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Post by Cat on Jan 20, 2017 18:47:20 GMT
How exciting to change your normal system for an upgrade, should be good. I can't wait to change our set up in time. Are your tubers away? or are some still being stubborn? all the best  |
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Post by johndoe on Jan 20, 2017 19:44:18 GMT
How exciting to change your normal system for an upgrade, should be good. I can't wait to change our set up in time. Are your tubers away? or are some still being stubborn? all the best I'm going to keep a record to see if the tubers respond with more growth than usual, Cat. My Rossendale Hero's all have shoots growing, as have my single tubers of, Bryn Terfel, and Westerton Lilian. Barbarry Primrose Hall as the first signs on one of the three I've got. Nothing else has any signs as yet, bet it's early days. At the moment the outside temp is showing -1'C, and the greenhouse thermometers are showing 6.1'C in the unheated part, and 15.3'C in the tuber bed side. It's at times like this, I wish we didn't have a smart meter screen   .
And to think eight years ago, I'd never even heard of Dahlias.........mind you, I think Jill wishes I never had 
All the very best to you and Che, when you get cracking. And don't worry, you'll get there, it just takes time.........oh, and money 
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Post by Cat on Jan 20, 2017 22:27:24 GMT
All sounds good. We have our vision...for Che's retirement years lol |
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Post by Raymond on Jan 23, 2017 13:51:35 GMT
Lovely setup johndoe wish I had a greenhouse. Make the best of what I have. I have lift off cherwell goldcrest on the move four of the five field tubers and also hillcrest Jersie. I think lifting them late and getting on heat quickly broke their dormant state.  |
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Post by diggie on Jan 23, 2017 18:24:18 GMT
Have set off one third of my tubers on the hot bed. Jomanda and Oakwood Goldcrest have woken up, nothing showing on the others. Will set off more at the end of the month, the remainder I mid February.
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Post by Raymond on Jan 23, 2017 21:42:35 GMT
Good news diggie nothing on my oakwood yet lifted earlier and set off a little later. Started 8 trays yesterday the rest first week of feb. |
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Post by snute2008 on Jan 24, 2017 11:53:46 GMT
Looking good Raymond, its always a "nice" feeling when they "wake up" and you see those buds of promised growth.
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Post by johndoe on Jan 24, 2017 13:49:38 GMT
You're right, there Simon. It always gives me a boost when the first signs of life appear. I've just set up my last trays of tubers, making that 150 tubers on heat all in all. A nice round number. And even better is, I didn't lose a single tuber during storage . Cherwell's looking good for you Raymond, you should get plenty of cuttings off that tuber. I think my lights have made a difference, Oakwood Goldcrest's have plenty of shoots, something that has never happened this early for me, before!! 
One of the Oakwood's shooting nice and early 
The last of the tubers trayed up today. 
Earlier tray that was put on just over 3 weeks ago |
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Post by Cat on Jan 24, 2017 20:58:50 GMT
All looking very smart there johndoe Keeps us going until we set up How many do you hope to have this season? |
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Post by Raymond on Jan 24, 2017 21:09:56 GMT
Looks fantastic johndoe . My two oakwood pot tubers are awake. Nothing on the field tubers yet. Not overly worried cherwell was better for me last year. Lifted some.More tubers today as was asked for them. Some whoppers smothered in eyes . Crazy in.this cold. |
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Post by johndoe on Jan 25, 2017 13:14:07 GMT
All looking very smart there johndoe Keeps us going until we set up How many do you hope to have this season? Thanks Cat. Looking to grow 20 each of 15 varieties, plus a trial bed of about 60 plants. Barbarry's Delegate and Primrose Hall, I've only got 2 and 3 tubers respectively, so will be creating mother plants to get the numbers I need. Never done this before, so looking forward to giving it a go. Hopefully the new lights will help to achieve this.
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Post by johndoe on Jan 25, 2017 13:18:01 GMT
Looks fantastic johndoe . My two oakwood pot tubers are awake. Nothing on the field tubers yet. Not overly worried cherwell was better for me last year. Lifted some.More tubers today as was asked for them. Some whoppers smothered in eyes . Crazy in.this cold. Cheers Raymond. I'm surprised that the tubers have survived in this prolong period of minus temperatures. It just goes to show that Mother nature moves in mysterious ways  |
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Post by Cat on Jan 25, 2017 19:48:33 GMT
johndoe could you explain how to create a mother plant for myself and others who may be starting along the dahlia route please. I know it's your first time but a rough idea would be a help TY!
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Post by johndoe on Jan 25, 2017 21:25:42 GMT
johndoe could you explain how to create a mother plant for myself and others who may be starting along the dahlia route please. I know it's your first time but a rough idea would be a help TY! Hi Cat. I'll explain it as clearly as I can, and as it was explained to last year. I did trial the method, and had some success.
I required tubers of early, new years day for me. Discard the first shoots, as these are usually fat and hollow, and difficult to root. Once I get the shoots I want I take the cutting as usual. Once it's rooted I'll pot it up into a 4" pot. I'll then let it grow up to 3 to 4 pair of leaves. I'll then cut off the top and use this as a cutting. Then as the other side shoots grow, I'll cut the tips off making a cutting, leaving the first set of leaves behind. These 2 leaf joints then produce 2 more cuttings and so on. When I've taken all I need, I'll keep the mother plant as a pot tuber for next year. 
Sorry the drawings a bit primitive, but hopefully you get the gist. If you do this for every side shoot, you get plenty of stock.
If I've got anything wrong, I'm sure someone will put me right
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Post by Raymond on Jan 25, 2017 21:26:29 GMT
I was surprised as.the ground was quite solid johndoe but the tubers themselves where very sound. Rock solid (not frozen) one hillcrest candy was enormous and smothered in eyes. Got to lift clearview edie Sunday as been asked for it. Hope that is ok. What I did do is not cut the stems back I left them insitu and I think has protected the crown plus the heavy ground I have. Was told if leaving in to nott cut back by the head gardener at lullingston castle. They rarely loose a dahlia now and never lift. |
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Sept 6, 2018 17:58:08 GMT