Iris

[Deleted]

Has anyone grown Iris from seed? If so any tips, should they be put in the fridge to expose them to cold or are they okay to just sew? Be very grateful for any advice.

[borderbabe]

I want to try Iris Chrysographes but I don't know how easy to otherwise they are - If anyone has any tips I'll be grateful thanks.

[Chuckles]

I've never tried to grow them but find The seed site is a good source of info for most things

theseedsite.co.uk/seedsowing.html

theseedsite.co.uk/db11a.html

Be interesting to know how you get on

[JennyWrenn]

I have no tips but I need some - one of the most beautiful flowers and sadly they WILL NOT grow in my garden

I have some miniature iris in a pot and even those look sad

Clay soil and slugs dont help

However my Glads do well and they are of the same family

[Dutchy]

Clay need not be the problem. I have a small variety called Iris Laevigata. It is the Japanese Iris and does very well on my clay. The slugs do not really touch it.
It does need sunshine to flower properly.
This one does set seeds and I always leave the seed heads on. They are very pretty.
It self seeds in my clay. The moisture is probably what this one needs. So Jenny you could give this lovely small blue one a go.
As for seeds of the bigger bearded ones.
You can get perfectly good new plants from a root cutting.
The thick top roots on the bearded Iris, which have to be exposed to the sun in order to get flowers, are like blobs in a row. Just cut off a blob. They usually have a little pointy bit of new growth or small leaves already. Replant with the big fat blob half above soil level and when it has leaves just cut them in half so the root does not loose too much moisture. They look like poor mangled creatures but next year you have healthy new plants.

As for the fun of experimenting with seeds just try several types of soil in a pot and see what happens.
Do let us know of success or failure please Val.

[Deleted]

These are a mixture of Iris seeds bought from a supplier but I have heard they need a period of cold to germinate so I'm going to put them in the fridge for a few weeks and see how I go on. I haven't a clue what types they are, as I said they're mixed. We have a border running both sides of the entrance to our road and have to maintain it ourselves. At the moment its grassed but needs a lot of looking after, I thought to plant it up with evergreens and to grow things from seed seems the cheapest way. I've also got Alchy whatsit mollis, I'm not to keen on it in my garden but it seems ideal for there. Any other ideas from anyone? Thanks Val.

[Chuckles]

That sounds like a nice project Val, would suggest you start a new thread maybe in Beds and Borders asking for help on plant suggestions. Tell us what the soil is like, dry/moist etc sun/shade etc and I'm sure you'll soon get some suggestions on planting etc. Photo might be good too.

It might be nice start a Vals Garden thread in the Gallery then you can do photos of progress too even if it take a while for you to do it We love photos on here ;D

Just had a thought you may already have a garden thread I've not looked in the My Garden/Allotments lately

[Deleted]

;D no I haven't got a thread, I haven't got an allotment either, in fact I'd forgotten I even registered here until the other day, glad I found you again.

[Chuckles]

Glad you found us again too Val it's a great board. I've learnt so much since I joined and would sooooo miss the lovely crowd on here now.

[blackrose]

I grew these ones from seed/bulb but unfortunately the recent wet weather didn't do them any good......



This one flowered later and escaped the worst of the bad weather.....