Re: CAT: Quality (was Another Order IN!!)

I keep hearing the term and can not see how watering for a week or two would have time to triple the size of a rhizome. If you let one of those big honkers dry for two weeks it is still a big honker. I think it was spread by growers that  have little rhizomes. In my experience I have found the dried up ones start sending up new fans quicker. Big ones catch up later. 

Speaking of big honkers I have a first year seedling from Dusky Challenger X Tom Johnson. Has three fans, nine leaves in each fan, 36" tall. Leaves are perfectly erect no drooping. It sent up a 6" stalk that froze, 3/4" in diameter. Never saw anything like it. My friend John grows 2800 iris and has never seen a TB plant this large.

Sure hope it blooms next year.

Mike Greenfield
Zone 5b SW Ohio
redear@infinet.com
 

 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Mike Sutton 
  To: iris-talk@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Friday, July 12, 2002 12:16 PM
  Subject: Re: [iris-talk] CAT: Quality (was Another Order IN!!)


  I agree Mike,
  Kinda of another one of those myth things.  In our area they are not "water fattened", in fact we have a completely dry summer with temps, at the moment, around 110.  We irrigate if necessary every three weeks, but cut off the water at the first of July unless it gets really, really hot hot.  Our annual rainfall is 11 inches but this year it was 7.  Too much water actually can stunt rhizome development and plant growth plus severely increase the chance for disease.  I think the reason we have larger rhizomes than east coast growers is because of several reasons: we dig and replant in furrows every year @ 10 to 12 inches apart (first year rhizomes are always bigger), we plant in relatively fresh or completely fresh soil every year, (fresh soil always makes bigger rhizomes if it is good soil with decent ph), we have very loose sandy loam, we have a very, very long growing season, and our soil is neutral to alkaline.  I am pretty sure the same can be said for other CA growers as well as the Oregon growers.  Oh, btw in general only coastal CA is a relatively mild climate.  
  for what its worth 
  Mike Sutton

    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Mike Greenfield 
    To: iris-talk@yahoogroups.com 
    Sent: Friday, July 12, 2002 8:17 AM
    Subject: Re: [iris-talk] CAT: Quality (was Another Order IN!!)


    I would like to know how they " Water fatten a rhizome" I live in Ohio not California. If I give an iris plenty of room and good growing conditions it gets big. If they are crowded they will be small. I have had SDB rhizomes a lot bigger than the average TB I have ordered. Those only come on ones planted last year. The second year they will be a lot smaller. I think those big ones come from growers that dig and replant every year. Like Superstion Gardens.

    I think if they watered enough to "fatten" them they would increase there chances of rot.
    I like the big ones when they have plenty of increases on them. The small ones I have grown and bloomed just as good as the big ones, just less increases.

    Mike Greenfield
    Zone 5b SW Ohio
    redear@infinet.com
    http://www.geocities.com/mikeg1310/



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