Partially joking, put them into a plastic bag with peat moss and forget them in the back of your car for a week. I actually did this with some Canna I purchased, only to discover they were not only sprouting, but growing like weeds!

Haverhill! I was in Merrimac visiting family in Oct! Fall color was just beautiful and so was the snowfall! Couldn't believe my good luck!, it hardly snows here in Ga. I ordered some this spring too. I thought I had planted them all but then around July/Aug I ran across some I had not planted, so I planted them and they didn't come up. They did look dried out, but not all achimenes varieties look the same. Now I had gotten some others at a DC convention in Early July and planted them the next week and almost all of those came up. I know that didn't answer the question. What I would do is start some indoors early and see if they start growing. If they don't, then you will have time to order some more. tish

I have planted store bought ginger rhizomes several times one of which rotted but did get stems and leafs ( pardon my technical terminology). The last time ( all indoors) they grew about 14 inches hich then started to dry up. Desperate to find some ginger "root" for a dish I was making "Ma Po Doufu" I dug up the dead ginger. There were several rhizomes, the freshest i have ever seen with what appeared to me white roots going down into the pot. The rhizomes were not nice long expanses but were sufficient and really tasty. I had planted the ginger just below the surface but still don't know if those greenish white knobules become the leafy part or roots. I m trying to find out if I should plant pieces with just one knobule in an area and wheter it should be facing down or up. Unfortunately Tim Chapman's piece is no longer available.

invest in a $1.50 bag of topsoil at the Home Depot or Lowes. on bare ground or flat surface, pour it out in a line about 8 to 10 inches deep. I used a shovel to flatten the top, creating a "row" about 8 to 12 inches wide - voila, mini raised row! heel your new iris babies into it toe to heel tightly, and one bag can handle something like 15 irise. Put out either a misting sprinkler or soaker hoses and keep them moistened a couple hours a day. would not consider exposing bearded irises to soaking in water for longer period than 20 mins. beardless love a good soak of 24 hours or so. The above advice was given to me when I asked on the Dave's Garden website. I wouldnt think that soaking them in water until planting would be good as Bearded Iris dont like to be wet anyways. That is why we dont put mulch on them unless during the winter in cold zones. I couldnt use the bag of soil idea as I have 3 naughty kittens who would think it was a new play toy. I just put them in an already established bed. I scraped away all the mulch, and put some garden fencing over the top so my kittens wouldnt get to it. That way the roots can get a head start I heeled them in there. I suggest the Dave's Garden site. Their iris forum is excellent there are several members who own the companies we buy from. You have to pay to see most forums and enjoy the whole site. It is worth it. I just paid $5 for a month subscription to check it out. I love the site, and will be buying yr sub. Plus you get a great flower magazine and book. Danielle