HYB:Rotting stalks

In a message dated 7/24/2007 8:11:58 P.M. Central Daylight Time,  
MryL1@msn.com writes:

<<had a couple of stalks off at about 4 weeks this  spring.>>

 
The potato and sugar water are not necessary for maturing pods hit with  
stalk or pod rot.  
 
In most cases, a pod that has been set for 4 weeks can be matured without  
additives.  Just put the pod in a dry place and check it every day for pod  rot. 
 Even with pod rot it can be saved.  Keep the tag with it, of  course.  
 
In 2004 I had a stalk that set 2 pods.  I found the stalk rotted at 4  weeks. 
 I couldn't tell how long the stalk had been collapsed, but didn't  expect 
any viable seed.  The pods finished drying on a book  case in my office.  When I 
finally opened the pods, the seed were so  small I was sure none would 
sprout.  I planted them anyway.  All  100.  Six seedlings sprouted in the spring of 
2005, and one bloomed in  2006.  Two more sprouted in the spring of 2006.  
Just 8 out of the 100  sprouted, but what a lesson?  
 
1990 was the worst year I've seen locally for rotting stalks.  I had a  dozen 
or more stalks in vases & potatoes.  I even stuck a couple  in the ground and 
kept it moist.  Then the pods started rotting.   Those went on the garden 
table.  In the end, one was so rotten that I had  to resort to a seive and the 
garden hose to clean the seed.  The cross was  only 4 weeks old.  Even though 
the seed were full size I didn't think they  had a chance of sprouting.  They 
did.  
 
I'd like to know where that deer "left" my seed from Strictly Ballroom x  
Mariposa Skies!!  Did they sprout and grow?  Is someone wondering how  that 
pretty iris got down by the creek?  <vbg>  
 
 

________________________________________________________
Betty W.  in South-central KY Zone 6 ---If you don't cross them, you can't 
plant them!  
Bridge In Time Iris Garden@website:
Some seedlings planted and some still  in the pots! 
_www.thegardensite.com/irises/bridgeintime/_ 
(http://www.thegardensite.com/irises/bridgeintime/) 
_Reblooming Iris - Home Page_ (http://www.rebloomingiris.com/)  
_iris-photos archives_ (http://www.hort.net/lists/iris-photos/)  
_iris-talk archives_ (http://www.hort.net/lists/iris-talk/)  
_AIS: American Iris Society website_ (http://www.irises.org/)   






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