Re: [gardeners] Frost!!!
Cheryl & Erich Schaefer (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Mon, 24 Aug 1998 21:55:30 -0400
>>The difficulty is with the temperature and light. It is warmer than 45F in
>>the basement (50+) and I was concerned that they were not going to be
>>dormant in higher temps and would then need light. I, too, was concerned
>>about the freeze/thaw if I chose the greenhouse. What about below freezing
>>in the shed where frequent thawing wouldn't be a problem. Could they take
>>those conditions? I know a good deal about irises and feel like a complete
>>idiot where overwintering them in pots is concerned. cheryl
>>
>Cheryl, could you sink the pots in the ground up to their rims? At least
>that would give them the same soil temp that those planted in the ground
>endure. Margaret
I was considering that. I'm just lazy about the amount of digging
necessary, since there are several hundred irises involved. Still, that may
be best.Terry's idea about a heavily mulched, protected spot is appealing
but I'm going to ask the irisarians on iris-talk at Ginny's recommendation
and I'll report on what they say. One iris friend overwintered hers in the
basement and, as I feared, the results were poor. The plants were leggy and
didn't fare well once out in the elements again. Thanks for the input!
Cheryl
Cheryl Schaefer
schaefer @epix.net
Zone 5 in the fabulous Finger Lakes of NY