEST OF MEMORIES) based on what it did here for me last year
compared to how much later it bloomed for others. Finally something
living in a frost pocket is good for!

Anybody want to venture a guess as to how many days it might take to
initiate fall bloom?  I wasn't paying attention last year, other than to
notice that night temperatures got down into the 40s.  

If I had a row of H O M (which I certainly will one of these days), I
could experiment with different dates and duration, but I only have 3
clumps.  I was going to start putting frozen bottles out in July.  If I
also put out shade cloth, I wonder how long it would take for a 2 liter
bottle of ice to thaw at 75o night temps and 95o days?

Linda Mann east Tennessee USA
cool and rainy, but pleasant.  first clematis open, pansies starting to
recover, and the edible onion 'companion' plants add a healthy looking,
vertical touch to the rebloomer bed.
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