Irises are one of the most beautiful and easy-to-grow flowers, adding a touch of elegance to any garden. In Minnesota, irises can be harvested in mid-summer, when the seeds are ripe and ready to be separated from the parent plant. To ensure a successful harvest, it is important to provide the iris with the right amount of sunlight and water. Irises do best in full sunlight, but can also tolerate some shade.
They should receive about six hours of sunlight a day. When first planted, the soil should be kept moist until the roots have taken hold. This usually takes two to four weeks. Once established, reduce watering until the winter or fall rains begin.
During periods of drought, water them deeply every three or four weeks, depending on the temperature. In early spring, supplement irrigation if there is no rain or snow and high temperatures.When it comes time to harvest your irises, carefully dig up the cluster of plants. You'll find that the original rhizome you planted (the “mother”) has produced seeds that are now visible. Seeds that are brown or toasted and have a hard exterior are ready to harvest.
If they are green or have a soft exterior, they are not ready to be separated from the parent plant.If you're wondering “why aren't my irises blooming?” take a good look at climate, soil fertility, overcrowding, unhealthy rhizomes, insect or disease attack, planting depth, and even site conditions. Usually, we'll find iris plants that don't bloom because of one of these easy-to-fix conditions.The Siberian iris is still one of the easiest iris plants to grow; some flowerbeds continue to bloom for decades without any division or insecticide. Gardeners can avoid many problems if they provide good drainage to prevent the iris from getting their feet wet. The ideal soil pH for irises is 6.8 and the soil should have average levels of nitrogen, but also sufficient amounts of phosphorus.When you're ready to harvest your irises in Minnesota, make sure you provide them with enough sunlight and water throughout their growth cycle.
Carefully dig up the cluster of plants when the seeds are ripe and ready to be separated from the parent plant. If you're having trouble getting your irises to bloom, take a look at climate, soil fertility, overcrowding, unhealthy rhizomes, insect or disease attack, planting depth, and even site conditions.