Re: Re:Growing Iris South Florida
iris@hort.net
  • Subject: Re: Re:Growing Iris South Florida
  • From: B* G* <6*@rewrite.hort.net>
  • Date: Wed, 05 Nov 2014 17:04:44 -0700
I am far from and expert, but it seems to me a big problem with growing bearded irises in FL would be moisture. Growing them in a lot of sand might work. And I am not saying the lack of vernalization wouldn't be a problem for many/most, but I do seem to remember old bearded irises in a few old gardens in New Orleans ( zone 9), but they weren't flourishing. I do remember Louisiana irises flourishing there. I planted several varieties of Louisianas in my back yard and they grew magnificently with practically no assisitence. I also seem to remember that people in Zone 9 of Arizona claim to be unable to grow SDB but they can grow TB -- pretty well -- but they get very little water. I grow TBs in my farm garden 85 miles north of New Orleans in zone 8 and I know of other iris gardens in that area. They grow and bloom, but the Louisianas still do better. It is colder and dryer just 85 miles north of New Orleans. My suggestion would be to look around for old Zone 8 gardens and see if some of those will grow in sandy zone 9 gardens and start from there hybridizing. I think a few bearded iris have made it in Zone 9 there. You might be able to teach us something! Betty G ( Los Alamos, NM) zone 6 --- trying to see if Louisianas will grow outdoors here. 

On 11/5/2014 3:24 PM, Linda Mann wrote:
Site that will calculate how much opportunity there is for vernalization at your location! 

http://getchill.net/
This site gives both below 45oF and 32 to 45oF, plus the Utah Model. For my location 
Between 45 and 32 Model: 1370 chill hours
Utah Model: 1055 chill units
It also gives 'chill portions', whatever that is.
& Wunderground now has a reporting weather station just down the street from me! My very own weather station. ;-) They are on the other side of the valley, so will get more sun/be warmer, but only a tiny bit. 

This site says Los Angeles has zero chilling hours

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