Re: Re: CULT: Late Planting corn stalk mulch

Hello, Robin:
    I know what you mean about having the good sense to stop.  I had hip
replacement this summer, should not have bought any, but I just finished
setting out almost 3 doz. iris that I acquired this summer--local club sale
and auction, the regional auction, etc.  Of course I wasn't able to work in
the garden, though I'm now able to be back to that, but I could stand up and
pot them so that's what I did.  These have been growing in their pots from
early July to early August, depending on when I got them, and they all have
good root systems now.  I didn't plant the pots in this case, just knocked
them carefully out so I preserved the root ball, which was full of nice, new
roots, and planted.  However, I am going to get some more TODAY, if you can
believe that, which have just been dug about a week ago from the garden of the
late Larry Harder, whose family invited iris club members to come in and take
what they wanted.  I couldn't go, but somebody else got some for me, and we'll
go to Sioux City to get them this afternoon.  These are the kind that have to
get a good start now, and it's so cool they won't do that outside anymore, or
I should say I can't be at all sure they will do it outside.  So I will pot
them right away, put them under my basement grow-light, and in that light and
warmth they will soon get new shoots and roots.  Then, and remember we're into
October already, I'll take them out, bury pot and all, mulch with my corn
stalks, and let them go.  Last year I acquired at least a dozen rhizomes this
late, maybe even later, and it wasn't until almost the end of October that I
buried them, pot and all, mulched, and wondered if I would have any survive.
In an open winter, admittedly rather mild for a NW Iowa winter but with not
much snow to give protection, every single plant came through the winter in
fine style.  I put them into their garden places this spring, and one of them
even bloomed already this season, which I didn't think could happen.  Since
you are many miles farther south of me, and in a zone warmer--we're in zone 4
here--you know you can likely go later yet and still have them survive.
About the mulch--I like the corn stalks because they are loose, leave plenty
of air space and don't pack down, yet give protection from the warming sun in
the winter.  Prairie hay, which is mostly stem, or old alfalfa hay which is
nothing but stems left
because all the leaves have fallen off, or the pine needles somebody on the
iris list mentioned would work, too.  It's just that I have plenty of the
stalks.   Best wishes getting the ordering bug out of your system, but I must
say I can't extend much hope for it to happen!!!!   If you think about it, let
me know when you buty your pots, what you use for the mulch, and next spring
tell me how they came through the winter.   I am sold on the method after my
trial of last year.
Arnold

Arnold & Carol Koekkoek
38 7th Street, NE
Sioux Center, IA 51250
e-mail  koekkoek@mtcnet.net

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@hort.net with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE IRIS
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index