Holding bed

I would appreciate advice on how to make a proper holding bed. This spring I ordered some mail order iris. From past experience, knowing they wouldn't be shipped much before the ground freezes, I picked up some bargain dahlias and planted them where the iris were to go, figuring I would have them dug up before the iris came.

All this was before I found out about DG and all you generous people! So what is the best thing to do with the lovely rz? I really don't want to pull the dahlias, which are just starting to bloom! :) I have lots of room now in my vegetable garden. Just don't know the best way to keep my new babies happy. Kay

try this
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/663340/

well, I'm always getting irises before their beds are ready. have done this- it works extremely well.

We have a gravel area next where people once parked. Scrape back the gravel on just enough room. I buy bagged soil, $1.40 at HD, and pour it out a row, shaping it with a rake to be about 6 to 8 inches high and 10 to 12 inches wide. I plant irises almost nose to heel. If yours are going to have to stay a while, plant at least six inches apart. five bags will plant 20 irises.

Then I run a soaker hose down the row. no rain = turn it on once a day for four weeks. When you are ready to plant, if the soil underneath is hard, all the roots are in the topsoil, and and they can be scooped out with you hands. then I use a manure shovel to scoop up the topsoil and put it in the iris bed.

If you have lots of room in your vegetable garden, I think that would be ideal for a holding area.

I keep mine in pots until I plant them in their final home.

I forgot to mention, it helps when you start pulling irises from any temp bed to put them in the temp bed in some order - alpha works great. saves huge on your back later.

Are you still planning to put the irises in the dahlia bed once you've dug the dahlias? The reason I ask is because I am wondering when you will dig your dahlias. They really shouldn't be dug until after the first hard frost. If you wait till then to dig them, I would think it would be too late to replant your iris and give them enough time to settle in before anymore freezes.