Dahlias 2012 season

[marynz]

I had forgotten how slowly they open at the start of the season. Even though I know flower number one is going to have such a wide open centre you could dance in the middle, I am impatient to see it!

[Cherry]

Nov 5, 2012 8:07:34 GMT marynz said:

I had forgotten how slowly they open at the start of the season. Even though I know flower number one is going to have such a wide open centre you could dance in the middle, I am impatient to see it!

There is a new saying for you Tel. Very descriptive Mary.

[Tel]

I will have to remember that one. ;D

[marynz]

Do any of you grow 'Croydon Superior'? It is so gorgeous. Not available here, though: tinyurl.com/cmabllc and tinyurl.com/aqhscgx

[Tel]

Nov 8, 2012 8:48:38 GMT marynz said:

Do any of you grow 'Croydon Superior'? It is so gorgeous. Not available here, though: tinyurl.com/cmabllc and tinyurl.com/aqhscgx

I do not have that one Mary, i cannot find it on our Dahlia National Collection site either.

[marynz]

It has been photographed at Gilbert's Dahlia Nursery. They don't seem to have a website, but an old catalogue of theirs is on Ken Stock's website. This suggests they only sell cuttings and green plants, which makes fantasising about future imports useless, as only dormant tubers can easily be brought into this country. Therefore anyone who grows it and posts photos here for me to enjoy is my new best friend.

[Tel]

Try this Mary, www.kesdahlias.co.uk/nickgilbert.htm

[marynz]

Thanks, Tel! He's got pot tubers on that one. I shall return to dreaming about importing in future. I wonder if the neighbours want me to dig up their lawn as well... I can't see why they'd miss it really. It's just something to mow, after all.

[marynz]

By the way, a couple more tubers finally decided to wake up today. Tui Connie ( see www.flickr.com/photos/mary_on_flickr/6925222407/ ) and Joal Kaitlyn ( see www.dahliahaven.co.nz/decorative08.html ).

Tui Connie has the skinniest tuber which has put out the tiniest shoot. I hope it makes it. I shall go down to the club tuber sale tomorrow and see whether there is a second one there, just in case. It was shown locally last year, so there is a chance.

I think I'll put everything that didn't sprout in the vege patch with its labels just in case one or two decide to pop up in the middle of January or something. If not, I shall consider them as extra compost, already in place where it's needed.

[Rosie]

Nov 4, 2012 14:14:04 GMT Tel said:

I am getting around with this dahlia lark these day's. New Zealand and Canada now. ;D

Your our international guru Tel ;D

[dcdahlia]

We had david hall of halls of heddon as a guest speaker at our monthly society meeting on wednesday night.He was saying they have had a very poor season with the weather and some dahlias did'nt get planted out until the end of june.They were going to start lifting their 6000 plants the next day.It was interseting to hear that they plant out in two and a half inch pots.

[marynz]

Chinese foot binding comes to mind!

[Tel]

Nov 9, 2012 17:26:38 GMT dcdahlia said:

We had david hall of halls of heddon as a guest speaker at our monthly society meeting on wednesday night.He was saying they have had a very poor season with the weather and some dahlias did'nt get planted out until the end of june.They were going to start lifting their 6000 plants the next day.It was interseting to hear that they plant out in two and a half inch pots.

[/color]

It makes my planting out my dual purpose plants in 3in pots sound like a waste of space. ;D

[Tel]

Finished strengthening the wood frame on one of the dahlia beds,today. May make a start on the frame of the next dahlia bed tomorrow, unless the OH has other plans. ;D

[marynz]

Finally most plants are in the ground, after some more favourable weather.