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Post by ste b on Feb 28, 2016 22:20:49 GMT
My tubers have been set out for about 2 weeks now in a non heated potting shed on the allotment, and only have one tuber showing eyes, Kenora challenger, but have plenty of time and they will all catch up. Hi Alan there is plenty of time yet it is still very early , I've got some tubers shooting now , but still got a lot more to wake up, hopefully be taking my main batch of cuttings in April May time they are the best cuttings and plants , good luck with yours Alan . Ste |
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Post by Moonlight on Feb 29, 2016 2:23:05 GMT
The last thing I want to be doing is spending another £200 on tubers again next year. So that's why I want plants early, to build up stock and get enough tubers for next year in order to fulfil my obligation to supply my local church with flowers for as long in the season as I can. Cannot understand why anybody wants to question anybody else' motives for growing these beautiful plants.  I've re-read some of my earlier posts and there is a huge part of me that has not changed:
Dahlias
Dad tried to get Downham Royal for me last year but the wrong variety was sent. He is ordering more from else where. I have been tempted to order Downham Royal from Sarah Raven and I also tempted to buy Happy Halloween because I like the colour and the fact that it is supposed to be a newer variety. Problem is £4.50 a tuber plus I think it was £2.95 postage, I don't think I can justify the price but on the flip side is it more likely to be the real Downham Royal if it comes from there? I don't know. Realistically I don't need the tuber, I just want the plant and if Dad can give me one, that is all I need. I think buying a tuber is a big responsibility to grow right because of all its potential but then the flip side of that I don't actually know what I am talking about.......
....Dad told me last night that he has ordered a Weston Pirate for me, it is a tuber and it is going to be all mine because he does not want to grow it himself (could not even tempt him with a cutting). Very scary because I already know that it is a very good dahlia. (I've seen the photos and it has been recommended here  ) I really hope that I don't kill it or Downham Royal because they are the two special ones.
I am also getting anxious (if I am really 100% honest) that more and more real dahlia, real dahlia experts are on the dahlia forum. I've gone from feeling excited that their sleeping beauty's are waking up and showing signs of life; to realising that I really don't know what I am doing. On the flip side of this, is the fact there is a Beginners thread to read (which obviously the whole point of having one) but I like reading about the tubers.
Still tiny steps, it is just it is a huge responsibility to nurture my dahlias (feels a bit weird saying 'my dahlias') but I must be brave, tiny steps, tiny, steps.
I asked my Dad about when was the best time of the year to start your tubers off because I had read that quite a few people have started. Our US dahlias are not due for dispatch until beginning of March  I understand now that it is a good idea to start off early because the tubers are fresher / less time in their dormant state and that the longer they are kept before starting them off, there is an increased risk of the tubers not growing. I also understand that if you don't have the right temp. requirements in greenhouse the higher the risk to the plant.
In addition to the travelling such a long distance the US tubers are split tubers 'with at least one viable eye' rather than the whole tuber that we would buy here. Bit more of a risk but seen some varieties that are not yet available and look good.
Roll on March I say! Can't wait! ;D
PS Whenever I say 'I understand that...' it means that I think that I have understood something that someone else has tried to explain to me. 
When I was little I remember always being proud as punch seeing my Dad's dahlias on the table with the harvest food collections.
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jay65
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Post by jay65 on Feb 29, 2016 9:34:57 GMT
The last thing I want to be doing is spending another £200 on tubers again next year. So that's why I want plants early, to build up stock and get enough tubers for next year in order to fulfil my obligation to supply my local church with flowers for as long in the season as I can. Cannot understand why anybody wants to question anybody else' motives for growing these beautiful plants.
Dahlias
Dad tried to get Downham Royal for me last year but the wrong variety was sent. He is ordering more from else where. I have been tempted to order Downham Royal from Sarah Raven and I also tempted to buy Happy Halloween because I like the colour and the fact that it is supposed to be a newer variety. Problem is £4.50 a tuber plus I think it was £2.95 postage, I don't think I can justify the price but on the flip side is it more likely to be the real Downham Royal if it comes from there? I don't know. Realistically I don't need the tuber, I just want the plant and if Dad can give me one, that is all I need. I think buying a tuber is a big responsibility to grow right because of all its potential but then the flip side of that I don't actually know what I am talking about.......
....Dad told me last night that he has ordered a Weston Pirate for me, it is a tuber and it is going to be all mine because he does not want to grow it himself (could not even tempt him with a cutting). Very scary because I already know that it is a very good dahlia. (I've seen the photos and it has been recommended here ) I really hope that I don't kill it or Downham Royal because they are the two special ones.
