Re: early bloom, disadvantages to late bloom
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: early bloom, disadvantages to late bloom
- From: "* a* C* W* <c*@cache.net>
- Date: Mon, 17 Mar 1997 04:07:28 -0700 (MST)
Linda Mann writes (16 Mar 97):
> Re: late bloom
> Someone had mentioned that late bloomers bloom too late to be
> elligible for widespread evaluation by judges who mostly see them during
the
> show season. We have had lots of 'ML' and 'L' iris at our display shows
each
> year. Is there a bigger 'spread' of bloom season in other regions? Our
peak
> bloom lasts about 2 weeks, so a late bloomer will be open about 2 weeks
after
> an early bloomer. A show in the middle usually catches some of all,
given
> microclimate differences among and within club members' gardens.
Here in northern Utah the average spread between early bloom and late bloom
also averages two weeks, ranging between 10 and 20 days. It is shorter when
we have a cool Spring and a rapid warming up as the iris bloom, and longer
when we have a warm Spring followed by a cool spell once the iris have
begun to bloom.
At our Show we either see Early and Midseason or Midseason and Late
blooming cultivars, depending on how the bloom season coincides with our
Show date (first weekend in June). If the Show coincides with later bloom,
the early bloomers are still in flower, but they don't have show quality
stalks any longer.
Under our conditions the very early bloomers are always at risk of being
frost-damaged, but it is almost a sure bet that the very late bloomers will
be spoiled by the dry heat that prevails by the time they open.
Jeff Walters in northern Utah (Zone 4)
cwalters@cache.net
"This is the Place" - Where Spring has arrived, except on the weekends!
