|
|
Post by Moonlight on Sept 15, 2014 12:13:11 GMT
:DSo wish my mother was still alive I think she would have loved what I have managed to achieve. None of my 3 brothers or sister has any interest in gardening. Like your blog says tiny steps. My 4 biggest mistakes Poor stock Not enough soil prep The supporting and tying in. Spacing.
And trying to do a complete garden in 6months. Too much to quick. Need to be sensible. I love daffodils ! I like the double ones but I have to say I prefer tulips and hyacinths. I have masses of bluebells in this garden which look lovely in spring. Your dad will be very proud of what you have achieved. No weeds ! Now that is a challenge ! 
Poor stock, last year I was sent a freebie from the us which after looking it up online, Dad didn't want and I didn't want thrown. I also bought my Franz Kafka from Wilcos and that wasn't fab but I wanted to get a large pom. Daisy eyed. This year Nuland's Josephine - much better. Didn't dig the tuber out entirely and part of it survived the Rotavator so that is still growing at the foot of the N. Josephine.
Didn't really do any soil prep.
Spacing - asked my Dad. Who helped me or I helped him as he showed me.
Supporting I thought that I was better at it this year but what with work commitments and shows and having a family, it became a bit slack. Weston Stardust is very prone to slumping over other plants if not kept in check. Discovered that this year which slumped onto my Candy Jayne which spoilt it. I was worried that after all that the weight would snap the Candy Jayne stems.
Weston Spanish Dancer is also like this but not as bad. Mary's Jomanda was the worst because last year it grew so big. I couldn't even see Red Balloon. Mary's Jomanda and Jomanda are away from all the others and were planted later so they haven't been such a problem.
Unfortunately the tree that died and blew over and slumped against our garden fence, has decided that actually it was just a jolly good prune and has started growing again, in amongst the dahlias. Not good because it has massive thorns on it. That will have to go next year. |
|
|
|
Post by Raymond on Sept 15, 2014 12:58:20 GMT
Moonlight I have had similar problems it is uncanny. I bought some from poundland as an experiment one is the ugliest dahlia I have ever seen it looks cheap I will send you a picture ! They grow in the most warped way as well cannot get them to stay up. Floppy mess. Same with some others. No problems with my ball , small and med cactus all good. But going to me much more organised next year and regimental in my tying in. Every 2 weeks must be done. Good to note on the jomandas and also Weston Spanish I will probably be doing both. Think it does not help growing from tubors they fire stems up non stop on some. Must do my own cuttings . I get very nervous taking cuttings. Always have. No problems splitting any plant tubor etc... But cuttings I get the shakes. Going to over winter 10 to 20 tubors. Only keeping 3 of them lake Michigan, pooh, black touch maybe Ludwig helfert ( Orange med semi cactus)The rest all being given away to the girls in work. Although reluctant to as gave one 4 bedding dahlias and she killed the lot. I am also undecided whether to go with the stock fencing support that markymate uses and some big nurseries eg ayletts and also Andrew aspital. I need to look into that more. Looks much more efficient in terms of time and cost. Needs to be used in straight borders though. Lots to research and think about.
|
|
|
|
Post by Moonlight on Sept 15, 2014 15:31:10 GMT
If that's your second year growing you are a natural. Very very impressed. Can I ask how many does your dad grow ? 
My Dad had stopped growing them for a long time. He started again 4 years ago with 15 plants from those he collected 7 seeds which grew into seedlings that went to the GGBITS (The Great, Green Bin in the sky  ) because they were not good enough.
The following year he grew more and collected 200 seeds of which he saved about 30 seedlings of which he now intends on keeping only 2!
He currently grows 150 in the front garden - named varieties. cactus / semi cactus / dec.
He has about 30 individual pom / ball plants in their own tub which is about at least twice the size of a bucket.
He laughed when I asked about his seedlings: "Too many!". |
|
|
|
Post by Raymond on Sept 15, 2014 15:37:37 GMT
I like it though loads of dahlias. I want a garden like Ken stocks in Bournemouth or the man called Geoff who was on gardeners world.dahliaholic on youtube Total dahlia overdose !
Maybe in years to come.
|
|
|
|
Post by Raymond on Sept 15, 2014 15:40:48 GMT
Your dad knows his dahlias and if not 100% then good he cuts back on the seedlings. He is looking for the something special. I am sure he will find it.
I still love the ones you posted before really lovely.
|
|
|
|
Post by Moonlight on Sept 15, 2014 21:44:19 GMT
Total wuss again, walking back to the backdoor when this frog / toad jumped across my path. It wasn't a 'scream' scream but it was loud. Luckily I didn't say any bad words.
Dad's given me some red wool for me to tie on my Willo's Violet.
I'm happy to report that my Dad didn't take the scaffold planks after all. phrew. Was a high risk that he might bop a dahlia plant of two on route back up the garden.
|
|
|
|
Post by Moonlight on Sept 17, 2014 22:30:14 GMT
Something has been eating my Sir Alf. Only had a few more days to go...  Words cannot express how fed up I am about it and although it won't help it at all, I've been out with the vaseline. I wonder if the plants like having a nice neck massage or do they perceive it as a sign of impending doom?
You can tell it has been a very long day which didn't get off to a very good start when I forgot my lunch.
grr
|
|
|
|
Post by sweetpea on Sept 17, 2014 22:41:42 GMT
and you are still burning the midnight oil...............well nearly. off with you.....pleasant dreams  I've had a yuk day too ML nothing unusual for me  Night night |
|
|
|
Post by Raymond on Sept 17, 2014 22:44:37 GMT
So sorry to hear that moonlight at least yours will bloom mine went on the fire I have decided to try 2 moonlights next year. Don't know if Eastwood or cream yet. Probably cream as doing cherwell goldcrest I think. All still in the air at the moment. |
|
|
|
Post by Cherry on Sept 18, 2014 19:06:39 GMT
Keep the news coming on Willo's Violet ML. It is very pretty. |
|
|
|
Post by Tel on Sept 20, 2014 18:57:30 GMT
Do you have a show this weekend moonlight ?
|
|
|
|
Post by Moonlight on Sept 21, 2014 13:55:19 GMT
Do you have a show this weekend moonlight ? |
|
|
|
Post by Moonlight on Sept 21, 2014 13:56:35 GMT
Keep the news coming on Willo's Violet ML. It is very pretty. |
|
|
|
Post by Cherry on Sept 21, 2014 14:01:16 GMT
Such a shame ML.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tel on Sept 21, 2014 17:01:27 GMT
Keep the news coming on Willo's Violet ML. It is very pretty. See if you get any shoots from the stem off it next year, to take cuttings from. |
|
) because they were not good enough.
Night night
