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? The double-spaced layering is a great idea. I wonder how hot it gets, how deep. The Ops in my yard are found awfully deep. 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. 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