Bearded Iris

As the wall progresses, we are in the market for some new iris - I have bought from Rainbow Ridge in the past as well as Garden Express. Any other places I should look - I'll be getting around 25.

A great Q. for Siri

Where are you Blossom? I can't send to tassie or WA, but if you would like some freebies for the cost of postasge, then let me know. They will most likely be named ones, but you won't get to pick them.
Cheers, Jan

Ah Jan, I'm in Tassie. I wouldn't risk the ire of Quarantine so regretfully can't take up your kind offer. I'll see what Garden Express might have, the ones I got from them a couple of years back are doing OK. I"m sure others will be interested though!

Tempo Two can send to Tas and their rainblow mix are very nice. I think you might be a bit past planting time. If I was you I would wait until Sept/Oct when the catalogues come out. Anything you plant now will struggle to get good roots, and will be set back, and still won't flower until next Spring or later. Good strong rhizomes planted in early summer will have the edge on anything put in now.
Just personally - I wouldn't touch garden express. Can't even guarantee accurate names.
Cheers, Jan

I might buy some for my daughter this year - SW QLD - frosty cold winters - birthday in July - is that too early/late. Gets hot there by end of September but still the odd frost about sometimes earlier in the month.

Like Rouge Royale. Saw a pic of it in a magazine and love the colour - thinking if I could find something I liked as well I'd give it to my daughter who can grow them beautifully. I'd get to see it occasionally then Would like a great yellow (not gold ) too - I'm particular LOL She already has purples so looking for something different for her. She has a huge garden and plenty of space to fill.

Skating Party is one of my favourites. Many people swear it's the best white ever, and it apparently grows well in the more humid climates up north.
Don't know Rouge Royale. I have never heard of it but it may be a very new one. Perhaps one of Graeme Grosvenors?
Cheers, jan

Will look it up thanks - she grows bearded iris without difficulty - rarely any humidity where she is - in the arid zone. They are in raised beds and multiply like crazy.

Hi Jan, when can I expect mine to flower, next year ? was hoping this year yes I'm impatient

There were some lunking big rhizomes there Thee, and I think it is highly likely some of them won't want to wait until next year. Smaller ones will take longer. Just make sure they don't get overshadowed by bushes or mulch. Lime them next month and feed them some superphosphate in mid August, and make sure they get watered if it is a dry Spring.
Cheers, Jan

Thanks Jan , they are in pots out in the open, hang on will show you



the 1st. and 3rd pot, can you see them

That is a very good spot for them, but as they are in pots you will need to feed them more than I said. Monthly they will like some sort of plant feed that is not too high in nitrogen, scratched in around the soil surface. They are fairly heavy feeders and like to put down deep roots where possible.

What do you use, is there ant particular brand I could buy, I will transplant and they get bigger

I used to use K-mart tomato feed, which does not have as high nitrogen as some of the others, and is not very expensive. Some regular seasol might be useful as it is root growth that you want to encourage.
CHeers, Jan

Thanks Jan, I always have seasol in the garage