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Post by Raymond on Jan 29, 2016 15:10:05 GMT
Well we have a well known very good dahlia grower join us on garden friends and the chairman of Kent dahlia society you going to introduce yourself dazzler ?? Don't be shy ! Hehehe Darren great to have you join us not just for the dahlias but sweet peas and your dad's knowledge of crysants etc..... |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2016 16:17:02 GMT
Hello Alan. glad to see you on here. Where are you based? Think we're all agreed about clover multi purpose, really good peaty compost, reasonably fine for seed growing and moisture retentive. Think it's £4-70 ish at Worsley horticultural. I'll be growing my show potatoes in it again this year, I tip it out, add seaweed, Q4 and a gallon of water, mix it up and chuck it back in the bags for a month. Tried cheap composts like Arthur Bowers and found it very fibrous, sour smelling with bits of plastic in it, its true you get what you pay for but Clover is good value. Hello to Darren as well, sure you'll like this site! New members coming thick and fast!  |
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Post by alan0747 on Jan 29, 2016 16:42:20 GMT
Hi dave , based in Hull, East Yorkshire, Only my 3rd year growing Dahlias, I joined the site last year and won some prizes at our local Dahlia and Chrystant show last year, I have been quiet over the winter, but learn so much from this forum
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jay65
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Post by jay65 on Jan 29, 2016 18:22:16 GMT
Hi dave , based in Hull, East Yorkshire, Only my 3rd year growing Dahlias, I joined the site last year and won some prizes at our local Dahlia and Chrystant show last year, I have been quiet over the winter, but learn so much from this forum Hi Alan, Nice to meet you. Like you, I'm only in my 3rd year of Dahlia growing. So nice to hear that you won some prizes already at your local shows. Congratulations on that, quite an achievement. |
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dahliadave
Junior Member
"Chocolate" red seedling 5 plants in a 70cm pot in July.
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Post by dahliadave on Jan 29, 2016 20:46:15 GMT
I think this is always the gamble for the amateur. Do you set up the tubers early to get the numbers that you're looking for, and perhaps compromise both some early losses, and risk the little tubers running out of steam come March (In the absence of early mother planting of course). Or do you wait a while to get the length of days producing good quality cuttings, but then risk not being able to get the number you want/need. For you guys it's a slightly different variation on a theme, but that same balancing act is more influenced by volume and practical business decisions. Personally, I would love to drop by and nose around your set up and get some valuable insight, because I find the whole thing fascinating. Maybe one day, we'll drop by? Everyone is welcome to pop by of course. Come flowering time we get visitors from every corner of the UK- must remember to put a map up this year! Re setting up tubers etc- everything is a balancing act. We are generally all set up pre Christmas with the benches being turned on first week January. Getting them stared early allows us to check that everything is coming away as it should and within normal expectations. With our main catalogue going out end December we have to make sure that the stock is going to be productive other wise a danger we could overbook orders on certain varieties. There will always be some that are late to show (eg.Oakwood Goldcrest) and others where the tubers don't keep so well so we have to be prepared to either withdraw a variety for sale or notify customers that there may be a delay. Come despatch time the biggest problem is trying to ensure we have all varieties available for completing orders. We may be covered on the number of cuttings taken for a variety but come the time for sending out they may not all be acceptable quality which means we can get behind on some varieties. We generally get a 100% take on all batches just using heated benches and covering with fleece- it works for us, may not for others! As for tubers running out of steam we have found that it pays to replant some varieties during early March which re-stimulates them. We do mother stock some and on some shy or difficult to keep varieties will fall back on pot tubers or even some tubers kept over form the previous year-obviously with all the associated checking of stock for health and trueness to type.
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jay65
Junior Member
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Post by jay65 on Jan 29, 2016 20:53:43 GMT
That's really interesting that you mention about re-stimulating some tubers who are getting a little tired, by re-planting them, particularly varieties that have been set up early, that's great info, and something that I will certainly remember as the season goes on. Thanks Dave.
