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Post by sweetpea on Mar 3, 2014 15:45:28 GMT
Definately got the fever Tel. Don't you reckon? No wish to dampen your enthusiasm ML but I reckon that a few plants well grown are better than many where you can't give all the attention required. I know it can be very difficult deciding what NOT to grow never mind what you want to grow. I never showed dahlias at national level but our local shows were very well attended with some good growers some of whom WERE national showmen and even a couple of judges and breeders put entries in. I never grew more than three plants of each and still managed red cards and a few NDS medals. In other words, 'Quality before Quantity' I know of sweetpea growers who grow 1.000 plants but I found it almost a full time job with 400. mind you I had a job that made me work all the hours so I had to restrict my enthusiasm. Anyway you do what suits you and as long as you enjoy it that is all that matters.  |
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Post by Tel on Mar 3, 2014 16:12:16 GMT
Definately got the fever Tel. Don't you reckon? No wish to dampen your enthusiasm ML but I reckon that a few plants well grown are better than many where you can't give all the attention required. I know it can be very difficult deciding what NOT to grow never mind what you want to grow. I never showed dahlias at national level but our local shows were very well attended with some good growers some of whom WERE national showmen and even a couple of judges and breeders put entries in. I never grew more than three plants of each and still managed red cards and a few NDS medals. In other words, 'Quality before Quantity' I know of sweetpea growers who grow 1.000 plants but I found it almost a full time job with 400. mind you I had a job that made me work all the hours so I had to restrict my enthusiasm. Anyway you do what suits you and as long as you enjoy it that is all that matters. When you have a Dad that won prizes at the National and raised show winning varieties, The only surprise to me Moonlight bothers with us mere Mortals.   Yes sweetpea I have to agree with you Moonlight has the dahlia bug, long may it last. |
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Post by Moonlight on Mar 3, 2014 22:41:48 GMT
Definately got the fever Tel. Don't you reckon? No wish to dampen your enthusiasm ML but I reckon that a few plants well grown are better than many where you can't give all the attention required.I know it can be very difficult deciding what NOT to grow never mind what you want to grow. I never showed dahlias at national level but our local shows were very well attended with some good growers some of whom WERE national showmen and even a couple of judges and breeders put entries in. I never grew more than three plants of each and still managed red cards and a few NDS medals. In other words, 'Quality before Quantity'I know of sweetpea growers who grow 1.000 plants but I found it almost a full time job with 400. mind you I had a job that made me work all the hours so I had to restrict my enthusiasm. Anyway you do what suits you and as long as you enjoy it that is all that matters.
A different world. Wouldn't swap it but not an option here.
I don't think I'll ever show at National level, I think that I've been cheeky just signing up for membership at county. It was really a big deal to me - just sending off my membership. Showing at local town show my hands shook and I felt sick. Panicking inside but I am glad, I did it. In the Autumn show the category with the most classes is the dahlias classes. It is fiercely competitive and there is at least 1 exhibitor on the NDS silver & gold roll of honour that exhibits (& competes in our Spring show with his daffs).
If the dahlia classes are judged by a qualified nds judge then all entries must be judged to those high standards, local, county or national. Levels of standards must be maintained. I think for any class dahlia or not, the best exhibit must win if it is to a standard high enough. If it isn't good enough and whether or not it is the only entry or 100 entries, the best exhibit should get a 1st if it is up to the standard required of 1st. Better to not award a 1st (or other) if the entries are not up to standard.
Just before the county show we had those torrential downpours which ruined a lot of blooms. Dad being Dad thinks that if in doubt enter because you never know...
Dad entered 1 of the classes with medium semi/cactus (- including some of the Clearviews) of 6 blooms. He only got awarded a 2nd which he thought was a bit harsh considering the atrousous weather and was I believe the only entery but he didn't have a problem with it, bit disappointed yes but problem with it no. He knew that some of the blooms had been damaged and some were bruised but he entered it as they were the best he had (and had won the class the year before).
In the county mini shows it is enter as many exhibits as you want, local 2 and county 1 exhibit.
Scary.
