Favourite Dahlias for Cut Flowers

[marynz]

I hope I'm not being naughty starting a new thread. There is a wealth of information on this forum about growing and showing Dahlias, and I have learnt a huge amount here. However, I am also interested in Dahlias as cut flowers, and I find that there is not a lot of information online about which varieties last well as cut flowers.

Coralie is one I have bought this year, because I was given a bloom last year and it lasted over a week in a vase, which is extraordinary for a Dahlia in our climate. I also hoped it would look nice in a vase with my Castle Drive, which seems VERY reluctant to burst into life this season. I guess it all makes more room in the garden.

Here is a Coralie that I photographed at a show:

[Rosie]

Thats very pretty Mary.

And starting a new thread is just fine ;D ;D

[Tel]

A nice thread Mary, now why didn't i think of that.

[Lou78W]

richardr is the man to talk to Mary.....he grows dahlias for the cut flower trade ;D

[lesley]

Hi Mary, I'm also a lover of Dahlia's like you I have learnt a lot from the forum.
This one i've grown this year, as a cut flower it's lasted well over a week,



When you re change the water cut the stems under water as this stops an air lock in the hollow stem.

[richardr]

As prompted by Lou, and I hope this is not regarded as advertising!, here is a link on our web site "How to care for your cut flowers":

www.withypitts-dahlias.co.uk/careforcutflower.html

Many cultivars, particularly water lily types, will last 7-10 days with TLC. The Dutch "Karma" range are designed for their cut flower market and do have good lasting qualities, although our own experience is that they do not last much longer than others.

Depending on how the blooms are being displayed, the size of vase and so forth, the shorter the stem is trimmed to the longer the bloom will last.

We get good feedback from the London florists that use our blooms who indicate the life of our dahlias as 7-8 days in the displays they create. As most of these are replenished weekly that suits them extremely well.

Dahlias grown outdoors will last longer as cut flower than those grown under cover. I guess the exposure to the weathers hardens them up, I can tell you that this year it certainly hardened us up as we tended and cut them!

Growing commercially for cut flower we concentrate on cultivars with strong, straight stems that are prolific. For example, some of the most requested cultivars are: Black Wizard, Carolina Wagermanns, Yvonne, Gwynneth, Taratahi Ruby, Apricot Desire, Ludwig Helfert and Wootton Impact although there are a number of others that are popular.

After we have harvested the primary and two secondary stems we "prune" the stem remnant back into the plant to promote further growth from low down the main stem. In a normal year we would expect to cut upwards of 24 stems a plant. We disbud well down the stem as this will promote strong growth from lower down meaning the following stems are also long and straight. Each stem we cut is as long as possible as this gives us our premium bloom in the Flower Market. It also forces later growth from low down in the plant and therefore long stems.

Our blooms are described by New Covent Garden Flower Market and traders there as the best dahlias available in the market and are used by many of the top florists in their work..

[marynz]

Taratahi Ruby is definitely here, and I have bought it this season. Wootton Impact is also in New Zealand, as I photographed it at a show last year. I shall look out for the others. This is all good information. Thank you very much, Richard.

[marynz]

Lesley, that is a pretty one

[lesley]

Oct 23, 2012 17:45:48 GMT marynz said:

Lesley, that is a pretty one

Sorry I've just found out what it's called 'Painted Lady'.

[marynz]

They're even better with names. We can covet them with more optimism!

I think I have even seen Painted Lady for sale here, come to think of it. I am trying one of the striped and speckled ones myself this year, Nonette, which is red on a peachy ground. I'll let you know whether it resembles its photograph and behaves itself in a vase later in my season. There's a picture at www.graines-voltz.com/dahlia-nonette-13-23883-23887-5290120-artf.aspx

[marynz]

Does anyone know of any fimbriated/laciniated Dahlias that keep well in a vase? I love the look of them, but people tell me they don't last.