Growing Irises from Seed
Irises seeds were originally discovered as a family of plants calledches tuberosum, botanically speaking. The specific species know as iris are a genus of over 400 species of irises that grow wild around the world. They are known for their short season of flowering and the beautiful flowers they bloom are a favorite of many gardeners.
You will also need to make sure that the flower is ripe, before you pick it. The most important thing to remember when growing iris is that they take 6-8 weeks to flower in the spring and about a month to start growing flowers in the fall.
Which Irises?
Many of the commercially available iris seeds are planted in late summer or early fall. The seeds should be harvested when the leaves begin to wilt or fall off and the plant is beginning to die back. It is still probably the best time to plant all varieties of irises.
Another reason to plant in fall is if a variety has been forced to grow in a hot greenhouse or if it has been attacked by bugs. You want to get your plants into the ground before overwatering and planting season starts. You should plant the rhizomes ½ inch deep and space them 3 feet apart. You can find the rhizome at the base of the plant or you can dig it up from the lawn.
Fall is also the best time to winter proof your irises. You need to remove all the leaves and then cover the rhizomes with about 3 inches of good healthy soil. You can then add a layer of mulch to help protect the rhizomes from the cold. You may then fertilize or water your plants to help them get through the winter.
Which Irises Grow Well in Hot Climates?
The following irises grow well in hot climates:
Vanilla Leaf Irises: Heavily fragrant and white flowers bloom on long, arching stalks. Vanilla is popular for its aroma, chocolate fragrance, and white chocolate is popular for its chocolate aroma. Vincas are native to Madagascar and grow in tropical zones from as far south as Florida. They are cold hardy to about 20 degrees and grow in full sun. The tall, Japanese Irises are also called Hokuloa and have flowers that resemble goat’s ears. They are cold hardy to about 45 degrees and grow in full sun. The flowers are a deep reddish/orange and usually have a brown center surrounded by a dark chocolate colored band. They grow to about 4-5 feet tall.
Spanish planets or bolieras: There are several varieties of bolieras in cultivation today including the popular, double yellow bolieras, and rose bolieras, a deep shade of pink. They are sold today by florists in bulk to raise money for important causes. The bright, festive atmosphere created by these taller bushes will accent your home garden.
Bolieras are native to Mexico and were used to make salsa anduffed corn and desiccants. desiccants are made from the downy leaves of unripe bolieras. The range of climates in this area from sub-tropical to tropical also means that bolieras will grow well into the winter with the flowers still on. There are a few species that have been classified as no longer useful for making into dried flowers such as the golden boliera, however; these are generally harder to find.
Viburnums are common in cold climates and fall into two categories; the winter hardy plants that are both evergreen and fragrant that flower in the winter (Viburnum denticulatum) and the spring blooming plants that flower in the warmer spring months (Viburnum bodnantense).
muffins are winter flowers that improve when downpours, and spring flowers that emit pleasant smelling blooms and autumn foliage.
Berberis is also called Christmas rose and the winter rose. This evergreen shrub bears very fragrant, white, fragrant flowers in high summer.
Carrots are delicious and biennial. The best way to plant these is to sow the seeds in late spring and summer. Carrots require well drained soil and a sunny position. Prepare the soil by breaking it up with sharp sand (not too fine) and rake it over. When planting carrot seeds, the suggested distance between each seed is 1cm, or 1/2 centimeter. Seeds should be planted approximately 2.5cm deep. Seedlings should be thinned out to leave at least 10cm between them. carrot plants love the heat so be sure to keep them well watered.
