Re: DO YOU CUT BACK THE ROOTS AFTER DIGGING

John:  First of all, I want to say to you what I always say to my 
students:  There is no such thing as a dumb question, if it's asked 
sincerely.  What is dumb is having a question and not asking it, thus 
remaining in the dark forever.  I just had an hour-long session with 
a lady from our Computer Services staff yesterday, and I asked an 
awful lot of "dumb" questions, very elementary to her but not to me.
    As to cutting back the roots, we've had lots of discussion in our 
club this year about that.  Some growers send them with roots almost 
shaved off, others leave an inch or two, others 3-4 inches.  All seem 
to grow equally well for me.  I like to leave 3-4 inches, at least, 
when I dig and replant my own, simply because that provides a stable 
anchor for that rhizome when I replant.  Most of the "experts" I've 
heard or read say that the old roots die anyway, and every rhizome 
will grow new roots after you replant.  Hence, it doesn't make any 
difference whether you cut them off or leave them on.  For shippers 
it takes up less space to cut them off.  However, I've experienced it 
more than once that a rhizome dug and immediately replanted will not 
have to grow new roots but keep right on growing the ones it has.  It 
makes a difference, it seems, at what stage the roots are when one 
digs.  Catch it just when the new roots have begun to grow, after the 
dormant period of 6 wk. or so after bloom, and probably those roots 
will just keep on.  Dig earlier, and you have them before the new 
root period so they'll grow new roots.
    It's an interesting topic, one on which I've heard differing 
points of view.  No doubt others on this list will have theirs, too.

Arnold
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