Gastil, see below answers - Chad -----Original Message----- From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Gastil Sent: Monday, July 23, 2012 6:43 PM To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org Subject: Re: [pbs] OPS eliminate Ina I like the sponge-tip idea. I will try that. Your victory over Ops is inspiring. Chad - was the solarizing heat with the soil soaked or dry? [Chad Schroter] Soaked, plus had a soaker line under plastic to make sure soil did not dry out. The double-spaced layering is a great idea. I wonder how hot it gets, how deep. [Chad Schroter] I used my compost thermometer to measure temps getting up to 120 degrees in top 6 inches The Ops in my yard are found awfully deep. [Chad Schroter] I find the repeated weeding will exhaust the main bulb, and the remaining stem generates the bulbs for the next season at a more shallow depth I have photographed some of the deeper complete plants (corm and underground stem) to document just how far deep these grow. I assumed they would have to be in growth to be killed by heat. [Chad Schroter] I think the solarization took care of some of the smaller offsets which form off the stem each Spring. Alberto - if I wait too late in the season they will have made the little cormlets all along the sides of the underground stems. I do see the logic of reduced recovery time. So, late season, but not too late season. - Gastil Zone 9b (sort of), Cool Mediterranean ________________________________ PLEASE NOTE: The information contained in this electronic mail message is intended only for the use of the designated recipient(s) named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this message in error and that any review, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender by telephone or e-mail (as shown above) immediately and destroy any and all copies of this message in your possession (whether hard copies or electronically stored copies).