Dahlia growing for beginners.

[Moonlight]

What happened Ian?

[ian]

What happened? If you askiing about Wisley then. Well there wasn't hard standing as we have at Harrogate and we might as well been outside as there was that much rain coming in and dripping all over the exhibits it wasn't good at all the ground inside the marquee looked like the grand national had ran through.................. twice. Also you had carry all the blooms approx. 150yards to the marquee (and it was pi£&ing down)

Then to one or two of us was disgusted to here the chairman of judges say addressing the judges 'you do not need to point the exhibits' Well how can you judge multi vase classes without pointing (by the way I pointed the classes I was in charge of judging).

Now then let's say you had a vase in a multi vase class that was oversize (52mm pom hehe) and the other vases were excellent, now if they were pointed then that exhibit could still win the class and the vases in the exhibit could be considered for further awards, but how can you just look at a multi vase exhibit and just think that is better than the next without reference to others. All should be pointed out of 30 and marked against a standard vase.

Hope this is ok for you to understand. Regards Ian

[Raymond]

ian let's hope they sort both problems out as you should be competing in the national 

[Moonlight]

Oct 18, 2014 18:50:17 GMT ian said:

Then to one or two of us was disgusted to here the chairman of judges say addressing the judges 'you do not need to point the exhibits' Well how can you judge multi vase classes without pointing (by the way I pointed the classes I was in charge of judging).

Now then let's say you had a vase in a multi vase class that was oversize (52mm pom hehe) and the other vases were excellent, now if they were pointed then that exhibit could still win the class and the vases in the exhibit could be considered for further awards, but how can you just look at a multi vase exhibit and just think that is better than the next without reference to others. All should be pointed out of 30 and marked against a standard vase.

Hope this is ok for you to understand. Regards Ian

I think that as both The National and Harrogate are the highest level of exhibiting that it should be judged accurately. If you have a 3 vase exhibit in any show then I would have thought that it can show that it is judged fairly and that by checking the scores the exhibitor, fellow, exhibitors, other judges and the general public can see how it has been done fairly. If it is judged without individual vase scoring, then I would have thought that the results could be, influenced by a judge's preference of variety. Within all classifications, we all have personal favourites and others that just aren't.
In the championships that I have seen I've looked at each individual vases score and noted the vases with the highest scores but more importantly the ones that the judges that had the most flaws so that I can avoid growing those varieties or try and make sure that any potential dahlias that I am selected don't have these key flaws.

What I don't understand is, in the shows that I have entered entries with dahlias that were oversized were judged as NAS and could not win. Wouldn't that be the case in a championship at National level? In my head, if you had say 2 vases that were perfect and 1 over sized; wouldn't that mean that the scores would be 10 out of 10, 10 out of 10 but the final NAS. Shouldn't that rule an exhibit out?
However, even though that exhibit couldn't win at that particular championship class, the other 2 could be in with a chance at winning best vase in show = potential NDS Silver level. etc.

[Raymond]

Off out now to cut all the dahlias back. Shame as a couple still full of flowers. Anything dodgey looking being lifted and got rid of.

[Moonlight]

Oct 17, 2014 23:05:52 GMT Raymond said:

Moonlight I was looking on clearviews website the other evening I liked 2 small decs one Clearview David the other Clearview Debby.

Has your dad tried either ? Not going to order just curious.

In my Fathers opinion they are both pretty garden dahlias rather than those suitable for exhibition as they are not good enough to be contenders with the likes of Diannes or Brenda T.

[Raymond]

Moonlight thanks for that. I am a sucker for lilac and lavender blooms that's what caught my eye.

[diggie]

Oct 18, 2014 18:50:17 GMT ian said:

What happened? If you askiing about Wisley then. Well there wasn't hard standing as we have at Harrogate and we might as well been outside as there was that much rain coming in and dripping all over the exhibits it wasn't good at all the ground inside the marquee looked like the grand national had ran through.................. twice. Also you had carry all the blooms approx. 150yards to the marquee (and it was pi£&ing down)

Then to one or two of us was disgusted to here the chairman of judges say addressing the judges 'you do not need to point the exhibits' Well how can you judge multi vase classes without pointing (by the way I pointed the classes I was in charge of judging).

