AR: Growing arilbreds in Region 6 / Zone 6

From: dkramb@tso.cin.ix.net (Dennis Kramb)

Once upon time Carolyn asked...

> ----> what's the growing conditions you have, Dennis??
>
> I have some aril-breds. Their first year, they were in full sun,in
> the same soil as T.B.s, and when they didn't bloom, I moved them to
> an area which is very very dry, with sedum, as a matter of fact, (and
> a wonderful grey/purple historic) and they grew better, taller foliage
> this year, but did not bloom, and I think have not increased.
>
> SO! What is the culture for the aril-breds in a zone 6 garden? Soil?
> Mulch with pebbles?? No mulch?? rain(water) in the fall/spring, hot&dry
> in the summer?  What am I not doing that I should do?
>
> Do the aril-breds require fertilizer at this time?
>
> I'm thinking that this area is sort of duplicating desert conditions, is
> that a rule of thumb??

First I want to make it clear that I'm no expert.  In fact, I've only grown
arilbreds (or any bearded iris!) since July of 1997 (nearly one year now).
I have 1/2-breds and 1/4-breds mixed in amongst all my other beardeds (MDBs
through TBs).  I treat them all the same.  I had a lousy bloom season this
year with less than 10% of my rzs putting up bloom stalks....mainly due to
the record rainfall (and humidity) we had in April.

My only AB bloom was OPALS FOR ETHEL a 1/4-bred.  Interestingly enough, the
second (which was also the last) flower OPALS FOR ETHEL put out was quite
bizarre.  It had 7 style arms, 4 falls, and 3 standards.  The first flower
it put up was completely normal.

I lost one AB in February due to rot...it was BOAZ...and I'm really
devastated about that!  It was completley my fault for having it in such a
low part of the garden where rainwater would collect.

This year I'm going to try my hand at some 3/4-breds as well as adding many
more 1/2-breds and 1/4-breds.  I'm not bold enough to try any pure arils!
1/2-breds have become the most important to me since I want to start
hybridizing and they tend to be easier to use than 1/4 or 3/4-breds.

Compared to my other beardeds many of my ABs have increased rampantly.  I'm
hoping this is an indicator that I'm doing something right!

I'm lucky because Cincinnati is notorious for having heavy clay soil.  But
whoever built my house must have trucked in lots and lots of sand.  Even on
the driest days I can easily dig in my garden and the soil breaks up
beautifully.

>From all of the advice I've been able to get on raising arilbreds, the key
to success seems to be to provide them with excellent drainage.

If you're not in ASI, I urge you to join.  They put out an incredible
yearbook and being a member entitles you to participate in their plant
sale...a great way to obtain cultivars which are otherwise commercially
unavailable.

Dennis Kramb; dkramb@tso.cin.ix.net
Cincinnati, Ohio USA; USDA Zone 6; AIS Region 6
Member of AIS, ASI, HIPS, RIS, SIGNA, & Miami Valley Iris Society
Primary Interests: Hybridizing Arilbreds, Raising Native Ohio Species Irises



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