CULT: Rotating was... Cutting foliage
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: CULT: Rotating was... Cutting foliage
- From: R* T* D* <r*@sierratel.com>
- Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 20:46:23 -0700 (MST)
art wrote:
> I understand what some of you said but Cooleys and Scheiners cut theirs
> back because they lift their entire beds every year and they seem to
> have some of the best rhizones I've ever seen. How do you explain that
> as I sure would be interested. Maybe I should experiment more with my
> beds. Some years I haven't cut back but noticed no change in the size of
> my rhizones. Course rhizone size varies so much between different TB's.
>
> Art Bern art@gv.net
> Grass Valley, CA
Art,
The reason Schreiner's and Cooleys' get such large rhizomes is crop
rotation. They never grow their iris on the same ground for more than
one year and have agreements with farmers in their area to plant other
crops on land that grew the iris. I understand they will not plant back
the iris on that same ground for 3 years. This gives the same effect as
growing in virgin ground. And i'm sure you know how iris like virgin
soil. If rotation is not possible for you then try solarizing your
soil, this will give you big plants & rhizomes also. Hope this thread
does not start again!
Rick Tasco
Superstition Iris Gardens
Central California...Mariposa County...Gateway to Yosemite.
Zone 8
