Re: Seed Germination, typhifolia, aphylla

Although freezing outdoors seems not to harm seed, I see many times
admonitions from experienced seed-growers NOT to place stratified seeds in
a household freezer.  I do know that the only time I got no germination at
all on iris seeds was when the temperature control in my laboratory
cold-room went haywire without being noticed and froze the pots of seeds.

I've never had any trouble with this if the pots do not freeze but are kept
between 35-40 degrees F for about 6 weeks.  I do not plant any iris seeds
outdoors.  The seeds are planted in pots of commercial planting soil (I buy
a couple of large bags each year from my buddy at the local garden
center--the same stuff he uses to start his seeds) in November and placed
in a cold-room or refrigerator at 35-40 degrees F for six weeks or longer
(I was late this year and did not get my seed in until after Christmas, so
I'm just about ready to take them out now).  Then they're moved to a cool
greenhouse for two weeks and if there is no germination, placed on a
heating mat set for 70F until sprouting occurs.   For me the hardest to
germinate are spurias, often being delayed as much as a year.  Perhaps if I
tried fresh seed, it would work better.  The germination delay does not
seem to occur in I. graminea.

In May or June the young seedlings are moved on to individual 3-4" pots and
eventually are planted out in nursery beds in September or October.  TBs
will bloom the following year, beardless types usually take one or two
years more, by which time they have formed quite substantial clumps and
produce several stalks.

On another topic, pumilas here are budded and one or two selections of I.
typhifolia have bloomstalks down in the leaf fans.  One of the things this
latter species can contribute to siberian iris development appears to be
early bloom.  If one could produce siberians that bloom with the standard
dwarfs and combine them in a garden setting with some of the repeat
blooming varieties now available, you could have siberian iris from April
to July!

Also looking forward to seeing what some advanced generaton seedlings of I.
aphylla, I. pumila and SDBs crossed in various combinations look like.

Does anyone know of yellow I. aphylla?  In some I grew several years ago
from SIGNA seed, there was rather dingy yellow which was otherwise typical
of aphylla.

Best wishes, Bill
___________________
William A. Shear
Department of Biology
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney VA 23943 USA
phone (804) 223-6172
FAX (804) 223-6374
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