Re: Winter Kill?
- To: i*@Rt66.com
- Subject: Re: Winter Kill?
- From: i*@ert.com (Jay Hudson)
- Date: Fri, 15 Mar 1996 20:27:45 -0800
>In a message dated 96-03-14 17:46:10 EST, you write:
>
>>Why, why do I have this
>>problem? Is it because the large rhizomes from Oregon have a very high
>>moisture content compared to ones from areas such as my local climate?
>>Symptoms are that they freeze up over the winter and when they defrost
>>they turn into a sponge.
>
>Chris, as I suggested to others, when you get those big fat rhizomes in the
>mail, put them in a dry location to dry out for a month or so before
>planting. Or else start them in pots with rich porous soil to get the roots
>going and all the "foreign" matter leached out before planting. You will
>probably not have 100% success but most will survive and do fine by these
>methods. Clarence Mahan
Clarence, you people in the East aren't the only ones that have this proplem.
West coat growers are in the same boat when it comes to overwinter rot. I
have to let mine dry for at least 2 months or else I have the same
condition. I don't understand why people want big fat iris when the dried
out versions will out perform.
I will never forget the first time I ordered from Linda Miller in Indiana
and got small dried up rhizomes. I almost threw them away. They all
survived and 2 years later I had beautiful plants. I have heard the
question asked-why when I buy iris from a discount store do they all
survive and bloom? By the time they leave Schreiner's and go through
brokers etc. they have gone thru exactly what you are suggesting.
Our garden ships to almost every Eastern state every year (from tourists
visiting and ordering and then telling their friends.) and I always pass
this advice.
Jay hudson
Fort Bragg, CA USA
On the Beautilful North Coast of California
