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Post by Moonlight on Nov 15, 2013 23:06:29 GMT
I am thinking about putting a layer of newspaper on top of them.
Is that a rubbish idea?
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Post by Moonlight on Nov 15, 2013 23:07:50 GMT
Next year instead of digging up dahlia tubers ML put a few cuttings back for pot tubers. They take up less space, are easier to overwinter and are in my opinion better than stored field tubers. A 5" pot laid on its side and covered with some fleece or similar will overwinter quite well in an unheated g'house. I usually lay mine in the tomato trench when the tomatoes have gone. |
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Post by Moonlight on Nov 16, 2013 10:35:33 GMT
Diary of a bizarre erratic gardener:
Last night I went down to the greenhouse and covered my tubers with a (purple) towel, to keep them warm. I did seriously think about covering them up in the kingsize duvet that we used to pack around the tins of dahlias to the shows. I thought that was a bit OTT, 1 kingsize duvet with 4 tubers underneath. It wouldn't have fitted on the greenhouse bench top.
Woke up this morning, we had had frost.  which is what I had been worried about. I tried not too make a big deal about it but I did get a big hug from HH. He mentioned that we could put some on the lounge coffee table. Well he has not seen them in the daylight and even if we wrapped a bit of tinsel round them, I think they won't be competition for a Christmas Tree.
I rang my Dad. He has had a bit of frost there but he hasn't stressed over it. His tubers are in his unheated shed with a couple of sheets of newspaper on top. I've taken him up on his offer. I rang and asked, if he wanted a couple of tenants and he was worried because he thought I meant the girls! He thought that he couldn't baby sit the girlies when he had loads of tubers to dig.
Dad is going to collect my tubers on Tuesday, I just need to baby sit them here till then.
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Post by Cherry on Nov 16, 2013 11:32:30 GMT
Putting them into the tomato trench is a good idea sweetpea. Mine died, even though they were in the conservatory, so my two are going into the pantry. They are too precious to lose. I haven't made up my mind whether to shake the soil off or leave them in their pots. ML you need a lot of tomato trenches for your dahlias. However, if they are piled together and covered, that would help. I will be interested to see what you decide. I just reread you post. You lucky girl. Your Dad has come to the rescue. |
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Post by Moonlight on Nov 16, 2013 13:46:32 GMT
Putting them into the tomato trench is a good idea sweetpea. Mine died, even though they were in the conservatory, so my two are going into the pantry. They are too precious to lose. I haven't made up my mind whether to shake the soil off or leave them in their pots. ML you need a lot of tomato trenches for your dahlias. However, if they are piled together and covered, that would help. I will be interested to see what you decide. I just reread you post. You lucky girl. Your Dad has come to the rescue.
I am just trying to learn what to do. You are right Cherry I am very lucky.
So far I've got the Eastwood Moonlight which Dad dug up to show me how to do it, 1 Downham Royal tuber that I dug up infront of him and 2 that I did on my own without him there.
Today I am going to dig up my Weston Pirate my favourite (excluding Eastwood Moonlight & Downham Royal) and Red Balloon. Dad is going to take both of them as well. He has only 1 Red Balloon plant and we would like to try and keep one tuber. 
After Lunch I'm going to show the girls. 
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Post by Moonlight on Nov 16, 2013 15:40:47 GMT
1 Red Balloon and 1 Pirate up and in the greenhouse. Big tubers. but then size is deceiving.
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Post by Moonlight on Nov 16, 2013 22:18:28 GMT
Diary of a bizarre erratic gardener:
Last night I went down to the greenhouse and covered my tubers with a (purple) towel, to keep them warm. I did seriously think about covering them up in the kingsize duvet that we used to pack around the tins of dahlias to the shows. I thought that was a bit OTT, 1 kingsize duvet with 4 tubers underneath. It wouldn't have fitted on the greenhouse bench top.
Nope not trick or treating my tubers under my purple towel. |
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Post by Moonlight on Nov 16, 2013 22:44:30 GMT
Of all the dahlias in my garden it comes as no surprise that the one Dad chose to dig up first was Eastwood Moonlight. I think the stem will get shortened a bit another time.
My 3 Downham Royals. The one with the label on the right is the one which I did with my Dad watching. The other 2 I did solo. My solo 2 will have more of the stems cut but as I am using scissors it's the best I can do right now.
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Post by Moonlight on Nov 16, 2013 23:41:36 GMT
Red Balloon the girls were in charge of the photos so instead of a nice one of Weston Pirate, I've got lots of close ups of worms! |
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Post by Moonlight on Nov 18, 2013 10:20:08 GMT
Damaged parcel update: Well it has took a week to get a specific reply (had a automatic 'we have forwarded on, member of customer service will be in touch message earlier) but got my reply today.
So they are sending replacement bulbs. So I am happy.
Better get digging before it rains. Weather is not going to be good for the next week or so.
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Post by Moonlight on Nov 18, 2013 11:36:39 GMT
Well I've just dug up: Willo's Violet, Gurtla Twilight, Mary's Jomanda and Jomanda. Haven't turned any of the others upside down to drain but these ones were wetter and Mary's Jomanda poured out like a hose pipe when I cut the stem away. So obviously they needed draining. The only one that I've ruined is Mary's Jomanda. It would have been another big tuber had I not dug it out like I was trying to butcher it. Well it's upside and draining. I'll show it to my Dad and see if it is worth trying to save. Never know, after all the US tubers arrive sliced into lobes.
Stopped now, run out of blades. They need sterilising. I also need proper garden cutters. Having a lot of problems cutting through the stems.
I've got my Westons Spanish Dancer, Flamingo and Miss to go and maybe Peach Delight.
Lot's of options, lots of food for thought, certainly don't know what the solution will be.
Positive thoughts.
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Post by Cherry on Nov 18, 2013 16:20:23 GMT
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Post by sweetpea on Nov 18, 2013 18:02:23 GMT
It helps too if you can give the tubers a dusting of flowers of sulphur to control mildew especially on any cuts or wounds.
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Post by Tel on Nov 18, 2013 19:08:41 GMT
Well I've just dug up: Willo's Violet, Gurtla Twilight, Mary's Jomanda and Jomanda. Haven't turned any of the others upside down to drain but these ones were wetter and Mary's Jomanda poured out like a hose pipe when I cut the stem away. So obviously they needed draining. The only one that I've ruined is Mary's Jomanda. It would have been another big tuber had I not dug it out like I was trying to butcher it. Well it's upside and draining. I'll show it to my Dad and see if it is worth trying to save. Never know, after all the US tubers arrive sliced into lobes.
Stopped now, run out of blades. They need sterilising. I also need proper garden cutters. Having a lot of problems cutting through the stems.
I've got my Westons Spanish Dancer, Flamingo and Miss to go and maybe Peach Delight.
Lot's of options, lots of food for thought, certainly don't know what the solution will be.
Positive thoughts. I find it easier to use loppers when I cut the dahlia's down. |
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Post by Moonlight on Nov 18, 2013 21:12:21 GMT
It helps too if you can give the tubers a dusting of flowers of sulphur to control mildew especially on any cuts or wounds. |
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which is what I had been worried about. I tried not too make a big deal about it but I did get a big hug from HH. He mentioned that we could put some on the lounge coffee table. Well he has not seen them in the daylight and even if we wrapped a bit of tinsel round them, I think they won't be competition for a Christmas Tree.
Sept 6, 2018 17:58:08 GMT
Sept 6, 2018 17:58:08 GMT
Aug 10, 2019 9:01:47 GMT