|
|
Post by Moonlight on Aug 3, 2013 15:55:01 GMT
Speaking as someone who doesn't have a clue what she is talking about, how is the size classification of individual varieties set and when or what factors lead to if being reassessed as dual classification?
Dad told me a while ago that one of my Weston varieties has a tendency to come up big over size which could lead to disqualification. I still don't 'get' why that should happen. If the variety that you grow measures up as larger or smaller than it's classified size but you enter it in the correct class for the size of that particular bloom why should the bloom be disqualified?
Especially when some varieties go on to become dual classification anyway?
|
|
|
|
Post by Moonlight on Aug 3, 2013 16:37:58 GMT
Also if you are growing a dahlia which has the tendency to grow larger, what should I have (already )done to try and keep it small?
& the opposite,
What should be done to push larger?
I must come across as dim but I just want to get it right, in my head.
|
|
|
|
Post by scrumpy on Aug 3, 2013 17:32:03 GMT
The more blooms you allow to develop the smaller they will be. And of course the opposite is true.
It also depends on when they flower. I'm convinced that the same variety flowering July/early August will be smaller than if it flowers in September. And type of soil will make a difference.
There is no rule as to how many to grow up, ie, how many blooms per plant you let flower. If you ask top exhibitors growing the Kiwi's, it can vary from 4 to 8 blooms per plant.
In my case, smalls and mediums I start off with 6 and then see what happens, unless as you say it's a variety well known to go over or undersize in which case you allow more or less blooms.
In my case this year, all varieties are smaller than normal. Probably the intense heat has speeded up the bud development meaning it starts to open earlier, hence the smaller size. This doesn't happen later in the season.
In a normal season I can't get any of my dahlias up to the ring size no matter what I do to them. That is a combination of my soil, early to flower, and growing off a side bud. But what they lack in size, they make up for in form.
So it's trial and error to see what is best for you.
|
|
|
|
Post by Moonlight on Aug 3, 2013 18:00:59 GMT
Thanks Scrumpy 
|
|
|
|
Post by markb on Aug 3, 2013 18:56:18 GMT
There is a Classification Committee that sets what an individual cultivar should be. How they work it out is beyond me. The Weston cultivar your Dad is referring to is probably 'Weston Spanish Dancer' which was classified as a miniature cactus, however, since 2012 it has been classified as MINIATURE OR SMALL CACTUS.
Interestingly, up until the late 1960s or early 1970s there were no judging rings although size classes still existed. One cultivar changed all that - KLANKSTAD KERKRADE - a yellow small cactus which had tremendous form and grew much bigger than the other small cactus of the time. It was so dominant that some shows either banned its use or had a separate class for it. That lasted for some 20 years during which time judging rings were introduced to create a more level playing field.
|
|
|
|
Post by Moonlight on Aug 5, 2013 20:27:09 GMT
There is a Classification Committee that sets what an individual cultivar should be. How they work it out is beyond me. The Weston cultivar your Dad is referring to is probably 'Weston Spanish Dancer' which was classified as a miniature cactus, however, since 2012 it has been classified as MINIATURE OR SMALL CACTUS. Interestingly, up until the late 1960s or early 1970s there were no judging rings although size classes still existed. One cultivar changed all that - KLANKSTAD KERKRADE - a yellow small cactus which had tremendous form and grew much bigger than the other small cactus of the time. It was so dominant that some shows either banned its use or had a separate class for it. That lasted for some 20 years during which time judging rings were introduced to create a more level playing field.
Thanks Markb I'll ask my Dad about that particular dahlia. Dad used to judge at The National, Harrogate & County etc. so he should remember that one. There was at one point a big change in the size classifications but then they went back to the old way. I think that I am going to have problems with a dahlia being considered too small for it's identified size but will have to see. Time will tell.
You were right it was Weston Spanish Dancer that he was talking about, that I mentioned before.
|
|
|
|
Post by sweetpea on Aug 5, 2013 22:05:43 GMT
Klankstade kerkrade was the one that set the standard the other small cactus varieties were judged against.
it really was and indeed still is a lovely dahlia.
|
|
