Re: CULT Cutting foliage
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: CULT Cutting foliage
- From: D* S* <s*@molalla.net>
- Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 21:31:39 -0700 (MST)
art wrote:
>
> An interesting discussion on cutting back foliage. I was made to believe
> it didn't matter. Two years ago I cut everything back because I had a
> bad case of fungal leaf spot. I did it mainly to use less spray, plus to
> get at the whole plant as they were pretty crowded. Last year I also cut
> everything back as I lifted and divided. I'm refering to TB's only.
> 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
Indeed, Schreiner's & Cooleys cut their iris fans back every year, but
then they harvest ALL their plants every year. The crop remaining after
shipping is planted into new "virgin" soil each season. It is not truly
virgin soil but they own or have other land available to them that they
do not have to plant back into the same ground year after year. They are
able to practice crop rotation and soil replenishment and therefore are
able to produce the beautifully sized rhizomes that you get in your
order. Even their display beds are dug, the soil replenished with
amendments, and then replanted each year.
Dave Silverberg