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Post by Moonlight on Mar 3, 2014 22:45:40 GMT
Definately got the fever Tel. Don't you reckon? No wish to dampen your enthusiasm ML but I reckon that a few plants well grown are better than many where you can't give all the attention required. I know it can be very difficult deciding what NOT to grow never mind what you want to grow. I never showed dahlias at national level but our local shows were very well attended with some good growers some of whom WERE national showmen and even a couple of judges and breeders put entries in. I never grew more than three plants of each and still managed red cards and a few NDS medals. In other words, 'Quality before Quantity' I know of sweetpea growers who grow 1.000 plants but I found it almost a full time job with 400. mind you I had a job that made me work all the hours so I had to restrict my enthusiasm. Anyway you do what suits you and as long as you enjoy it that is all that matters. When you have a Dad that won prizes at the National and raised show winning varieties, The only surprise to me Moonlight bothers with us mere Mortals. Yes sweetpea I have to agree with you Moonlight has the dahlia bug, long may it last.
Tel, I am still very much a Baby amongst you all here. |
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Post by Moonlight on Mar 3, 2014 23:40:47 GMT
I double checked it was the only exhibit in the class.
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Post by Moonlight on Mar 6, 2014 11:14:18 GMT
Rang my Dad earlier and asked if there had been any signs of life from my tubers and I am very pleased to say that there is life from my Stallen Condessa and the Red Balloon. My understanding is that Stalleen makes a rubbish tuber, so I am pleased that it survived the trauma of me digging it up. I've got a funny feeling that Dad only had 2 Red Balloon plants and we had 1 each (Don't quote me on that one), so that is good news if that one is growing to.
Looking forward to April, I've got my tubers coming from home and away (US not Oz unfortunately, wasn't lucky on that search) and some extra special plants on their way to.
Moonlight.
Dad wants to know what I want, from the tubers that he has. Hmmmm no.s etc. and has offered to start some more of mine off. Mentioned again that he can keep the Stallen Condessa.
What I'd really like is to be able to have a go at starting some mine off.
Dad was given 2 tubers of Weston Stardust but one has gone all mushy and thrown and the other he has told me to give up on. It's one that I really want to grow this year and has recommended that I just order a couple of plants myself from Porters but still would like to hold on a bit longer.
Speaking of Weston's Pirate is still fast asleep. Hope he wakes up soon. Don't think Porters are selling Pirate this year. I am sure it was a case of Weston Miss or Flamingo off the list.
Wish I could go and see his (and mine at)his tubers. Just not quiet that easy. Oh well.
Going to pop down and look at my tubers.
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Post by Moonlight on Mar 6, 2014 11:57:35 GMT
Ok Been down and looked - here we go imagine the eurovision results voice over
"Here are the results of my tuber assessment..."
Mary's Jomanda - bin
Ruskin Myra (from DCdahlia) Peach Delight and erm something else Dad - yes please.
BrendaT (from DCdahlia), Downham Royal and all the others (with the exception of the erm. - see above)I am going to have a go at myself.
If something comes up then great, if nothing comes up from what I have left I will be in no weaker position than I was this time last year.
I theory some of my seeds will grow into plants and I can plant some of those or panic buy ay the plant sale.
I've got a couple of treats coming in April together with my various plants and a couple of tuber orders including my Candy Jayne from the US.
Walking down to my greenhouse, I walked along my path.... got me thinking... I remember doing this. Then started thing should I flatten it and start again.
Hmmmmm (Dangerous times ahead).
Lots of bits and pieces, bit like my Mary's Jomanda tuber. You could play 'bowls' with the number of pieces that it came out in. Felt awful at the time.
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Post by Moonlight on Mar 6, 2014 12:20:41 GMT
Ok, so went back to greenhouse this and took Brenda T with me. I've been keeping Brenda T and Myra by my back door where is is cool. Dad has not been happy with their location, hence his offer to look after them in his greenhouse. Well, Brenda T has decided that she won't hang around waiting anymore (It has had no encouragement, no soil at all) and has developed shoots. So the decision to faff about with that one has been taken from my hands now.
