Re: CULT: Late Planting

Interesting observation, Neil.

I haven't noticed what you describe, but have such strong preconceptions
<!> <g> about cultivar differences, I might have overlooked it.

I've ordered late from Schreiner's for the last three? or four yrs, this
will be the fifth.  Planted in mid to late October.  Mostly because it's
so hot and allergenic during the summer, I don't get inspired to buy new
stuff until it starts to cool off in the fall.

The first two years, I covered with Reemay and left the cover on all
winter; the last two, I left them uncovered.

Thinking back, ...hmm, I started detailing which years did what, but
can't do it very well from memory and don't have time to look it all up
right now.

A few have gone on to grow and bloom with gusto beginning with the first
year here (best example is AVALON SUNSET).  Others have grown well, but
bloom is usually frozen out.  Several have bloomed well the following
spring, have made fertile pollen, set pods, but have steadily dwindled
in following years.  Some of these manage to replace themselves each
year and some bloom reliably, but not much increase.  Best example is
SEAKIST.  I think I've had it four seasons? - two fans at present.

Plus the usual majority of dead elephants with no bloom, either dead the
first season, or gradually over a few years.

Some of the rhizomes I've gotten this late have looked <really> bad -
totally dehydrated and shriveled up with no green showing in the fan,
but that hasn't seemed to affect them.

I would prefer planting all of my new stuff this late - at least those
being grown in significantly better climates for iris, like the west
coast.  I think it gives them a much higher probability of producing
fertile bloomstalks the following spring than if they have to live here
through our horrid summer.  For lines like a lot of the
Kepple/Blyth/Ghio stuff that can't tolerate the combination of heat and
heavy rain, it avoids that problem till the following summer.  So some
of them can at least be grown here as annuals that way.

Last year was my first year to order late from Sutton's and my first
year not to lose any of the plants they sent.   Not a fair test since we
had such a mild winter and freeze damage free spring.  But they also
made it thru the summer in good shape.

Good to hear from you again, Neil.
--
Linda Mann east Tennessee USA zone 7/8
East Tennessee Iris Society <http://www.korrnet.org/etis>
American Iris Society web site <http://www.irises.org>
talk archives: <http://www.hort.net/lists/iris-talk/>
photos archives: <http://www.hort.net/lists/iris-photos/>
online R&I <http://www.irisregister.com>

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