Re: Re: HYB: CULT:antibiotics, selecting seedlings

>I must add tho that some occasional rotters also
>produce enough new growth to be fairly good performers here in spite of
>occasional rot.  IMMORTALITY falls in that category.

True enough!  Almost all my irises develop what I call "pre-rot" (spongy 
rhizomes) in early spring when the subsoil is still frozen but the 
surface has thawed into a cold, wet mess.  The slow growers will rot and 
die if the subsoil doesn't thaw in a timely manner.  Moderate growers 
will succumb similarly if the thaw is significantly delayed.  The really 
vigorous growers can outgrow even the worst cases of rot.  Those are the 
cvs I value most.

I tend to want to try any irises known to be multiple rebloomers or 
everbloomers in any climate on the theory that they must also be vigorous 
growers.  Even if they don't rebloom for me here, I figure there's a good 
chance they'll have the vigor to outgrow rot.

Re IMMORTALITY - This is an odd one for me.  I have it growing in two 
spots.  In the raised rebloomer beds in full sun and fairly sandy soil, 
it rots badly, increases slowly, and blooms infrequently on shortish 
stalks.  In the main beds in compacted clay with mostly dappled sunlight 
throughout the day, the clump increases well, remains rot-free, but never 
blooms.  Not an ideal performer in either location.  I much prefer 
ZURICH.  It grows like a weed, is tough as nails, never rots, and blooms 
reliably on nice tall stalks in the sunnier rebloomer beds (though it's 
never rebloomed for me).
>
>My garden goal is to have a few dozen cultivars that are
>carefree, profuse reliable bloomers, that make clumps that don't have to
>be dug, divided, and replanted every year or so to keep blooming.  In
>other words, modern 'flags'.
>
>So far, I have found only one - HARVEST OF MEMORIES.

Same here!  HoM grows and blooms similarly to ZURICH for me.  Definitely 
a keeper!

>So far, only one of my seedlings is even close (DCGI-13: "Dusky Grape"),
>and it is too early a bloomer to be reliable for me.

Hey Linda, send it up here!  Early bloomers do just fine here.  Nothing 
much even gets growing here until after our temps have warmed 
significantly, and no self respecting TB would dare begin stalk 
development until after any significant frost danger is past.  Of course, 
I won't be babying your baby in my garden.  ;-)

Laurie


-----------------
laurief@paulbunyan.net
http://www.geocities.com/lfandjg/
USDA zone 3b, AHS zone 4 - northern MN
clay soil


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