Re: FIRST TIME IRIS GARDENERS
- Subject: Re: [iris-talk] FIRST TIME IRIS GARDENERS
- From: w* s*
- Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001 12:23:17 +1000
Dear Susan,
Please dont feel threatened by the terribly knowledgeable crew here.They are
so helpful and dont make you feel a dolt when you ask basic questions.
I am relativeately new to growing all sorts of iris and find everyone here a
mine of helpful info...and they are very friendly as well...
So hang in there and in time..as I have ..you'll learn something new:)
Happy Irising from Wendy Sargeant who has got typist fingers from organising
a huge jersey cattle club show....Victoria Australia...I seem to be hitting
every other keyboard key..not the ones I want..and the caps
key..Well.gr.:):)...I have finally done the show schedule YIPPEE...To Linda
Mann, ; Who might be known as the Queen of Rot..I have a new title given to
me by a pal in Canada, I thought you might get a giggle..I am the Queen of
the spelling error...:)
----- Original Message -----
From: "The Heders" <hederst@zeuter.com>
To: <iris-talk@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2001 9:59 AM
Subject: RE: [iris-talk] FIRST TIME IRIS GARDENERS
> Arnold and Carol:
> I really enjoyed your message. I got some good advice when I posted a
> notice about growing north of Parry Sound, Ontario (4b - sometimes rocky,
> sometimes sandy, sometimes wonderful) where winters get very cold (-30C)
and
> the summers quite warm and the growing season short. Anyway, I did
> appreciate the advice. But since then, I have found some of the "chats" a
> little overwhelming as to the level of knowledge that everyone seems to
> have. I wondered if this iris-talk group was maybe a little advanced for
> me. And then along came your very down to earth email to first time iris
> gardeners. I guess I will stay signed up for now ... reading lots and
> gleaning what I can to use up here in northern Ontario. Thanks again.
>
> Susan Heder (4b - already we've had snow - but its supposed to be up to
19C
> tomorrow which is high 60's F)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Arnold Koekkoek [k*@mtcnet.net]
> Sent: October 10, 2001 12:14 PM
> To: iris-talk@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [iris-talk] FIRST TIME IRIS GARDENERS
>
>
> Diana, Annette Milch hit on the major questions when she asked where you
> lived and in what USDA zone (if you know) you live. The answers to your
> other questions depend, to some extent at least, on where that is. The
> basics are the same for anywhere, though: never cut off the leaves while
> they are green, because they are the means for the plant to feed, and
while
> they're green the rhizome is still growing. In this area, which has
very
> cold winters that may come on early at times, I never cut off a leaf until
> spring clean-up. Just keep the dead or dying leaves picked off all the
> time, if you have time for it. Dead leaves left on the ground may harbor
> diseases. The only time to cut the leaves back to about 6" is when you
have
> to transplant rhizomes. Leaving the seed pods on the plant means the
energy
> is going to making seeds rather than into the plant itself. If you don't
> want the seeds, get rid of the pod as soon as you see it. And as soon as
> all the flowers on a stem are gone it is best to cut or break off the stem
> as near the rhizome as you can. I always cut, some always break, and both
> seem to work.
> As for suppliers, well, there are so many good and dependable ones.
The
> rule to follow is not to buy from a general nursery, certainly never from
a
> Wal-Mart type store. The discount places usually sell the rhizomes at the
> wrong time--they are in the store here right now, and any rhizomes planted
> in Iowa in October have "Death" written all over them. Again, knowing
where
> you live might help somebody on iris-talk give better advice about a good
> supplier in your own area. That would enable you to get stock that was
> already acclimated to your conditions, and you might well get bloom the
> spring following planting. Otherwise it often happens that you don't get
> many of them blooming the lst season. Of course, there are all kinds of
> good and dependable national suppliers, too, and most of us on iris-talk
can
> suggest some names and addresses. For much of the country it's too late
to
> plant this season, but farther south you can still do it. So, again, your
> location is vital information.
> Meanwhile, welcome to iris-talk. You can find out a lot of
information
> by reading what gets posted here. And don't be afraid to ask questions,
as
> you have done. I'm a retired teacher, and I often told my students there
is
> no such thing as a dumb question. "Dumb" is to have a question and not to
> ask it, for then you'll never learn anything new. Happy gardening!!
And
> be warned, iris growing can be addictive!! The more you get the more you
> want!! :-) It's wonderful!!!!
> Arnold
>
> Arnold & Carol Koekkoek
> 38 7th Street, NE
> Sioux Center, IA 51250
> e-mail koekkoek@mtcnet.net
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
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