Re: CULT: Pogons: Planting Depths

I was kidding about breeder's worrying about planting depth, sort of. It would be nice if the rhizome tolerated a bit of depth abuse the first year, then the plant will compensate and look out for itself.

If I had to rank hybridizing priorities, it would be: (1) survivability AND bloomability across all zones (after all, the iris is supposed to be a HARDY perennial; we're not talking cannas or glads or amaryllises here folks); and (2) reblooming in all zones (a flower that blooms just a few weeks a year is unacceptable), when MANY weeks a year is doable, as has clearly been proven possible).

I personally have not had the survivability problems, despite the time allotted to my irises, but then I don't go after new introductions, no matter the pretty pictures. My budget can't afford it; I let them depreciate a year or two, kinda like cars. In my life, keeping hiking trails weeded and open takes priority, but each to their own. I will have to admit that come May, I just love to stand in my iris patch and gawk somewhat incessantly at what I've thrown together.

George
Harpers Ferry WV Zone 6
At 11:48 AM 9/12/2005, you wrote:
In a message dated 9/12/05 10:46:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
gschubert@earthlink.net writes:

<< How about irises that tolerate having their rhizomes planted a couple
inches deep, the most likely naive thing to do? >>

My experience has been that bearded irises will seek their own level,
assuming they live long enough after initial planting to get new roots down well.

In sandy soil and bright sun, they may pull themselves below the surface by
several inches, where they will thrive. In heavy clay, I have observed them
rise.

I believe in severe climates planting like "a duck on the water"---odd, this
recurring fowl thing-- the traditonally offered standard, is also likely to
lead to problems, which may include frost heave, rhizomes which are actually
frozen and so die, and, in some few circumstances, heat killed, or cooked
rhizomes.

I personally experienced a cooked rhizome when a bad heat spell followed
resetting here. I had a splendid rhizome of 'Helen Collingwood', arguably the most
gardenable pogon of the twentieth century, and one of the loveliest, a
rhizome raised by me, cook to mush in a matter of hours. Now, I always cover my
rhizomes when I plant, typically to a depth of about one inch. They sort
themselves out.

None of which is to say that planting depth does not matter or good things
follow planting at inappropriate depths, but if the drainage is good, this
error may not invariably be fatal. As with anything else, what is best depends on
where you are gardening, and the quirks of the cultivar, as observed with an
enlightened eye.

There is not much you can do about gardening naivte so profound that in
planting a bearded iris the green foliage would be buried several inches, except,
of course, to try diligently to educate as the occasion arises.

I certainly don't think working to accommodate such ignorance should be
anyone's breeding goal.

Or were you just joking, George?

Cordially,

Anner Whitehead
Richmond VA USA USDA Zone 7

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