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Post by Cat on Jan 29, 2016 21:49:18 GMT
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Post by Raymond on Jan 29, 2016 22:12:28 GMT
alan0747 and jay65 only going into my third year growing dahlias first year was all garden varieties last year all show ones bar the odd plant . Has been a very steep learning curve but an enjoyable one and I was over the moon with my results. So hard to not be like a kid in a candy store and want to try everything ! Cut a lot out this year but still growing to many varieties again but I need to learn what I can grow reasonably well this year for next. Especially in small Dec, min Dec, med semi cactus and so on probably every single class to be honest . If it was not for the members on here and the members of Kent dahlia society I would not have done anything on the show bench. I even got Andrew aspital staging kenora sunset for me and that was a sight to see ! Hahaha Andrew does not like kenora sunset at all ! Low and behold got a first in an open class with it. I have so enjoyed meeting a new group of people that have become friends like Darren, John , Matt and fred in Kent and many others and all the forum members on here. I had so many problems with my early propagation but some great tips from people like ian scrumpy ste b Ian k dcdahlia dahliadave along with many others and the very sadly missed Terry "tel" haigh who helped me a great deal . I ended up with far too many cuttings and over 200 pot tubers ! Hahaha By my third show I managed to stage all eight of my exhibits in time and ok ish . A lot to learn on all aspects this year. I want to wish you both the very best for the season ahead if showing or growing for garden or cut flower I hope you both get some truly superb blooms 
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Post by Lou78W on Jan 30, 2016 8:29:34 GMT
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Post by alan0747 on Jan 30, 2016 14:07:56 GMT
I did well on my first show last year, 2 x 1sts, 1x 2nd, 2 x 3rds, novice cup and cup for overall points. I Only did the one show because i had booked a holiday right at the show time. hoping to do a few more shows this year, as I have cut down the number of varieties and concentrating on the the ones that do well for me.
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Post by ste b on Jan 30, 2016 19:20:52 GMT
I did well on my first show last year, 2 x 1sts, 1x 2nd, 2 x 3rds, novice cup and cup for overall points. I Only did the one show because i had booked a holiday right at the show time. hoping to do a few more shows this year, as I have cut down the number of varieties and concentrating on the the ones that do well for me. Hi Alan some good results there, what varieties have you dropped and what are you growing this season. Ste |
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Post by alan0747 on Jan 30, 2016 21:38:19 GMT
Dropping Trooper Dan, lovely yellow, but very compact and short stems, also dropping Narrows Tricia and Lavender Line, craig owen and Hillcrest desire
I am growing what does well for me, Grenador Pastille, Ruskin Diane, Avoca Amanda, Kenora Challenger, Blyton Golden Girl, Westerton Folly, Hamari Rose and Marys Jomanda
also adding Treyln Kiwi , Kiwi Gloria and Polventon Kristobel
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Post by ste b on Jan 31, 2016 10:58:26 GMT
Dropping Trooper Dan, lovely yellow, but very compact and short stems, also dropping Narrows Tricia and Lavender Line, craig owen and Hillcrest desire I am growing what does well for me, Grenador Pastille, Ruskin Diane, Avoca Amanda, Kenora Challenger, Blyton Golden Girl, Westerton Folly, Hamari Rose and Marys Jomanda also adding Treyln Kiwi , Kiwi Gloria and Polventon Kristobel Good selection of dahlias Alan , think your weak one is Hamari Rose? Kiwis are good if they don't damp off and you can master them there hard to grow. |
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Post by Lou78W on Jan 31, 2016 15:25:08 GMT
I agree...the Kiwi's can be a bit tricky....good luck with them |
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Post by Raymond on Feb 1, 2016 10:34:29 GMT
They are hard to grow as I found out tried Gloria and trelyn ! Mind you I found most of them hard to grow  The easiest for me was Ruskin Andrea and the zoe's as you only took off the wing buds and let them run you have so much bloom it's easier to get a vase. I grew the kiwis 7 to 8 up where as zoe 12 to 13 up and Andrea 14 to 15 up . The kiwis all side shoots removed the zoe and Andrea wings only . You could grow both of them off a wing bud as well and get good size which scrumpy does . Was not brave enough to try that though. I might try a kiwi again only 3 to trial and I think trelyn would be the easier one to match for colour I would think for me it flowered almost pure white . What do I know hahaha Did show one trelyn but it was rubbish in a single bloom class. I got the size but it damped off. Could not get the centre to close on kiwi Gloria for the bench before the back end went. It would need another feed I think of nitrogen about 2 weeks before. Good luck alan0747 hope you get some beautiful blooms on them. Ps I like your selection. I saw westerton folly in Kent last year and thought it was superb. |
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The easiest for me was Ruskin Andrea and the zoe's as you only took off the wing buds and let them run you have so much bloom it's easier to get a vase. 
