AR: Culture
From: Sharon McAllister <73372.1745@compuserve.com>
Lora Thompson wrote:
>
> l was wondering if anyone has any secrects about growing Aribreds.
> I have researched them & I'm ready!!!!!
<
The "secret" to growing any type of iris is to find out what works for
others who have the same growing conditions and emulate their practices!
My own basic advice is to start by growing your arilbreds under the same
conditions as you do your TBs. Those who have visited my garden know that
I don't do this myself. Here in southern New Mexico, TBs require
shadecloth and more water -- so they get special beds where they can be
pampered. But some of the most spectacular displays of arilbreds I have
seen were interspersed plantings.
One involved a rose bed. Gus Seligmann once got more arilbreds than would
fit in the prepared beds, so some had to be tucked elsewhere. The ones
that were planted among the rose bushes out-performed all of the others --
they seemed to appreciate the extra shade & water.
Another was a hybridizer's garden. Gene Hunt had terraced beds with arils
and arilbreds on the upper level; arilbreds, TBs, and medians on the next
level; and LAs surrounding a pool at the lowest level. I found that quite
interesting because the 1/4-breds & 1/2-breds grown with the TBs
outperformed their compatriots grown with the arils.
Then there was the 1980 Tulsa convention. Called a "bud convention" in
some circles because the TB bloom season was late and many weren't even
showing color. But median and arilbred bloom was striking -- and they were
interspersed with TBs, not planted in separate beds.
Yes, the 3/4-breds are different -- so many different types, in fact, that
it's hard to come up with a rule of thumb. Some really DO need to be
lifted every year while others don't mind being left in place. Some go
completely dormant like arils while others stay as green as quarterbreds.
Even here, I believe the trend is toward gardenability -- it's just taking
us a bit longer to get there.
You may want to experiment with 1/4-breds and 1/2-breds before tackling the
3/4-breds and pure arils -- but will probably find all easier to grow than
you expect.
Sharon McAllister
73372.1745@compuserve.com
http://www.geocities.com/~smcallister
--------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ----------------------------
Show your ONElist SPIRIT!
<a href=" http://clickme.onelist.com/ad/tshirt2 ">Click Here</a>
With a new ONElist SHIRT available through our website.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
