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Post by johndoe on Jun 8, 2017 7:55:56 GMT
Hi again johndoe, I've seen epsom salts mentioned a few times when reading up on growing dahlia s, can you tell me what it does for the dahlia? It really is quite a science growing for showing!! Johnjess Magnesium, an important trace element often lacking in soil. Helps strengthen root system, and especially foliage health and colour. |
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Post by johnjess on Jun 9, 2017 7:13:58 GMT
Thanks johndoe.
My dahlias are now getting close to needing a first tie up. What is the recommended way to go? Do you guys tie to the stem of each plant or just a ring of string around the canes on each plant?
I did the 'ring of string' last year and it worked ok but I was only growing poms and small dec/ball. This year I have a couple of medium cactus and a large cactus will the 'ring of string' be enough to hold them as I am expecting they will be heavier.
Thanks
johnjess
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Post by johndoe on Jun 13, 2017 17:20:27 GMT
As promised Cat, here's a pic of both plots now planted out, well nearly. Took the wrong tray up and was 5 Oakwood Goldcrest short!! Seems to have taken a long time, but using new covers, so had to re-cut new holes. 
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Post by Cat on Jun 13, 2017 19:17:43 GMT
Very smart johndoe. Glad it's not just us that make little mistakes! We have plants that are alive so at the moment we are in a happy place  |
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Post by johndoe on Jun 14, 2017 14:47:07 GMT
Thanks Cat. Need to get the mid-rails on both frames, and a good tidy up around the edges. Then I can concentrate on looking after the plants. All the giants and some of the miniatures have been stopped, plus a few of the Candy's that stretched their necks a bit too much  . Was happy to see your first bloom from the school plants, bet the kids are well amazed. Good luck to you and Che for the plant sale, all for a good cause.
JJ, this is how I keep my dahlias going in the right direction, namely UP!!! Metre wide netting with 20cm squares, supported by plastic electric fence posts. As the plants grow, I just lift the netting with them. For taller varieties I'll use two levels of netting. 
You can just about make out the green netting going horizontal by the tops of the plants. |
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Post by johnjess on Jun 14, 2017 20:41:51 GMT
Great looking plots johndoe. The mesh on the poles looks like a great idea .
Does the mesh move easily when the plants have grown through it?
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Post by johnjess on Jun 17, 2017 15:59:21 GMT
 A quick photo of my potted dahlias. Blue pot-Kenora Challenger Black pot -Hillcrest Candy Grey pot -Marys Jomanda Further back 2xBlyton Softer Gleam 1xKilmorie and one unknown. The Kilmorie,KC,HC, and Marys Jomanda all came from Halls of Heddon, fantastic plants. The others were cuttings I took in March/April. I'm happy with how they look at the moment if the slugs and bugs would just leave them alone!!!! |
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Post by Cat on Jun 17, 2017 18:59:27 GMT
Thanks johndoe. Che did very well at the plant sale. He sold out in 1.5 hours and raised 76.50 the headmistress was really pleased and we got the dahlia out there...little by little plant by plant |
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Post by Raymond on Jun 23, 2017 18:26:03 GMT
Looking good johndoe I have 370 in this year. Will post some pictures soon. Some look a damned mess but are growing . Wish I had mypex the paths you wouldn't think I had killed it off with round up the weeds look better than the dahlias. Others looking great and very big especially the dianes and blyton Valentine. Double stopping alot this year hope I have not made a mistake in this . johnjess I agree with johndoe on the feeding a good base dressing lots of water not at the start though You want to get the anchored. I prefer to water at night and I gradually increase so by show time giving 2 gallons per plant three times a week. I give one maybe two nitrogen feeds and feed approx every 2 weeks then two fully balanced I give two high potash to large and giant and ones that are known for weak stems e.g. kenora sunset narrows sonja . I am a strong believer in Epsom salts as well really makes a difference to the health of the plants and also the colour of the bloom more intense in the saturation. I will give my first Epsom salts in conjunction with my nitrogen feed this Sunday. I find dilute the Epsom salts in warm water much easier to add to you feed. |
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Post by johnjess on Jun 24, 2017 9:13:16 GMT
Thank you Raymond, I have around 12 in beds and 7 in pots, I'll keep on top of the ones in beds with water but would you give so much water to the ones in pots as well? The pots all have drainage holes.
I gave them all a feed last night (miracle grow liquid) ,I'll feed again in a couple of weeks and I have tomorite for later on. How much Epsom salts do you add when you are putting it in with the feed?
Mine have all grown quite a bit this week hopefully going in the right direction.
Thanks again Raymond.
Johnjess
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Post by Raymond on Jun 25, 2017 7:19:13 GMT
2 teaspoons of Epsom salts per gallon of water johnjess the ones in pots will need even more water as the plants get big . Every day or every two days. What size pot you using ? |
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Post by johnjess on Jun 26, 2017 0:09:47 GMT
Thanks Raymond I'll give the Epsom Salts a go .The pots I am growing in are at a guess 20/30 litre size mostly ceramic nd a couple of terracotta ones.
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Post by johndoe on Jun 29, 2017 15:25:05 GMT
It's picture time again, yeah I know it's really boring  . 68 days now till the National so the giants, and Challenger, got a hard cutback today. A sort of short, back and sides!!  
This is before the barber started..... 
Westerton Lilian and Kenora Valentine all done. Left a bit more shoot on some of the Valentine's, as they are a bit slower than the others. I've also left one plant of each variety to flower naturally as it's the first time growing on this new plot. Hopefully give me a good insight to how the others will grow. 
Kenora Challenger and Go America on the left. Challenger is an early flowerer, so cut down most of the main stem, leaving the lower shoots to take over, roughly about 8 stems, that will be cutback to numbers needed in late July. Go America is a new one for me, so left it to grow 6up, and will cutback to 3up for showing. All the cutback plants have now had their first high nitrogen feed, so on to the mediums next  |
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Post by johnjess on Jul 2, 2017 9:36:33 GMT
That's quite a haircut you've given them johndoe!!! It must be heartbreaking to have to chop them like that.
I have a few buds starting to form on mine now and as I'm only growing for the garden disbudding will be my next job.
While I'm on I'll ask a question, I sprayed my plants with Provado 2 weeks ago but there were no buds on them at that time, can I still spray them again with buds on the plants or not?
Thanks
johnjess
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Post by Cat on Jul 2, 2017 21:39:29 GMT
johndoe , I gave ours a hair cut today, It felt savage!!! We didnt do this as thoroughly last year so it will be interesting to see the difference this season - we asuming I've done it right Che didn't help because it was his birthday and apparently he doesn't work on his birthday!!! he did pop out with his new bridge camera to take a few photos of our early blooms but we only have a dozen or so so more practise is needed! Can I ask which net you have used here? ie the name. I would like something similar. We are collecting our agri posts tomorrow so need to get the net sorted but havent been sure what to go with. do you put your posts every 0.5 m or every 1m? Im thinking plenty incase of wind?
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. Was happy to see your first bloom from the school plants, bet the kids are well amazed. Good luck to you and Che for the plant sale, all for a good cause.
. 68 days now till the National so the giants, and Challenger, got a hard cutback today. A sort of short, back and sides!!
Sept 6, 2018 17:58:08 GMT
Sept 6, 2018 17:58:08 GMT
Aug 10, 2019 9:01:47 GMT