I am also getting anxious (if I am really 100% honest) that more and more real dahlia, real dahlia experts are on the dahlia forum. I've gone from feeling excited that their sleeping beauty's are waking up and showing signs of life; to realising that I really don't know what I am doing. On the flip side of this, is the fact there is a Beginners thread to read (which obviously the whole point of having one) but I like reading about the tubers.
Still tiny steps, it is just it is a huge responsibility to nurture my dahlias (feels a bit weird saying 'my dahlias') but I must be brave, tiny steps, tiny, steps.
I asked my Dad about when was the best time of the year to start your tubers off because I had read that quite a few people have started. Our US dahlias are not due for dispatch until beginning of March I understand now that it is a good idea to start off early because the tubers are fresher / less time in their dormant state and that the longer they are kept before starting them off, there is an increased risk of the tubers not growing. I also understand that if you don't have the right temp. requirements in greenhouse the higher the risk to the plant.
In addition to the travelling such a long distance the US tubers are split tubers 'with at least one viable eye' rather than the whole tuber that we would buy here. Bit more of a risk but seen some varieties that are not yet available and look good.
Roll on March I say! Can't wait! ;D
PS Whenever I say 'I understand that...' it means that I think that I have understood something that someone else has tried to explain to me.
When I was little I remember always being proud as punch seeing my Dad's dahlias on the table with the harvest food collections.
There have indeed, been one or two (not you from my recollection) that have questioned why I'm growing so many so early, and even after explaining why I'm growing so many so early, there has still been the odd immature snipe. I do not have to justify myself time and time again, so I can only presume that these child like remarks are borne out of jealousy and/or concern. Or perhaps there are just a few people around that are the 'get off my grass' types and like to have opinions about other peoples lives. You are right, anyone can have an opinion, but not all of us air them with a hint of jealousy that appears to proliferate by a few Forum members.
I was warned by one particular well respected Dahlia Grower/shower who remarked to me one day to be careful within the Dahlia fraternity as there are some very small minded cliquey people around. And this is why I do not Exhibit, I have better things to do than listen to and get involved with that type of petty mentality. Unfortunately this feeling seems to be the preserve of mainly Men, who obviously have gaps in their lives to fill and/or who are eaten up with jealousy and envy, and think they can adopt a macho policy to cover up their own insecurities.
I came onto this forum to learn a bit, share my experiences and generally enjoy the Dahlia world. Unfortunately, there are some who want to adopt a bullish 'know it all' mentality who question motives and reasons for anybody else' Dahlia growing. That is not what I'm here for. It is no wonder that horticulture in general is often seen by children to be the preserve of miserable old men sat in their allotment sheds with other miserable old men with their thermos flasks moaning about life, and why it's so hard to get children into horticulture in the numbers we all need, to keep it going with any level of sustainability. Very sad, these people really don't understand what long term damage they may be doing to Horticulture, but of course, they're only in it for themselves and not concerned about what happens in 20/50/100 years and the legacy that we should all be thinking about leaving to our children and childrens children.
But I have more than enough to do both in my general life and my Dahlia growing to not need this forum. So in that case, to all you nice people out there without an attitude problem, I genuinely wish your season well and may you have as many beautiful blooms as you desire. To those who are not in that ilk, I have no opinions on.
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Post by Moonlight on Feb 29, 2016 11:28:18 GMT
There have indeed, been one or two (not you from my recollection) that have questioned why I'm growing so many so early, and even after explaining why I'm growing so many so early, there has still been the odd immature snipe. I do not have to justify myself time and time again, so I can only presume that these child like remarks are borne out of jealousy and/or concern. Or perhaps there are just a few people around that are the 'get off my grass' types and like to have opinions about other peoples lives. You are right, anyone can have an opinion, but not all of us air them with a hint of jealousy that appears to proliferate by a few Forum members. I was warned by one particular well respected Dahlia Grower/shower who remarked to me one day to be careful within the Dahlia fraternity as there are some very small minded cliquey people around. And this is why I do not Exhibit, I have better things to do than listen to and get involved with that type of petty mentality. I came onto this forum to learn a bit, share my experiences and generally enjoy the Dahlia world. Unfortunately, there are some who want to adopt a bullish 'know it all' mentality who question motives and reasons for anybody else' Dahlia growing. That is not what I'm here for. It is no wonder that horticulture in general is often seen by children to be the preserve of miserable old men sat in their allotment sheds with other miserable old men with their thermos flasks moaning about life, and why it's so hard to get children into horticulture in the numbers we all need, to keep it going with any level of sustainability. Very sad, these people really don't understand what long term damage they may be doing to Horticulture, but of course, they're only in it for themselves and not concerned about what happens in 20/50/100 years and the legacy that we should all be thinking about leaving to our children and childrens children. But I have more than enough to do both in my general life and my Dahlia growing to not need this forum. So in that case, to all you nice people out there without an attitude problem, I genuinely wish your season well and may you have as many beautiful blooms as you desire. To those who are not in that ilk, I have no opinions on.
