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Post by johnjess on Feb 15, 2017 22:07:20 GMT
Thanks again ian i'll do that.
I'll leave you in peace for a while now, thank you again.
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Post by Cat on Feb 16, 2017 19:20:56 GMT
Today I have been organising tubers - again! We now have the ones we want for exhibition in one area, for school in another, pollinators in another and some seedlings in their spot plus half a dozen tubers for the CDS AGM at the end of the month put aside too. We have started a couple of things in pots on the living room windowsill above the heater today too. Lastly I spent the majority of the day writing up our dahlia bible. The Boss decided last year that to have the info we wanted in just one place would be better than lots of different sources so over this week I have been re-read books, re-watching you tube videos and DVDs to select the information I think will suit us best. Yes the majority we know but odd things you need a quick recap so I thought this would be a great thing for Che as he grows older  |
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Post by Cat on Feb 16, 2017 19:22:02 GMT
Quick question - when taking pot tubers for future use how many would you take? 2 or 3 of each variety?
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Post by diggie on Feb 16, 2017 23:15:39 GMT
Quick question - when taking pot tubers for future use how many would you take? 2 or 3 of each variety? Hi Cat, I take three just in case some refuse to wake up. I have had pot tubers I purchased from a well known supplier that refused to wake up. |
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Post by Cat on Feb 17, 2017 8:14:58 GMT
Thanks diggie - last year we were just grateful for any cuttings we managed to get to root. This year we are trying to be a bit more methodical and more organised which hopefully will also help when it comes to storing next winter too. I keep reminding myself it takes time to find the methods that work best 'for you' but i also have the urge that I want it 'right now' lol |
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Post by Cat on Feb 17, 2017 22:19:33 GMT
Too much time on my hands so I made a spreadsheet showing our dahlia stock - classification, name, disbudding, bloom numbers, what it will be used for (ie pollinators, or school) a column for when pot tubers have been taken and plant size. I have amalgamated all the years info since I started up again with Che. Lots of work but now it's done I think it's going to be handy. Next job for Che's guide book that I am also doing is to put pictures and info in of the stock I have just amalgamated. Won't know what to do next winter  |
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Post by ian on Feb 18, 2017 0:40:21 GMT
Cat, Moonlight would be proud of you with your organisation of your Dahlias, nice one.
Ian
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Post by johndoe on Feb 18, 2017 16:07:05 GMT
Just thought I'd post some pictures of my early season cuttings. Most are for mother plants, mainly from Westerton Lilian, Bryn Terfel, Primrose Hall, Delegate and Blyton Shiraz. 
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Post by johndoe on Feb 18, 2017 16:15:18 GMT
While I'm being boring, some more pics from the greenhouse. Tubers looking good, and will need a cut very soon . 
I've already cut away loads of fat and hollow cuttings from Hillcrest Candy, but it's certainly going to need a good trim soon  |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2017 17:34:56 GMT
Tubers and cutting looking good JD, nice healthy dark green. I like the idea with the propagator lid up on stilts, for ventilation.
Do you grow mostly from pot tubers?, clearly you can get a lot more set up in the same area, I rely on field tubers but they take a lot of space.
It's a great set up you have, very professional. I'll be trying a few different cuttings methods this time but mostly slower, no-heat methods.
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Post by Cat on Feb 18, 2017 22:02:31 GMT
Looking great johndoe - very tidy too, if ours look half as good when we get going I will be happy. Roll on March when we begin - waiting for OH to have his next weekend off to work his way through the 'job list@ lol |
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Post by johndoe on Feb 20, 2017 13:18:04 GMT
Tubers and cutting looking good JD, nice healthy dark green. I like the idea with the propagator lid up on stilts, for ventilation. Do you grow mostly from pot tubers?, clearly you can get a lot more set up in the same area, I rely on field tubers but they take a lot of space. It's a great set up you have, very professional. I'll be trying a few different cuttings methods this time but mostly slower, no-heat methods. Thanks David. When I set the soil up for the tubers, I add a small handful of sulphate of iron. Before I put the soil in the tray, I scatter chicken pellets on the bottom. Find this give a good source of food when the tubers are in full flow . I put the lids on the cuttings just through the night time. Helps with transpiration when I'm asleep!!! During the day, the lids are off and are misted regularly, and depending on how sunny it is, I'll pull the fleece cover down, just to keep them shaded a bit more. A fan or two are kept running all day, just to keep the air moving, fending off the dreaded fungal.
All bar about 11, of the 150 tubers are field tubers. I've got pot tubers of Barbarry's, Aleks, Delegate, and Primrose Hall. Westerton Lilian, and Bryn Terfel, and that's it, 11. That's why I use the titan trays, you get a lot more tubers in them...
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Post by johndoe on Feb 20, 2017 16:57:06 GMT
Finally took down the old wooden framework for the covers, in readiness for the manure coming next week. Both plots will then be ploughed in. Very handy that one of the allotment holders competes in ploughing matches  . Then nearer to planting out, I can scatter Q4, and rotovate.  
Framework as it was in October. Starting to disappear. Lots of screws to undo  
All down, waiting for the manure and ploughing Then all I have to do is get this lot up the allotment, and put it up ready for the covers.....Oh joy!!! |
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Post by Cat on Feb 20, 2017 18:41:41 GMT
can't wait to see it finished |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2017 17:42:28 GMT
Got the Dahlias out this weekend, 12 days earlier than last year but temperatures are mild. Some have proved to be good keepers, the Jomandas, the Rossendales in particular and some poor keepers, Barbarry Vulcan and Lady in red. Will store all in bone dry peat next winter as these kept better than those in wood shavings. Somehow I've amassed 26 varieties! I really cant grow them all so I'll probably pot tuber a fair few just to give me extra options for 2018. Should have a big, no sentiment clear out really but some I'm attached to even though I won't be showing them. Phil Damps advice was right, got to be ruthless! Here's a few pics of my low tech set up. Just trying my Flickr account, Tinypic is useless. Can you guess what's in the boxes? clue: not bananas  P2250017 by lancastrian1, on Flickr Calm before the storm  P2250009 by lancastrian1, on Flickr Propagating tent, roll down front  P2260019 by lancastrian1, on Flickr 70 tubers in all  P2260023 by lancastrian1, on Flickr a bit of judicial trimming to make them fit  P2260018 by lancastrian1, on Flickr |
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. Then nearer to planting out, I can scatter Q4, and rotovate.
Sept 6, 2018 17:58:08 GMT
Sept 6, 2018 17:58:08 GMT
Aug 10, 2019 9:01:47 GMT