CULT:TB: TB rhizome size vs health and performance

Good Morning, All,

I had an epiphany this morning, or at least what I believe has the potential to be an epiphany. Or it may be complete nonsense.

While describing the differences between bearded classes to an iris admirer, I found myself remarking that most TBs don't bloom in my garden every year, I assume because they don't have time in my very northern climate to mature increases to blooming size in a single growing season. Then I considered the fact that the TBs that do manage to survive and bloom here typically grow very small rzs. They are also generally older irises -- both very old historics and older moderns. Few newer moderns can hack it here.

Sooooo, this has all gotten me to wondering if the current infatuation with huge rzs in the hybridizing capitols of the West Coast may have something to do with the lack performance of these particular irises in my cold-climate garden. I'm not talking about rzs that are artificially pumped up with fertilizers and irrigation. I'm talking about irises that are genetically programmed to grow excessively large rzs under a variety of cultural conditions.

Is it possible that the time it takes for a plant to grow such a large rz to maturity is not compatible with a short growing season like mine? Perhaps excessively large rzs are also larger targets for problems like borers, erwinia bacteria, and freeze/thaw fractures. Anyone want to start hybridizing gorgeous, modern TBs with small, tough rzs?

Laurie
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lauriefr@localnet.com
http://www.geocities.com/lfandjg
http://www.angelfire.com/mn3/shadowood/irisintro.html
USDA zone 3b, AHS zone 4 - northern Minnesota
normal annual precipitation 26-27"
slightly acid, potassium deficient, clay soil

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