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Post by ian on Feb 24, 2016 12:26:15 GMT
Raymond I take quite a lot of cuttings like that with great success, I propagate under mist on the open bench in clover with a little perlite and have no problem with loosing cuttings 99-100% success rate very very rare I have any problems with damping.
If growers are struggling with flagging cuttings for the forst few days cover with a few news sheets soaked in water so the are quite damp then put this over the cuttings over one of those cheap plastic propagating cloches leaving a gap (Vent) then every day for 7-10 days using an atomizer just keep the news sheets damp, the cuttings should remain turgid.
Remember, Raymond the plants Jack puts 9" apart are mainly for tubers for stock and his excellent selection of dark leaf varieties Lilliput's, singles etc that he uses to great effect in his display's and basket work.
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Post by Raymond on Feb 24, 2016 22:29:30 GMT
Thank you ian I am going to try this method. Do you push the cutting up or down to snap it ? Sounds a daft question but want to do it right. I cut back Ruskin Michelle and some more Jersie today as thick. They where not hollow which was nice to see. I am going to use open bench this year I think. Lost to much in the vitapod. Got lots of Stewart normal unheated propagators and will put on a heat mat. Will do the newspaper thing after 7days I will use a grow light over the cuttings this year also as I propagate in a summer house slash potting shed not a greenhouse sadly. Landlord won't let me put one up. Mind you allows me space for another 30+ plants . Into the pit I go in a couple of weeks I hope with first cuttings. . I need some tubers to Start to wake up. Mainly winholm Diane, zoes , goldcrest. Not panicking ! Yet ! |
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jay65
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Post by jay65 on Feb 25, 2016 7:52:35 GMT
jay65 I know some growers put some water in the base of the propagator to increase the humidity I was told to try this last year by Andrew a . It did help a bit. Not too much just a little and top it up when it evaporates I spoke to Jack gott about his cutting technique he removes the first cuttings thrown as normally thick and hollow just above the Tuber with a knife as we all do. The really interesting part was when he takes the cuttings he wants he pushes the cutting up with his thumb and it snaps off below a leaf joint. The wound is automatically sealed he said and is a Better cutting as with a blade the cutting can bleed. What do you think of this technique ian ? Have you tried it. I also could not believe how close he plants his plants together on his plot ! 9 inches apart for show size blooms. Amazed at that ! Interesting stuff as normal Raymond. And thanks for the Kiwi Gloria offer, that's really kind of you. Maybe if you need any Trooper Dan, we could just do a straight swap of a few plants? Lids are off the Vitopods completely, just green netting over the top, as the sunlight can get quite intense in the Polytunnel, as I'll spray them 2-3 times a day, and we'll see how that goes, as even the cuttings I took yesterday afternoon are flagging again this morning. Strange. |
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Post by Moonlight on Feb 25, 2016 12:02:11 GMT
We are still getting frosts here so mine are still safely tucked up. With an unheated greenhouse it sees the safest option. That's my update - short n sweet.
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Post by Raymond on Feb 25, 2016 14:28:12 GMT
Yes the cold is a little concerning Moonlight I do regret starting so early. Although saying that I need to be able to get more per variety this year. Looked at the extended forecast about mid March before it starts to warm up. |
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Post by Raymond on Feb 25, 2016 14:58:24 GMT
jay65 do not be fooled into keeping spraying etc... Too much I did that last year and drowned my cuttings in water. I would personally keep the lids on for now with vents fully open. Or if off as Ian said with newspaper or even damp fleece. Phil godsmark of ryecroft dahlias has heated benching with fleece roll back screens for his cuttings. I saw his set up last year. His cuttings where superb. Nothing super fancy but very effective and efficient. I will let you know if I plan any trooper Dan. It could be useful for me as a compact grower and I don't have any large planned. Did not keep my Clearview Edie. Almost finished plan. Think numbers are much better than last year and I could be a threat in some bigger classes if I grow better than last year and timing is good plus stage a bit better ! Hahaha . Planning to cover some of my blooms even if only umbrellas . Would be the small decs some small cactus, mediums only.
