RE: CULT: stunted growth -- was AB Query

I agree that frost damage is the most common cause of stunted growth.  Last
year, with the early Spring thaw, we went through three freeze-thaw cycles.
While the medians were not affected, the majority of the TBs exhibited
anomalies, e.g.,  shorter stalks, deformed stalks, fewer branches, fewer
buds, deformed flowers.  And then there are strange occurrences -- I had PT
Barnum bloom right at the base on top of the rhizome about one month after
peak bloom.  It was otherwise a normal year.

It looks like we may have a Spring like last year.  It's raining today and
supposed to reach 10C and drop again to below zero through the week.  I've
piled on Promix as the snow melts, in vain hope to moderate temperatures.  I
may regret not mulching in the fall.  

Maureen Mark
Ottawa, Canada (zone 4) 

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Jeff and Carolyn Walters [SMTP:cwalters@digitalpla.net]
> Sent:	Sunday, March 08, 1998 8:57 PM
> To:	Multiple recipients of list
> Subject:	Re: AB Query
> 
> Ann & Ernie Henson write:
> 
> > Can anyone tell us something about SIR GORDON? We purchased it about 3
> or
> 4
> > years ago   It was identified as AB   It is a HUGE orchid blue self
> > ..lovely flower but the bloom stalk is only about 8" so it appears to be
> > blooming on the ground.  
> 
> In my experience, extreme stunting of  iris stalks is the result of frost
> damage occurring at a sensitive stage of development when the stalk is
> just
> emerging from the rhizome and is not even apparent yet within the fan. It
> seems, again in my experience,  that early season iris bred in warm
> climates are more susceptible to this kind of damage. I had one TB
> (origin:
> Texas) bloom last spring with the top of the standards of the normal size
> flower exactly 6 inches above ground level. 
> 
> Jeff Walters in northern Utah  (USDA Zone 4, Sunset Zone 2)
> cwalters@digitalpla.net
> 
> 
> 
>  
> 
> 
>
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