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Post by Moonlight on Apr 8, 2014 23:15:03 GMT
Just been looking at my variety lists, don't think I dare take any cuttings after all. Might just have to plant my tubers into the ground direct. I think that I might have to grow a lot in pots this year.
If Gurtla Twilight and Mary's Jomanda tubers fail, I shan't fret, even though they are winners - I've got alternatives. Never thought that I might say that. Still want Weston Stardust. I am not going to try and order it in, just going to hope that they have it at the plant sale.
If it isn't then it never was meant to be.
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Post by Cherry on Apr 9, 2014 8:13:43 GMT
Good news ML. All is now back to normal.
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Post by Moonlight on Apr 9, 2014 18:54:38 GMT
My baby Christmas trees from Father Christmas have baby branches. 
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Post by Cherry on Apr 10, 2014 5:48:30 GMT
They grow surprisingly fast ML.
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Post by Moonlight on Apr 10, 2014 9:58:06 GMT
Mum said Dad is doing to come round at some point today; so that he can show me how he plants seeds. SO I'm hoping that will stop me faffing about getting nowhere. Need to get them sorted or nothing will grow. Well that and the 200 cuttings it looks like I am going to get from my Spanish Dancer. The thing is, I wanted to keep the tubers and obviously I want them to be alive. Last year I planted a combination of plant plants and tubers. I was rubbish at taking cuttings and I need to learn how to do it but at the end of the day I don't need 100s of the same varieties. I did ok with 1 each of all of mine with the exception of Downham Royal (and Happy Halloween).
I was running through my list of dahlias and I've got more this year - no surprises there.
Dad's told me that he hasn't yet taken many Alf Ramsey cuttings but that isn't a problem, I can grow it next year - might need the room any. Trooper Dan was also on my list.
Eastwood Moonlight + Peach Delight (only want 1 plant of it) Clearview Jenny & Candy Jayne both may or may not grow.
My Ryecroft Zoe hasn't come yet, not sure if Dad has got a cutting from Ruskin Myra yet and who knows if I'm going to get a Clearview Audrey.
Dad doesn't think my Weston Miss is going to grow, Pirate is, Flamingo and my Spanish Dancer most certainly will be. I really wanted to grow Weston Stardust but the 2 tubers he was given were not much cop. So if I get that it will have to be at the plant sale.
Moving on to my balls...
Downham Royal, Jomanda will be fine and I doubt if Mary's Jomanda will grow at all. I might have won with her but I'm not going to replace her because she is too tall.
Then my decs...
Well both girls are going to be growing Decs (Because I don't grow decs and they are different sizes to each other = no competition between us - Well I mucked that up big time.)Amber Festival & Hillcrest Hannah and I am going to be growing Brenda T and Marston George as recommended here (and I just couldn't pass up on an offer of a winner...)
Which leaves me with my poms...
Gurtla looks pretty lifeless and Willo's hasn't done anything but I fell in love with the deep colour of Moor place, sunny yellow in Lismore Moonlight and when I ordered a Tisa once I realised that Dad had ordered a Nusland Josephine tuber.
Oh I forgot my Edwin's Sunset my deep red waterlilly dahlia.
Dahlias in black bold are the ones that I really wanted to grow this year from what I saw last year + the 2 that the girls chose.
All names cross out are either not going to grow or not assumed will grow based mainly on previous experience.
The ones in regular bold are ones that I fancied Nusland Josephine e.g. trying or giving another go e.g. Peach Delight
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Post by Moonlight on Apr 10, 2014 11:06:45 GMT
He showed me...
gulp
the responsibility of planting Moonlight and Downham Royal seeds is left with me...
gulp
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Post by Moonlight on Apr 10, 2014 12:57:56 GMT
Well against my better judgement I've just sown 30 Staleen Condessa seeds...
My trays are the ones that were part of my indoor propagator, sort of quarter seed tray.
Eastwood Moonlight has a tray to itself (as has Staleen) my rationing being, I wanted to spread them out so that they have half a chance when I try and pull them out but also I am trying to protect my Eastwood Moonlight from anything else accidentally falling in whilst trying to protect the other dahlia varities from getting mixed up in a Staleen Condessa forest because in a battle for space and light a pom wouldn't stand a chance.
Feeling happy.
Whatever happens I have managed to
a, grow dahlias 2013
b, collected seed from dahlias 2013
c, dug up tubers 2013 - with the exception of my Mary's Jomanda did an ok job of it.
d, managed to have some shoots of some of those tubers.
e, managed to sow some of those seeds (rung Dad to say that he left his pot of 700* Staleen Condessa seeds)
So there you lots to be happy about.
*n.b. slight exaggeration there.
Also unintentionally grown a pot tuber of Happy Halloween.
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Post by Moonlight on Apr 11, 2014 22:37:37 GMT
Pirate got stung by stinging nettles. I got the weedkiller out.
I don't like (intentionally) killing things.
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Post by Moonlight on Apr 12, 2014 11:22:31 GMT
Pirate got stung by stinging nettles. I got the weedkiller out.
I don't like (intentionally) killing things.
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Post by Moonlight on Apr 12, 2014 11:29:57 GMT
All of my seeds were stored in these little pots.
with drying sachet inside to protect against moisture
(They are diabetes dip stick pots)
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Post by Moonlight on Apr 12, 2014 11:59:55 GMT
These are the seeds that I sowed without any help from my Dad:
Downham Royal = Purple label
Weston Pirate = Red (What else)
Weston Flamingo = Orange
There were too many Eastwood Moonlight seeds to put them in the end (I did try first).
They are a lot bigger than the Downham Royal so I put them in another tray and spread them out as much as I could. I am rubbish at pricking out at the best of times and I am hoping that the more space I have, the less damage I will do to the other seeds in the tray and the individual plantlet that I am doing my best to remove in one piece.
Well that was my logic anyway.
As I've mentioned before I've got loads of Staleen (More than my Dad collected ). I counted out my 30 and put them in a tray by themselves.
I didn't sow any next to the Flamingo because I don't want to get them muddled in with Flamingo or any of the others; I don't want them to get smothered planted in the middle of a Staleen forest.
I hope that I don't come across cocky about having any seeds germinating; all I can have now are just my 'n' toes crossed - after all you never know I might be lucky.
Lots of  for everyone here who share the same thoughts.
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Post by Moonlight on Apr 12, 2014 12:10:07 GMT
Forgot to mention the fuschias I bought or the advice that I was given - that I think that I've done all wrong.
But worst of all the girls still haven't planted their sunflowers.
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Post by Tel on Apr 12, 2014 14:04:54 GMT
I use a table fork for lifting seedlings out of their tray for potting up. Then if by chance two or more come out together I just give them a gentle shake, that separates them. |
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Post by Moonlight on Apr 12, 2014 14:22:35 GMT
I use a table fork for lifting seedlings out of their tray for potting up. Then if by chance two or more come out together I just give them a gentle shake, that separates them. 
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Post by sweetpea on Apr 12, 2014 17:25:01 GMT
You can always use the cell trays and pop a seed into each cell. No disturbance then. I find you can give them a rinse and use again a few times.
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