Minus 12 degrees here today. Not much going to happen in the garden here.

Still just above freezing here. Removed more soggy foliage, found a bit of rot in the mother rhizome of 'Black Fantasy', but it was easily removed and the heel of the rhizome is not affected nor are the side rhizomes, so I hope it will make a full recovery!


(Duane Meek 1988)

The lovely blanket of snow I had melted away into soggy puddles yesterday. I'm afraid to check out my gardens in fear of what I may find.

Noticing that all the rain we've had has spread that leaf spot everywhere - including the deck, where new potted rhizomes in bagged potting soil also have it. I've been trimming off the affected leaves and will try out Serenade - which is a fungicide that is touted to be o.k. for organic gardens. Anyone tried it yet? We're having a few days of sunshine.

@janwax

Jan, this was mentioned it Tempo Two's catalog... "A heavy application of lime around your Iris plants in
Winter will help control leaf spot in Spring". I've never tried it, but I think I will test it out on some NoID beds.

The lime tip was mentioned on page 23 on the downloaded .PDF 2016-2017 catalog.

for reminding me, Rob! I was planning to try that. Have a really big bag of garden lime on hand too! Hope it'll work!

Thanks Rob!

So far everything's growing good. No snow, but steady rains and a chill, I rather the snow.

I found 4 more seedling crosses sprouting after the 70° day yesterday. These were all from the mini greenhouse containers.

Yes the sunshine is coaxing more of my seedlings to pop up too, Gabe.

Yay for seedlings!! Happy to hear the progress

70 yesterday, 34 today, 55 by Thursday. Poor plants are really mixed up.

Les, I was shocked to see most of my double transplants trying to stand. This weather is rather annoying, but I like the cooler conditions vs last year. Should still be in the 60's for Xmas.

Ps. Don't know if I showed yall the newest beds I made on Thanksgiving weekend. Now all complete.

Those look great!

- wonderful, Gabe!
Envying everyone's seedlings - I have a very short row of seedlings from last year; just left them out over winter to germinate (in England). Just bee crosses, hope they will bloom this coming spring but not expecting anything special.

Need to go buy some garden lime, thanks for the reminder. What counts as a 'heavy' application?

Does oyster shell count as garden lime?

I don't know, but it's great for bocce ball.

IMHO, before you add any lime to your beds......you should check the ph of the soil ! Adding a "heavy application" of lime , to soil that's , perhaps, already on the "sweet" side could be detrimental to the iris !

Had to look up 'bocce ball' - it's pétanque! Really fun, whether playing or watching, although imo best in warm weather.

We have a set of petanque balls. and BIL has a petanque court. Better in warm weather,I I agree.
Today I watched Chris take out an aging (30 years old), and unproductive Flame grape to make way for a new iris bed. It will be about 20 ft . long and 3 feet wide. Tomorrow I'm having a high school boy here to help us haul the heavy 5 gal. planters down to the new site. C. is adding soil conditioners and compost and bone meal to the soil.

janwax said:Does oyster shell count as garden lime?

Not if you want the calcium to reach the plants within your lifetime. But like Arlyn pointed out test the soil.