Growing Bulbous Irises
English Iris
The most common irises grown are Spanish, English and Dutch probably because they are bulbs. Bulbs do not frighten people as much as the sound of the word “rhizomes”. Every one wants simple! The flowers are different to the well-known flag or German irises, also known as bearded irises. Flowers of these irises are fine and delicate and come in colors ranging from white through to gold, mauve and purple. They flower at different times to each other, first the Dutch variety followed by the Spanish and then the English bulbs, Reticulata Irises are smaller and flower in the late winter, early spring period, some of these
even have a light perfume.
English iris bulbs may be divided when you feel the clump has become too big or you want to spread some around to pass onto friends or sell. Plant these irises in the autumn in a garden that has a sunny well-drained aspect. Plant the bulbs at a depth of 10-15 cm and the same distance apart. They like lots of well-rotted compost or manure dug into their garden prior to planting and again after the leaves have died down. The English bulbs do better in soils that do not dry out too quickly in the summer months.
Treat Dutch and Spanish iris in much the same way as the English bulbs. Should the soil around the Dutch bulbs be too wet after the leaves have died in the summer, it is best to lift them and store the bulbs until replanting in the autumn. If you are lifting the bulbs, dig carefully around them with a fork and split into singles. The big bulbs will flower the following year while the smaller ones, called offsets will not reach maturity until they are two years old when they will flower. Plant the offsets in beds to grow on. Reticulata irises appreciate a liquid fertilizer every couple of weeks after flowering until their foliage has died.
When storing these bulbs if the soil is unsuitable to leave them over in, store them in somewhere where it is dry and airy. This prevents them from being stricken with rot or moulds. Fungicides can be purchased from garden shops and nurseries for this purpose. Follow the instructions given for the
best results.
All these irises are ideal for floral displays as their stems are long enough to be able to use creatively.
Iris Flowers
Irises are the wonderfully colorful flowers that grow from rhizomes into large clumps creating magnificent displays for little effort. They have been around for thousands of years, generally found in the northern hemisphere they also grow worldwide. They are strong plants in so much as they make a statement, no matter where they are planted, either mixed in with other plants or as a focal point in or on a rockery, perhaps near a garden pond as they don’t seem to mind damp feet. Most irises are perennial plants growing from rhizomes. The rhizomes are thick fleshy growths that often lay half exposed on the surface of the garden.
Irises can be raised from seed; germination is improved by stratifying the seed for at least six weeks. Cover the seed lightly and keep the external temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The most common way of multiplying the plant is by division of the rhizomes, and allowing the bulbs to multiply. The rhizomes are broken up at any time but it is usually best to do this when they are dormant. The rhizomes of the bearded irises are more suited to moving after flowering, while the bulbous types do multiply easily and quickly, lift them while dormant. Plant the rhizomes in autumn and into the winter months.
The Bearded, German and flag irises grow from rhizomes and come in many colours and shades some even have two or more colors. The preferred place for these to grow is a sunny well-drained garden bed, but they do tolerate a wide range of situations. Try them where you wish and see how they grow for you. The Dutch and Spanish irises grow from bulbs. The bulbs clump, so your stash will multiply very easily. Plant the bulbs 10 cm deep and approximately 15 cm apart. The leaves are themselves an interesting strap or sword shape and give a contrast to the softer leaved plants. The heights of the irises range from a semi- dwarf at around 25cm to the flag or tall bearded irises that reach 70cms in height.
Other varieties include the crested iris with their fragile flowers not unlike orchids; some will grow in very damp or waterlogged soils. These are the American, Japanese and English irises. Reticulata Iris bulbs are treated the same as other spring bulbs, flowering in late winter or early spring. The Dutch and Spanish Irises favor a warm dry garden soil
- A stunning example of an Iris
Spicy Peppers
Spicy Peppers
Growing capsicum or Chillies is easy from seed. Choose the seeds that you require whether it is the sweet or hot peppers. The seeds chosen will respond in the same way. The windows of opportunity for growing the seeds is a small one and to get the best results, start growing your seedlings a month or six weeks before they are planted in their final place whether in a container or garden. Depending on your family’s requirements, four to six plants will supply enough peppers for an ordinary family. Capsicum plants are also available from nurseries if you cannot be bothered with growing from seeds. Just make sure they are healthy and not root bound. Once seedlings reach about four inches in height, transplant them into to bigger pots for growing on. Plants have a reasonably deep root system, so they need regular and good watering.
Capsicums like most plants benefit from manure or compost worked into the soil or mix. Plant in a 35-40 cm diameter container or pot for growing on a patio or deck. Do not overdo the nitrogen-based fertilizer initially as all you will get are leaves and green growth. Once flowering and fruiting appear then is the time to sprinkle some high nitrogen general fertilizer around the plant. Peppers are really nice plants to have on display. Capsicum that you have planted in the spring will start to bear fruit in mid summer and continue having fruit until the onset of the colder weather.
Peppers can be picked at any time you consider they are big enough or suitable for your purposes. When you have just a few plants, cut the fruit from the plant as pulling them may break the branches. Like beans, the more you pick them the higher the fruit production will be. The common bell shaped varieties can be left on the plant until they change color be it yellow or even longer red. Pick the Chillies once they reach 7-10 cm long. Pick these when they are young for the freshest taste, but if you choose, leave them to shrivel up and then grind for use as an ingredient for spicy cooking!
If you have a creative side, make ornamental decorations of the peppers by threading on a string or displaying them.
Capsicums are usually trouble free and easy to grow; we used to grow acres of them!
The things that are likely to affect them are mostly of the insect variety. Amongst them are aphids, white fly, caterpillars and the green vegetable bug. Sprays suitable for the purpose control these, most of the sprays used do not have a long withholding period so the fruit can be eaten safely if you know how long the required time is.
Peppers can be frozen quickly from fresh with out prior preparation, apart from removing the seeds. This is fine for using as a casserole or added to soups. Done like this the pepper is not suitable for use as fresh in a salad.
