Cutting up an old potato?

malaprop · Post by **malaprop** » Jun 25, 2007 4:24 am

I removed the potato part of an Iris that bloomed this season, and cut the potato part up in 4 pieces, then semi-planted the chunks somewhere else.

If those were really potato, I'd get new potatoes. Will those iris chunks sprout?

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Jun 25, 2007 10:52 am

Hmmm..interesting thought. Curious as to what those in the 'know' say!

John · Post by **John** » Jun 25, 2007 9:54 pm

Like real potatoes, the iris 'chunks' would need "eyes" for sprouts.

Basically, the potato/chink/rhizome that has already bloomed will look older and more porous, and should be discarded; there will often be two large, healthy new rhizomes, one on each side of the old discard... these should be seperated from the discard, and then planted. Or semi-planted, like a duck in/on the water.

This should give better results (faster bloom) than random chunking.

Garden_of_Mu · Post by **Garden_of_Mu** » Jun 26, 2007 8:59 am

If the pieces have small increases ready to go you may get some sprouts - if not they will just dry up. They'll be a long time getting big though if you chunked up their mother rhizome.