Rain only.
Why we grow orris without irrigation.
Iris rhizomes rot in wet ground. Soft rot (Pectobacterium) is the
largest single cause of loss in irrigated orris, and it enters through the rhizome under
sustained moisture. Our protocol removes the vector instead of treating the symptom.
Three rules, written into the SOP
No irrigation, at all
The block has never been watered. Newly planted rhizomes reached approximately 100%
emergence and establishment within two months on rainfall alone. Mild moisture stress
pushes roots down into the loess subsoil, where the plant builds the secondary metabolites
that later become irone.
Fermented sheep manure, once
Two tonnes per acre, incorporated ahead of ridge formation. Slow-release potassium,
phosphorus and humic matter across the full vegetative cycle. No synthetic nitrogen at any
stage, and no top-dressing later.
No post-emergence herbicide
Not “minimal”. None. Weed control is mechanical inter-row cultivation plus hand-weeding
at the root collar. This keeps the rhizome epidermis free of residue and leaves the
rhizosphere microbiome intact. It also costs roughly {{ }} times the labour of a
spray programme, which is the honest reason most growers do not do it.
画面：定植两个月、零灌溉条件下的单株或垄上连续出苗，叶丛直立、翠绿、无病斑。清晨带露水拍质感更好。
alt: Approximately 100% seedling establishment under zero-irrigation dryland conditions, two months after planting.
尺寸：横版 3:2，宽 ≥ 1600 px
替换方法：在本注释下方插入
<img src=”assets/img/photo-05.webp” alt=”Approximately 100% seedling establishment under …”>，虚线框与提示会自动隐藏。
画面：垄沟机械中耕作业或作业后的干净垄沟，体现“机械 + 人工”的除草体系。
alt: Mechanical inter-row cultivation for weed control; no post-emergence herbicide is applied at any stage.
尺寸：横版 3:2，宽 ≥ 1600 px
替换方法：在本注释下方插入
<img src=”assets/img/photo-06.webp” alt=”Mechanical inter-row cultivation for weed contro…”>，虚线框与提示会自动隐藏。
画面：人工根际除草特写，手在根际附近除草，能拍到泥土和根系最好。这是“零除草剂”的直接证据。
alt: Hand-weeding at the root collar — the only weed control used on the block.
尺寸：竖版 4:5 或方图，宽 ≥ 1200 px
替换方法：在本注释下方插入
<img src=”assets/img/photo-07.webp” alt=”Hand-weeding at the root collar — the only weed …”>，虚线框与提示会自动隐藏。
From planting to first lift
| Stage | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Deep tillage, ridging, basal manure | August 2026 | Completed |
| Planting of mother rhizomes | August 2026 | Zhejiang premier aromatic stock |
| Establishment check | October 2026 | Approx. 100% emergence, rainfall only |
| Vegetative growth | 2027 – 2029 | No irrigation, mechanical + hand weeding |
| First lift and analysis | Autumn 2029 | First commercial lot; results published |
Orris is a three-year crop. There is no way to make it arrive faster.