Re: modern "weaker" Siberians?

Hi Leroy,

Well I can only speak from my experience as all of us do. I have SIBS
hybridized in Mass. (a lot), Michigan (a whole lot),Canadian (not too
many), Pennsylvania, Maine (a lot), Oregon and where ever McGarvey, Varner 
and Cassebeer were from. I also have one SIB that was hybridized in England.

>My comments were more on growth and performance than survival.

My comments as well. I am talking about growth and performance. I just 
bought every SIB that Jody Camille had in her stock. Then, I supplemented 
with more and more from wherever. I ditched ERIC THE RED and MANDY MORSE 
because I thought their first year growth was frankly not up to speed. They 
both came from the Borbeleta catalogue when I didn't know any better and it 
came free and I saw Siberians and ordered some. I think it was the stock and 
not the cultivar - dunno.

>Burying deeper is a handy trick but I don't think it will guarantee 
>perfomance.

Of course not. But I feel it gives them a leg up in our climate. Now I am 
afraid to stop doing it. If it isn't broke, don't fix it school of 
gardening.

>The list of customers with complaints is growing, the most common
>exclamation is:

>How long before they bloom?

>I then ask when did you acquire the plant? More and more are saying >after 
>3-4 years still no bloom.

I have had maybe at the most, two cultivars that took three years to
bloom and they were tiny starts to begin with and NONE that ever took
4 years. I would ask how are they treating their new rhizomes? I water and 
water the first year even tho' we get plenty of rain - I have been known to 
water in the rain the first month after planting.

We have acid soil which is a plus for the apogons...but I still amend
the soil with peat and compost and used to use manure. Our SIBS around here 
are the best I have seen anywhere. I am speaking of New England
in general. They looked stunted in Denver and were non-existent in Oklahoma 
(at least in the display gardens).

Bye,

ellen




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