Re: CULT: TB Questions

Interesting problem and questions.

When is your TB peak bloom?
When is your first hard frost?
Here in hinterlands of Guelph, I have TB peak about June 15th normerly, about same this year. First hard frost is about mid to late October.
No problems with TB here as a general rule, although fewer cultivars do well as compared to warmer climates. I'm about 7-10 days laater then most people in south Ontario.
Garden Bride would grow and produce for you. I won a Loomis award in Colorado Springs with it after a very cold harsh winter there. Nothing else was performing anywere close to what it did. No matter how it is mistreated, it produces great clumps. I also found that it does well in Texas with their high temperatures. We need more iris that perform like that. 

Chuck Chapman



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-----Original Message-----
From: iris DIGEST <iris-owner@hort.net>
To: iris-digest@hort.net
Sent: Sun, 15 Jun 2008 11:45 am
Subject: [iris] iris DIGEST V1 #601
iris DIGEST Sunday, June 15 2008 Volume 01 : Number 601 



In this issue:

       Re: [iris] CULT:  TB Questions
       Re: [iris] CULT:  TB Questions
       Re: [iris] CULT:  TB Questions
       Re: [iris] CULT:  TB Questions

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Date: Sat, 14 Jun 2008 16:22:29 -0500
From: Laurie Frazer <lauriefr@localnet.com>
Subject: Re: [iris] CULT:  TB Questions

Hi BJ,

I've spent a lot of time contemplating the performance, or lack
thereof, of tall beardeds in my beds over the years.
1. What causes increases to happen in Iris (I know how it happens 
with

lilies)


No idea
2. Do TBs bloom too late for the increase to form and then grow 
large

enough to form a bloom next year


I never thought to factor in the lateness of TB bloom relative to the
other beardeds, but I have assumed that there isn't enough time during
our short growing season for TBs to grow increases to blooming size in
a single growing season ... or necessary in two or three growing
seasons.  I also think the sheer size of TB rzs requires a lot more
growing time than our season allows.  Most MDBs, SDBs, IBs, and MTBs
bloom annually for me unless we have a really problematic weather
pattern like last winter-spring-summer and this spring.  The smaller
bearded classes grow to maturity much more quickly than TBs.


3.  Are our summers not hot enough for the rhizome to form in time to
be able to get ready for winter and winter over


I don't think that's a factor in my climate.  We typically get a LOT of
summer heat.


4.  Something else??


I think #2 is the primary - perhaps even the only - explanation.
That's why I no longer add new TBs to my iris beds unless they are
given to me as gifts.  I just don't want to waste the space on irises
that have such a high mortality rate here, esp. when even those that do
manage to survive are such inconsistent bloomers and weak increasers.
Of course there are a few exceptions, and my garden will always have
room for them.

Laurie

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