When I first came here I was very, very nervous (skim through my diaries and you will quickly see how much so) but I have found that gradually I felt brave enough to talk about my experiences and in fact became brave enough to enter novice dahlia classes. Even with me feeling sick, shaking and generally having a massive panic attack.
I know what you are saying re. cliques but I have found that there some very welcoming and kind people at shows. Who have been genuine when they have said that they liked my poms, that very 1st time I staggered in. I know what you mean re. cliques (round here we say 'clicky') but the more that I have found I understood what goes on it does seem less so. There is again from my perception some very, very, very strong passionate rivalry like stags clashing horns. I grew up with dahlias my Dad who is extremely competitive (he still is) and was a qualified nds judge. He was and still is a passionate raiser.
Many times I read posts here and found that my Dad does it differently. For example, he (and myself being my Father's daughter ) leaves mud around the tuber because he feels that it helps the (my terminology) 'lobes' from being damaged as they are supported by the mud and less vulnerable. He also doesn't panic at the 1st sign of mold on a tuber and still gets decent cuttings. I quite like posting about these odd but significantly different ways of doing things. I think that nobody would claim to know everything here but it is nice to learn different approaches, especially for beginners but not just beginners because I regularly give my Dad updates and read all the news from posts here. It would be all too easy to fall into the habit of only doing what you perceive everyone else does, just because they have success themselves.
As I've said before we all have our own opinions, I agree it is how you communicate them is important and we should aim to be sensitive to other peoples feelings (but again I still believe that there is a regional difference here - what might seem perfectly normal for some might seem brash and insensitive - if so never intentionally). For example, My Dad is also passionate about the clear differences between ball and decorative dahlias and it frustrates him so much when he sees Decorative dahlias classified as Ball dahlias. He gets really annoyed when people win Ball dahlia classes with Decorative   (but not with the exhibitor themselves)... almost everyone here would argue otherwise (although a few would understand his point - just not share his opinion).
I believe that you have to find your own path and also some things work one year but fail miserably another. Also opinions do change over time and by sharing them with each other we do learn more; even those that I perceive as the 'experts' here (whom probably find it a tad uncomfortable to be described as such).
Many of my childhood memories revolve around the dahlia calendar and I have a range of experience that none of my friends had. I have 2 daughters who each grow a dahlia and both entered them in competition and I know that Cat has a son who loves his dahlias also. We also have Derek who posts about his experiences running a gardening club for children at a local school. There are people out there,including here who are waving the flag, being role models and encouraging children. I think that the more that you read the posts here, the more that you will begin to understand people's personailities and also senses of humour and there is a massive regional difference amongst us here.
I hope that you continue to post especially because any photos of how your dahlias are used to make flower arrangements ( not that I want to pick your brains about how to do it... just incase I might try to enter a flower arrangements class in the future) as I am particularly rubbish at it (See my dairy Purple Wellies, tiny steps - at my efforts) but I would like to learn and the best people are those like you who can post from experience. I wish that you were here when Tel was here (he recently passed away  ) because you would then see just how supportive people can be but he certainly isn't the only one, you just have to give people a chance.
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Post by johndoe on Feb 29, 2016 12:09:07 GMT
Hi Jd , your set up is looking really good , very organised which I new it would be , you have started well and having success on the benches , your tubers are throwing good healthy shoots, good luck , hopefully be seeing you at the midlands . Cheers Steve, doing my best mate. Winholmes looking good, reckon I should be taking cuttings from them in about 3 to 4 weeks. Everything else seems to be coming on happily enough, no rush. Hopefully I'll have some good stuff for the Midlands, if not, I'll just bring what I've got!!!!!! 
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Post by Lou78W on Feb 29, 2016 15:15:49 GMT
@j65 I do hope that you will continue to post here; Its always good to hear someone new's perspective on growing the Dahlia. I was one who asked about your energetic plans for growing.....just curious that's all.....and I applaud your reasonings. Don't let misplaced comments drive you away  |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2016 16:20:11 GMT
As a relative newcomer I've found Dahlia growers to be a friendly helpful group of people both on here and at the smaller shows I enter. I've increased my knowledge a lot on here simply by asking and re-asking sometimes dumb questions to the experts. I've been given show vases, field tubers and tons of free advice. So I'd suggest if a 'premier league' grower talks Dahlias to you, listen very carefully! I do. There's many different approaches to aspects of Dahlia culture and I enjoy reading members comments for this very reason. I welcome members questioning my comments or disagreeing with me, a forum is about an exchange of ideas/opinions surely? We all need to grow a thicker skin and not take offence where none is meant. |
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Post by diggie on Feb 29, 2016 18:09:31 GMT
Well said David. PLEASE don't go Jay. I've enjoyed reading your posts and seeing your photos. I admire what you are doing. Wearing my show secretary's hat I am also growing plants to sell at our village plant sale to raise funds for the Horticultural Society show in July. Hiring the marquee, paying for judges etc.etc. is very expensive.
