Re: arilbred culture (was Re: Louisianas)
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: arilbred culture (was Re: Louisianas)
- From: R* T* D* <r*@sierratel.com>
- Date: Tue, 4 Mar 1997 21:54:35 -0700 (MST)
CEMahan@aol.com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 97-03-04 18:10:25 EST, you write:
>
> << :I shake my head when I hear people in other climates who insist their
> :arilbreds be kept dry in the summer. My arilbreds including 3/4, 1/2
> :and 1/4 breds get the same water as my beardeds. A deep watering once a
> :week during the entire summer. They stay lush and green and form good
> :blooming size rhizomes for next year. >>
>
> The biggest problem, Tom, is drainage in my opinion---you have good drainage,
> but in the East for real success with most arilbreds, one has to build up the
> beds with porous soil, broken flower pot pieces, stones, etc underneath to
> get drainage---and because most of our Eastern soils are acidic heavy clay,
> we have to lime often. With porous soils on the neutral or alkaline side,
> you can water once a week. Here, a couple good rains close together in
> August, and many arilbreds will succumb if excellent drainage has not been
> provided.
>
> That has been my experience---however, with a cultivar like ONLOOKER, and
> there are others, it seems ok to just treat like TBs. If we could get a few
> breeders besides Fred Gadd to work on arilbreds here in the East, we would
> have a lot more arilbreds easier to grow in this area. Clarence Mahan in VA
Clarence,
The above quote was part of a message I sent earlier. My soil here in
the foothills of the Sierra Nevada's was tested at 6.7 to 6.8. Probably
from years of leaf drop from the oaks which are the only trees at my
elevation. My soil is heavy clay. So there must be another factor as
to why the arilbreds do not do well east of the Rockies. Looking for
some answer as this has been perplexing me for sometime.
What exactly happens to the arilbreds in your climate? Can anyone else
give me input here?
Rick Tasco
Superstition Iris Gardens
Central Sierra foothills next to Yosemite National Park..elevation 1250
feet.
Zone 8
