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Post by Moonlight on Nov 18, 2013 21:13:18 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 22:18:47 GMT
 eek! I've made another decision. The tubers that I cut down today I've not covered, they ate upside down and draining. Eastwood Moonlight, Downham Royal, Red Balloon and Weston Pirate are covered, in newspaper and towel but the rest are naked,
Now I've been thinking and mulling over. Dad is going to have the important tubers but what about the others....
I've done: Willo's Violet, Gurtla Twilight, Mary's Jomanda (poor thing), Jomanda and Weston Spanish Dancer.
Our cousins (not literally) in US drain them and chop them up. Then they wrap them in plastic and leave them. Both the companies that we have bought from packed them in Vermiculite.
But the question is, what can I do to protect mine... lots of mullings... but I've had an idea - whether it is a good one, a very bad one or just a stupid one.
hmmmmmm |
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Post by scrumpy on Nov 19, 2013 7:06:45 GMT
I'm one of those that wash all the dirt off using a jet spray. Main reasons are you don't know what little nasties, ie, slugs, you have hiding in the soil,and it allows you to inspect the tubers closely for eyes. You can have 2 tubers of the same variety, one the size of a football,the other half the size, yet there can be no eyes showing on the big one, loads on the smaller. So keep the small one. And it makes drying easier.
No need to cover them with anything whilst drying.If they are in an unheated greenhouse bring them into the house if it's going to go below freezing. They dry better outside so if a dry day is forecast I put mine out.
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Post by Moonlight on Nov 19, 2013 23:33:37 GMT
I think that I must be very boring because I do a lot of "I asked my Dad and he said...."  I'm one of those that wash all the dirt off using a jet spray. Main reasons are you don't know what little nasties, ie, slugs, you have hiding in the soil,and it allows you to inspect the tubers closely for eyes. You can have 2 tubers of the same variety, one the size of a football,the other half the size, yet there can be no eyes showing on the big one, loads on the smaller. So keep the small one. And it makes drying easier. No need to cover them with anything whilst drying.If they are in an unheated greenhouse bring them into the house if it's going to go below freezing. They dry better outside so if a dry day is forecast I put mine out.
His reasoning behind leaving a lot of the soil on is just for tuber protection. Dad said that some tubers when you dig them out are neat, compact balls and that washing off the dirt wouldn't be a problem at all but in his experience those tubers with the longer (my speak lobes) and thin connection to the middle are vulnerable to snapping and earth helps take the pressure off those joints. Which lowers the risk of them breaking.
I hadn't even thought of slugs - Dad said he uses slug killer around them.
I totally agree with you that size doesn't make any difference - it's all about the eyes. (Didn't even ask Dad that one - maybe I've learnt something this year. ). What you said makes a lot of sense.
Scrumpy do you really mean that you want to dry the tubers out or do you just mean drain the ones that are full of water? |
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Post by Moonlight on Nov 19, 2013 23:51:52 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.
and Tel, we do have loppers, I think I should have used them but was in a bit of a flap and so rushed and used the 1st things that I could lay my hands on, rather than waste time and annoy my Dad searching for missing loppers.
Dad said I could sterilise the blades with dilute bleach but I am very wary of that. Can't bear the smell of bleach and I don't trust my self to make a gentle enough solution. Knowing me I would probably scald the dahlias with bleached blades and kill them that way. |
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Post by Moonlight on Nov 20, 2013 0:01:56 GMT
Ordered Dad's 1st lot of US dahlias tonight. This is where we ordered them.
Dahlias by Les and Viv Connell interestingly they have the option of tubers or pot roots.
It will be interesting what we get sent asked for all pot roots.  Fingers crossed we get a good one. 
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Post by sweetpea on Nov 20, 2013 20:06:22 GMT
ML to sterilise knives. cutters etc, you can use permanganate of potash available at your local chemist. That is what I use when cutting sweetpeas. it comes in powdered form and you just take a pinch using finger and thumb and add to a small glass jar or a larger amount if the jar is too small for your loppers. It dissolves quite rapidly leaving a purple coloured solution. (just don't drink it  ) |
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Post by Moonlight on Nov 20, 2013 21:15:13 GMT
ML to sterilise knives. cutters etc, you can use permanganate of potash available at your local chemist. That is what I use when cutting sweetpeas. it comes in powdered form and you just take a pinch using finger and thump and add to a small glass jar or a larger amount if the jar is too small for your loppers. It dissolves quite rapidly leaving a purple coloured solution. (just don't drink it) 
Thanks for that suggestion Sweetpea.
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Post by Moonlight on Nov 20, 2013 21:25:18 GMT
The Essex Dahlia Society website has gone dead. It doesn't look like it's domain name has been renewed. Quite upset about it because it had photos of some of Dad's varieties that just are not around any more. It's one of those 'I wish that I had' moments. I wish that I had downloaded and saved those images onto my computer. Mum and Dad took photos (but nothing compared to how many that we now take using digital technology) but those pictures are loaded onto slides and don't have a clue where they are now.
Annoyed with myself. Oh well, live and learn. Well try to any way. 
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Post by Cherry on Nov 21, 2013 7:04:05 GMT
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Post by Moonlight on Nov 21, 2013 9:36:29 GMT
email that I have has is linked to the website address but I am going to look through my dahlia stuff and see if I have any luck that way. Thanks for the idea Cherry.
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Post by Moonlight on Nov 21, 2013 9:39:00 GMT
Weather is pants here. No digging for me today. :-( bit disappointed but not the end of the world.
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Post by Tel on Nov 21, 2013 10:11:04 GMT
email that I have has is linked to the website address but I am going to look through my dahlia stuff and see if I have any luck that way. Thanks for the idea Cherry. Sent you pm |
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Post by Moonlight on Nov 21, 2013 11:14:48 GMT
Got it and thanks Tel.
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Post by Moonlight on Nov 25, 2013 11:43:48 GMT
Mental note to self pick up Stalin Condessa from the lawn.
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