RE: Re: CULT: digging/dividing times

I thought I was the only one who likes to transplant iris in early spring. 
 It doesn't seem to work as well for louisianas, but TB's seem to take very 
well.  The increased vigor and growth in the spring seems to minimize any 
losses.  I hate transplanting in the fall with temperatures over 90.  The 
rhizomes are nearly dormant, and trying to water them in just promotes rot. 
 If I wait for the weather to cool down (October/November), the shorter 
days don't stimulate new growth/roots very well.  Sometimes the first year 
blom on spring transplants is stunted or absent, but I'd rather miss a 
season than lose an iris altogether.

A lot of letters lately have been lamenting bloomout.  One of my favorites, 
a BB "SHENANIGAN" has this tendency for me.  It is cheap enough to replace, 
but not many places carry it anymore.  As for the comment someone made 
about not using such cultivars in hybridizing; if they have some unique 
qualities, perhaps those cultivars are the ones that need the most help: 
 cross them with something with more vigorous increase.  REINCARNATION 
makes a great parent; or EPICENTER would work for plicatas.

John Reeds, in sunny southern Calif. zone 22 or 23
jreeds@microsensors.com
----------
From: 	linda Mann[SMTP:lmann@mailhub.icx.net]
Reply To: 	iris-talk@egroups.com
Sent: 	Thursday, June 15, 2000 3:59 PM
To: 	iris-talk@egroups.com
Subject: 	[iris-talk] Re: CULT: digging/dividing times

Maureen Mark in Ottawa replied to Arnold K:
> My general advice to all and sundry on any perennial is to divide a 
minimum
> of 2 weeks post-bloom and a minimum of 6 weeks pre-frost.

Sounds good to me.  Digging & planting aren't necessarily happening at
the same time - a cool evening or morning when the ground isn't totally
saturated (my gravel can be a lot wetter than most people's soil tho) is
best for digging.  I always try to plant during a good soaking rain -
yes, DURING.  That way, it's usually 10 to 20oF cooler than a sunny
afternoon, and if I'm lucky, gives 2 or 3 days of the cooler wet weather
for them to settle in.  It's called 'mudding in', & is usually done with
a hose or buckets of water, but a good soaking rain (remember when we
used to get those on a regular basis???) works just as well and is
cooler.

I have had good success digging and planting before, during, and shortly
after bloom, terrible success planting directly in the ground in the
'best' time to plant (July August).  Most amazing experience with
transplants was with the rhizomes that Christy Hensler dug in Washington
(or isit Oregon?) in late March to send to me AFTER our usual late
winter killer freeze - they did GREAT, bloomed normally, and went on to
increase like mad.  Too bad I can't get Schreiner's to send an order in
late March....

Linda Mann east Tennessee USA zone 7/8


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