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Post by diggie on Aug 2, 2015 17:04:39 GMT
Moonlight I am taking it easy. Thinned them down and letting them run now. What will be will be. Not helped this year by all other stuff I grow and lack of rain etc.... Meant so much more watering etc... I will put in soaker hoses next year. Learned so much made a TON of mistakes but as you say have to learn. To any new grower NEVER NEVER DO A PART TRIPLE ROW ! What a pain in the *** ! Hehehehe Also I will thin down on the varieties by approx half for next year probably more. I am growing 5 small decs ! Idiot ! Winholm Diane , senzoe Ursula, wyns favourite, Clearview Debby and pink suffusion ! Only two will be grown again and it won't be pink suffusion ! Hehehe all the best for the season ahead. Ps one of my counterparts who won the novice in Kent last year is so far behind and he made the worst mistake possible. He did not label his plants did a chart of the planting and lost the chart ! He is growing from marston George to sir Alf , Clearview Edie etc.... I hope he can sort it out. |
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Post by diggie on Aug 2, 2015 17:09:03 GMT
Hi Raymond, That's why I am only growing smalls and miniatures this year over seven varieties. Much easier to control. So far so good. Having a better season this year than last.
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Post by Raymond on Aug 2, 2015 20:58:09 GMT
And next year I will be roughly the same diggie need to specialise . Although the good news I got I can stage mixed vases in the members so for example I could mix winholm Diane and senzoe Ursula or wyns favourite as small decs so long as size centre and angle all similar. Wishful thinking hehehe ! Pink suffusion I don't think will make either show got it to late. Although one is storming on. Clearview Debby all the early cutting all season damped off got 5 growing . One is strong the others ok. Again won't make either show I think but I can see what it looks like I hope. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2015 16:10:45 GMT
Difficult to choose which ones to keep and which to get rid Raymond. Think I'll grow 6/8 varieties, 10/12 of each next year. Keeping it simple is my plan for next year! A spread of respectable blooms is my aim to have something for every show. Won't be far off that aim this season if all goes to plan. It's easy to overstretch yourself I've found as I also show a wide range of veg. Good luck with your shows Raymond.
By the way, I've also got Winholme Diane this year, dont know if it's normal but the foliage looks a bit wild...curling up/down but growing like the clappers.
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Post by Raymond on Aug 3, 2015 17:41:47 GMT
Yep same here @davidv winholm it tends to curl for me as well and does not like the heat here. Flags very easily. It is improving and is a big plant.
Cutting right back next year and I may not show next year. Spent alot of money I fancy a nice holiday next year. I can do a couple of varieties for show and learn to grow the rest properly.
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Post by diggie on Aug 3, 2015 17:54:48 GMT
Yep same here @davidv winholm it tends to curl for me as well and does not like the heat here. Flags very easily. It is improving and is a big plant. Cutting right back next year and I may not show next year. Spent alot of money I fancy a nice holiday next year. I can do a couple of varieties for show and learn to grow the rest properly. Same with me for Winholme,but it is producing the breaks I need. |
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Post by Raymond on Aug 3, 2015 21:23:43 GMT
diggie I had to thin down Diane a lot. Should have done this gradually from weeks ago. A lot won't make it I don't think and if it does by the skin of my teeth. Never mind gotta learn.
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Post by Raymond on Aug 4, 2015 8:47:36 GMT
Tel ian ste b scrumpy Ian k dcdahlia and any other exhibitor can I ask a question on bud timings. I have loads of buds forming but I hear differing opinions on what a pea size bud is. Timing will vary depending on variety, weather and location which I believe with me being so far south it is slightly quicker. I have been told around 21 to 23 days for a small 23 to 25 days for medium only 14 days for collarette. Here are some pictures of buds would these be what you class as pea size . Show is 6th September so cutting 5th and 6th. So Saturday is 28days before show. Any tips would be great. Wyns favourite this morning  My winholm Diane are just about the same as this . Clearview Daniel lots of Mary's like this  Raisers pride today . Some more advanced than this. Sonitnwpuld need to be wing buds on some . Candy mostly less advanced than this. Buds are there though .  Weston pirate today 
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Post by scrumpy on Aug 4, 2015 9:11:55 GMT
Time from when you can tie a plant label around the crown bud. Put the date on the label.
Do the same with wing buds.
Those shown are minimum 25 days so they won't be far off. Anything more advanced than those will be finished.
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Post by Raymond on Aug 4, 2015 10:23:12 GMT
Cheers scrumpy I am letting them run now. Got one zoe I have been timing it is just about to start flicking colour at 18days |
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Post by Tel on Aug 4, 2015 11:05:12 GMT
Timing is more important when you grow in low numbers, if you grow 20-30 of one variety for September shows, I will always have a vase of 3, its getting a vase of 5 unless you try to time them for that show.
Small Decs For Harrogate I would need pea size buds around Mid August for the cooler weather here in West Yorkshire.
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Post by Raymond on Aug 4, 2015 11:44:44 GMT
Thanks Tel . I think I might just make it and have a lot of things to choose from. Next year two thirds less varieties more numbers one or two classes the rest learn to grow them. Got a show 2 days before harrogate so if things don't make that then got second one and lots of single bloom classes. scrumpy greenways zoe is massive now 4 feet for me . Need to reinforce the canes with 5 foot ones. Growing it 13 and 14 up the ryecroft zoe in bud was nearly twenty up before I thinned it down and the bud is definitely a good small I hope they don't go oversize. Will definitely be putting a load of labels on buds tomorrow morning. Good to luck to everyone showing this month and beyond. |
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Post by ian on Aug 4, 2015 17:54:23 GMT
Hi Raymond as Tel and Scrumpy gave already given you their opinion mine is the same just select what you have now and keep them fed and watered and carry on spraying. The one thing I would say is although the buds are there take a number of them if there are more don't take them just yet sit on your hands for a few days may be a week then take the buds this will give you a little more of a spread. If you have far too many of one variety then you could always run on a few buds that is take off the terminal buds and allow a lateral from lower down to develop. If this is done then remember to remove the shoots below the one you have selected to bloom. But at this time I would just let them flower now from the buds you have now. Right off to spray my little babies. Good luck Ian
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Post by Raymond on Aug 4, 2015 20:54:25 GMT
Thank you ian. Very very tempted to take of buds. But will resist until at least the weekend. Letting them run for now. Will secure the buds over the weekend and early next week. Trying to have most of it for the main show. Some varieties will not make it so they can be for the second show all being well. Question on kiwi Gloria and dare I say the infamous h*******t jersie. Both are very soft plants I have found.Jersie I am giving potash to but the kiwi have just had nitrogen and some seaweed. I have comfrey brewing will be ready on Thursday . Can I give some to the kiwis at half or quarter strength ? Is the kiwis naturally strong stemmed ? |
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Post by ian on Aug 4, 2015 21:01:30 GMT
Kiwi will like the comfrey I would not give them potash straight seaweed and tomato feed will be fine. Kiwis are usually have a good strong stem.
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