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Post by ste b on Feb 29, 2016 19:58:19 GMT
Hi jay65 what are you going on about , can people not ask you a question about growing dahlias ,or you ask any questions your self , if that is the case perhaps the dahlia section on the forum is not for you .We all have different opinions on growing , what works for one does not work for others but we all get there in the end, none of us no everything about dahlias they can change from one year to the next , and we never stop learning . You can learn far more at a flower show than on a forum , why are you so against people who grow for exhibition , all the growers I have spoken to all over the country have been good people and willing to share there knowledge with novice and beginner growers , yes I agree with you and your good growing show friend there is clicks that's a fact of life and unfortunately we can not change that we all no who they are , so avoid them and enjoy your dahlias . Ste
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Post by ste b on Feb 29, 2016 20:15:28 GMT
Hi Jd , your set up is looking really good , very organised which I new it would be , you have started well and having success on the benches , your tubers are throwing good healthy shoots, good luck , hopefully be seeing you at the midlands . Cheers Steve, doing my best mate. Winholmes looking good, reckon I should be taking cuttings from them in about 3 to 4 weeks. Everything else seems to be coming on happily enough, no rush. Hopefully I'll have some good stuff for the Midlands, if not, I'll just bring what I've got!!!!!!
Hi Jd good to no the winholme are ok and throwing for you, mine are getting ready for cutting , they have not thrown large hollow stems up this season for me , how are they for you. Ste |
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Post by ian on Feb 29, 2016 22:11:18 GMT
Hi Johndoe are you joining us at the National Dahlia Society AGM in Birmingham on the 13th Sunday or at the Northern AGM on the 19th Saturday.
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Post by ian on Mar 1, 2016 12:58:28 GMT
Response to a comment made by a member earlier. I cannot think of anything worse than going to my allotment drinking from a thermos flask chatting and moaning about other growers, life is too short and quite frankly I have better things to do and my shed I wouldn't want to spend much time in there either. When I go to my plot I go to carry out specific jobs when the goals are met I am off. I don't know about you but I am a busy man with holding down a full time job and foster children. Winning national dahlia Championships just don't happed it takes a lot of hard work and graft.
But as always just here to help XX
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Post by johndoe on Mar 1, 2016 14:09:10 GMT
Response to a comment made by a member earlier. I cannot think of anything worse than going to my allotment drinking from a thermos flask chatting and moaning about other growers, life is too short and quite frankly I have better things to do and my shed I wouldn't want to spend much time in there either. When I go to my plot I go to carry out specific jobs when the goals are met I am off. I don't know about you but I am a busy man with holding down a full time job and foster children. Winning national dahlia Championships just don't happed it takes a lot of hard work and graft. But as always just here to help XX Blimey, I must be missing out on all the misery at my allotment, as I don't have a shed on my plot!!!!! Although I do pop over to Mr Mo's plot occasionally, as his shed stocks a few tinnies of Fosters, and we talk Indian recipes( He owns a local restaurant). Still, it's not the first time a sensitive soul has taken offence, and I doubt it'll be the last.
Happy growing everybody
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Post by johndoe on Mar 1, 2016 14:14:53 GMT
Hi Johndoe are you joining us at the National Dahlia Society AGM in Birmingham on the 13th Sunday or at the Northern AGM on the 19th Saturday. Sorry Ian, but as you know I've just had an op on my neck, so driving that distance is out I'm afraid. You'll just have to carry on without me this year. Hehehe |
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Post by MarkE on Mar 1, 2016 14:54:28 GMT
I'm quite new to this game but when at Harrogate last year, everyone I spoke to from top growers to novice was spot on! I'm usually put off by clicky atmospheres, I certainly didn't find one at any of the shows I went to.
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) I really hope that I don't kill it or Downham Royal because they are the two special ones.
I understand now that it is a good idea to start off early because the tubers are fresher / less time in their dormant state and that the longer they are kept before starting them off, there is an increased risk of the tubers not growing. I also understand that if you don't have the right temp. requirements in greenhouse the higher the risk to the plant.
) because you would then see just how supportive people can be but he certainly isn't the only one, you just have to give people a chance.
