Re: Planting too soon

jwallen@blomand.net wrote:
> 

> Julie asks,
> Sharon, it appears that this section of your answer refers to TBs as well as
> arilbreds.  Frankly, I don't try to grow arilbreds here in our humid
> Southeast, although I like them.  But I am wondering about TBs.  Do you
> think this would apply to us here in TN and other areas where we have hot
> and humid summers?
> Or are you referring to the intense heat and sun of New Mexico?  Would this
> include replants from one's own garden and plants obtained from gardens of
> similar climate, or are you referring only to iris from cooler areas than
> one's own?
> 
>   I thought that for this area, we are better off to try to plant early in
> order for plants to get established before cold weather (our first hard
> freeze is usually late Oct. or early Nov.)  I start planting in early July.
> Am I mistaken in this?    Am I hurting my poor little iris?  Uh-oh, I feel a
> brain cloud coming on.  Information overload.
> Julie Allen  Sparta, TN zone 6

Julie,

Here in California our temperatures exceed 100F quite often in the
summer, usually starting in June.  I plant all my seedlings during June
and all my new acquisitions (sometimes hundreds and from all parts of
the country) during June thru August.  I must keep them watered,
sometimes watering every other day.  They always thrive, becoming full
sized plants by the fall.  Of course our humidity is low 10-20%.

This may not work in your part of the country, but it works here.  You
never did state how your early plantings did? I may sound like a broken
record to some members of the list, but "clean" soil is important. 
Continually planting iris in the same place year after year will take
it's toll.  Solarize or rotate if you can.

Rick Tasco
Central California
Zone 8
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