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Post by Cat on Feb 25, 2016 17:18:54 GMT
We are still getting frosts here so mine are still safely tucked up. With an unheated greenhouse it sees the safest option. That's my update - short n sweet. Same here moonlight  |
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jay65
Junior Member
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Post by jay65 on Feb 25, 2016 20:04:39 GMT
jay65 do not be fooled into keeping spraying etc... Too much I did that last year and drowned my cuttings in water. I would personally keep the lids on for now with vents fully open. Or if off as Ian said with newspaper or even damp fleece. Phil godsmark of ryecroft dahlias has heated benching with fleece roll back screens for his cuttings. I saw his set up last year. His cuttings where superb. Nothing super fancy but very effective and efficient. I will let you know if I plan any trooper Dan. It could be useful for me as a compact grower and I don't have any large planned. Did not keep my Clearview Edie. Almost finished plan. Think numbers are much better than last year and I could be a threat in some bigger classes if I grow better than last year and timing is good plus stage a bit better ! Hahaha . Planning to cover some of my blooms even if only umbrellas . Would be the small decs some small cactus, mediums only. Don't worry Raymond, I don't get fooled easily normally. The way I look at it, is that the lids are useful for people who work full time, but maybe I am a control freak, because with the lids off, I am in control much better. With the lids on, I'm at the mercy of the amount of sunlight in the Polytunnels to what moisture content is in the air. The lids on scenario, tends to throw the vitopods into huge sways of moisture either way at each end of the spectrum. With the lids off I'm the one in control better. Even if it does mean I'm off up into the polytunnels every few hours!! Haha. Damn fine excuse! Seriously though, with the lids off, the compost in the cell trays is staying more stable and today things have picked up slightly. The compost moisture content is just perfect and stable too, as I said. And with green netting over the top, I neither get the compost getting and staying too wet or too dry as long as I spray now and again. In addition to that, I have ditched the 72 cell trays and gone to 24 cell trays, as the theory was similar to keeping an aquarium in that the bigger the aquarium, the more stable the water is, and prevents swings in chemistry. The bigger cell volume of the 24 cell trays may be helping a little too. The cuttings I took yesterday didn't look great this morning but as the day went on, they seemed to pick up a fair bit. |
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Post by Raymond on Feb 25, 2016 20:12:36 GMT
Have you tried companion rooting jay65 my best cuttings last year done that way . 4 inch square pot about 5 cuttings a pot . Very good . |
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Post by Moonlight on Feb 25, 2016 22:19:05 GMT
We are still getting frosts here so mine are still safely tucked up. With an unheated greenhouse it sees the safest option. That's my update - short n sweet. Same here moonlight |
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jay65
Junior Member
Posts: 69
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Post by jay65 on Feb 26, 2016 8:09:24 GMT
Have you tried companion rooting jay65 my best cuttings last year done that way . 4 inch square pot about 5 cuttings a pot . Very good . Yes Raymond, I do that too with varieties that I'm short of. For me personally, the success rates seems about the same to be honest. Can I just give an unashamed plug to Dave at Halls. I've had a few 'non runners' as far as tubers are concerned, so he is going to send me a few tubers that he has already starting to shoot of a couple of varieties, and 3 mini plants for every tuber that is a 'non runner'. I know that may be their policy but I still think he's looking after me pretty well. So I'll have a few extra plants of the varieties that haven't shown any tuber life, which is a massive bonus to me. Thanks Dave! |
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Post by diggie on Feb 26, 2016 8:24:36 GMT
Have you tried companion rooting jay65 my best cuttings last year done that way . 4 inch square pot about 5 cuttings a pot . Very good . Yes Raymond, I do that too with varieties that I'm short of. For me personally, the success rates seems about the same to be honest. Can I just give an unashamed plug to Dave at Halls. I've had a few 'non runners' as far as tubers are concerned, so he is going to send me a few tubers that are already starting to shoot of a couple of varieties, and 3 mini plants of any 'non runners'. I know that may be their policy but I still think he's looking after me pretty well. So I'll have a few extra plants of the varieties that haven't shown any tuber life, which is a massive bonus to me. Thanks Dave! That happened to me last year Jay. All the tubers I ordered were non runners. Very disappointing. I have not ordered tubers from Halls this year. Their loss. |
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jay65
Junior Member
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Post by jay65 on Feb 26, 2016 9:45:16 GMT
Yes Raymond, I do that too with varieties that I'm short of. For me personally, the success rates seems about the same to be honest. Can I just give an unashamed plug to Dave at Halls. I've had a few 'non runners' as far as tubers are concerned, so he is going to send me a few tubers that are already starting to shoot of a couple of varieties, and 3 mini plants of any 'non runners'. I know that may be their policy but I still think he's looking after me pretty well. So I'll have a few extra plants of the varieties that haven't shown any tuber life, which is a massive bonus to me. Thanks Dave! That happened to me last year Jay. All the tubers I ordered were non runners. Very disappointing. I have not ordered tubers from Halls this year. Their loss. Really? I must admit, that's pretty bad. I had about 13 tubers not shooting from Halls this year out of about 30 I bought. Doesn't sound good either I suppose, whereas every single tuber from Jack Gott is showing good signs of life. However, I have always had smashing service from Halls, they're always quick to reply to any emails from me, always polite and friendly, and always quick to put things right, so in that respect I can't ask for anything more. I would still be more than happy to deal with Halls in the future, but I can also respect your position too. |
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Post by Cat on Feb 26, 2016 17:47:16 GMT
Same here moonlight That's how I felt when I read yours lol |
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Post by ste b on Feb 26, 2016 20:36:42 GMT
I find it very reassuring reading your reply Cat . That's how I felt when I read yours lol Hi girls if your not growing big numbers I think you are doing the best thing in holding back your dahlias , the best cuttings and plants are taken in April and May , so I would wake them up first or second week in March, well done being so patient good luck . Ste |
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