Dad is going to have Peach Delight, Weston Miss and Myra.
Although I reserve the right to change my mind, that's my plan as much as I have one.
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Post by Moonlight on Mar 8, 2014 22:12:53 GMT
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Post by Moonlight on Mar 10, 2014 22:02:19 GMT
Good News. Received an email from Clearview. Tubers are on their way.
 Fingers crossed for no snow or frost.
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Post by Moonlight on Mar 11, 2014 21:05:20 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. 
Essex Dahlia Society
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Post by Moonlight on Mar 13, 2014 10:34:00 GMT
After trying to hold fire on doing anything with my tubers because I didn't want them to get killed in the frost or snow, Dad had a look at my tubers and he said that some were suffering from dehydration. So they might not grow.
Hay hoe,
In theory I will try and start them off at the weekend and I apologise in advance if it suddenly turns into a freak snow storm.
Dad was feeling the individual lobes of the tuber.... that ones all right, that ones dead, that ones all right.
When he was looking at my Jomanda, you want this one?.... Yes. Why?.... Because it was one of the ones I won with. Carries on feeling the tuber and then pulls a bit off, to take home to see if he can get it to grow.
It's a difficult decision, part of me, wants to do everything myself but I know that I don't have a clue and I am very lucky as I can ask him for advice and help.
With Dad growing some of my tubers for me, it raises their chance of survival and to me, that is a success for me because it means that I didn't kill them all when I dug the tubers up.
But I also want to learn how to grow them on myself because I want to learn how to do it. Tubers from the US are on the way and I would love it if I could get some of them to grow myself.
But then it is more than that, I need to practice my skills in taking cuttings and the only way I can learn to do that is by practise.
So I am happy that Dad has got a lot of my few tubers because ultimately it means that I didn't kill them all but if I can anything from that Jomanda I'll be proud as punch but even more so, will my Dad be.
When I gave him my Peach Delight, he took one look at it and said, Oh you don't need to worry about that because I've got 2 better looking tubers of that growing but I said, but this one is my one. So he took it and we will see. I've kept my Gurtla Twilight, the tuber doesn't look that fab but I'm going to have a go, safe in the knowledge that Dad's put a couple of them on for me in his greenhouse.
My logic might be illogical but I am happy because I am able to have a go with my Dad as back up. Dad being Dad likes it that way to. Even when it really doesn't make sense to do it my way. The fact that I will argue back (argue is the wrong word because we are not arguing)(never say never)to state my case, means I will live and learn by experience. For example, with my Clearview tubers, the logical thing was to give them to Dad because he knows what he is doing and they are (well last years ones) very difficult to get going. To nurture the tuber get it to grow and then muck up the cutting is an avoidable loss. Dad's been doing it for years and I hadn't even grown a dahlia myself but me being me wanted to have a go myself.
So much for brief update, clear as mud me.
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Post by Tel on Mar 13, 2014 14:37:37 GMT
You are so lucky to have your Dad. I would be reluctant to debate with him never mind argue with him, over the way to propagate, or how to grow dahlia's with a man of his experience. You really need electricity and a heated propagator, to do your own cuttings, in the greenhouse, one day eh. |
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Post by Moonlight on Mar 13, 2014 16:14:33 GMT
You are so lucky to have your Dad. I would be reluctant to debate with him never mind argue with him, over the way to propagate, or how to grow dahlia's with a man of his experience. You really need electricity and a heated propagator, to do your own cuttings, in the greenhouse, one day eh.
I think it is a case of whatever works for you works, the best.
It's a bit like here, people share their experiences, some work others don't - we might try them and the opposite might occur. Open mind is the best.
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Post by Moonlight on Mar 15, 2014 23:46:01 GMT
Today a lot of work was done in the garden and it wasn't me.
All credit goes to HH who worked like a trooper clearing the branches of tree debris, saw it and stuffing it into the green bin - all on his own.
Later I got the girls to start clearing the grass. HH is planning on mowing the lawn tommorrow.
Feeling more than a tad guilty.
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