Now then let's say you had a vase in a multi vase class that was oversize (52mm pom hehe) and the other vases were excellent, now if they were pointed then that exhibit could still win the class and the vases in the exhibit could be considered for further awards, but how can you just look at a multi vase exhibit and just think that is better than the next without reference to others. All should be pointed out of 30 and marked against a standard vase.

Hope this is ok for you to understand. Regards Ian

[diggie]

That would explain the huge amount of straw in the marquee. Certainly was a bit of a mess.

[Raymond]

Last dahlia of the season. All others cut down now. Has been a very interesting , rewarding, stressful, error strewn first year . Onwards and upwards !

Ferncliff illusion garden variety. Pretty dahlia but tall !

[Raymond]

Hi forum I am looking at a couple of older kenoras for garden display.

Kenora majestic
kenora superb

Has anyone grown them ? 

Also looking for a couple of bi colour also that are show quality . Picked kenora sunset , weston Spanish and hapet ideal looking for 2 more . Any suggestions ? can be older varieties. Seen things like sorbet and Jessica but classified as garden dahlias.  

[Tel]

Oct 24, 2014 16:30:48 GMT Raymond said:

Hi forum I am looking at a couple of older kenoras for garden display.

Kenora majestic
kenora superb

Has anyone grown them ? 

Also looking for a couple of bi colour also that are show quality . Picked kenora sunset , weston Spanish and hapet ideal looking for 2 more . Any suggestions ? can be older varieties. Seen things like sorbet and Jessica but classified as garden dahlias.  

I have not grown either.

[Raymond]

Oct 24, 2014 18:17:59 GMT Tel said:

Oct 24, 2014 16:30:48 GMT Raymond said:

Hi forum I am looking at a couple of older kenoras for garden display.

Kenora majestic
kenora superb

Has anyone grown them ? 

Also looking for a couple of bi colour also that are show quality . Picked kenora sunset , weston Spanish and hapet ideal looking for 2 more . Any suggestions ? can be older varieties. Seen things like sorbet and Jessica but classified as garden dahlias.  

I have not grown either.

Thanks Tel . Did you get my message ? 

[Raymond]

Hi forum a question on over wintering tubors.

At it is my first season I need practise even though mine are going to new homes I have some good size wooden crates that I was going to line in newspaper. Then fill with dry peat or vermiculite. 

Should I keep the crown of the tubor exposed and would it be prudent to put a layer of straw over the crown as extra insulation ? Garage is not heated.

When I lift the tubors I will dry them trim up and should I core the stem like Dave Spencer does ? On the thick stem varieties then I brush with yellow sulphur. 

Seen many threads on it. Just double checking. Apologies if question asked loads of times. 

[Raymond]

Dear forum as I will be me propagating I hope my own cuttings for the first time this coming year can I ask the following

I have been recommended to use coir. Would you advise the jiffy pellet version or bagged ?

What size seed trays should I use ?

Once root do I pot on using the same medium or can I change to say levington m3 with added permits for example ?

I will be purchasing everything new. So I need to make sure I get it right.

Going for the heat mats from hot box t5 grow lights or rot t lights.

I will be using a garage so I may well have to buy a heater as well  just to keep frost free and temp steady.

For the tubors I was going to use deep wood crates lined with news paper with good multipurpose compost. Or I can use mushroom trays or deep seed trays. 

I may also use a cloche. 

I hope I am doing this correctly as I am trying  to follow what all of the  experts on here do. 

Not sure also what time to start my tubors as I do not need loads of cuttings will beginning of Feb be to late ? First show in September. 

Many thanks and sorry if these questions have already been asked multiple times. 

All the best