We've fallen way behind for spring rainfall and I'm not certain how much water to give the I-itoi section. For the most part, I've decided for them to just do their thing without a lot of help. Since they never slowed down with our near record rainfall total for 2004, perhaps see what they'd do in a dry time. Today, the 2 or 3 largest clusters simply collapsed into huge rosettes. Hadn't seen that before. I suspect that it's part of the dormancy process. At best, I'd hazard a guess of around 50 or 60 maximum in those clusters. Those in the 20 to 30 range are still upright and healthy. Last year, with the very wet and cool conditions, I found the scallions to be rather good-tasting. This year, they seem to be much stronger.

Martin

We had a dry winter and it was great not having to worry at all about these shallots. It was amazing how they would just sit and wait until the next rain and then go through another growth spurt again. I love this multiplier! I am giving it to all my friends and some area farmers to try.

Are your rosettes like what shallots do when they spread out? My larger clumps were beginning to spread out wide and then went dormant.

Tiff

Tiff, we're still trying to figure out what I-itoi does in the coldest US zones. I was just reminded of that fact this evening from another gardener who lost his over the winter. Mine received only minimal winter protection or it would not have been a fair test. Growing in a block of 4 rows of 5 plants, the northernmost row lost 3. All 20 were there this spring but 3 slowly vanished. As dormant bulbs, I know that they survived 100% after being planted in frozen soil. I do think that it's another of those varieties especially suited only for the South but need help in the North.

Yes, the sudden collapse now was like a large nest of shallots. Thus it was not due to any other factors such as rain or wind. We're running way behind for rainfall and I wasn't babying the I-itoi. They were included in a high-nitrogen compost tea allium watering the past two days. The smaller clusters remain erect and look quite happy. I think that the largest clusters simply became dry enough to where it activated the dormancy factor.

Martin

Martin-
I was considering re-planting them at various times starting in August to see how well they do. Although they obviously do well when all shrivelled up, I wonder how well they would do when a little plumper when planted. What experience do you have with that?

As for the cold we get here, it is obviously NOTHING like yours. My Mom and her family live in IL in zone 5 and I thinks that's cold enough for me. But 4.... Brrr. My hubbie's family lives in Edmonton. I figure if I have to re-learn how to breathe when outdoors in the winter, I will make it an effort to visit in the summer ;) The I-itoi handled our odd winter this year real well. We didn't get our first killing frost until mid-December (crazy!) and then it was warm and cold etc. for most of the winter. When it got below freezing, it was in the low to mid-20's which was quite a shock to the plants from being relatively warm the nights before. The local shallots didn't like it too much and the ones that were exposed and not protected paid the price. The I-itoi's were never protected and looked wonderfull throughout the winter and spring. Then the spring rains came and they went crazy with new growth. It will be interesting to see how they do in a normal winter here.

Tiff