richardr
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Post by richardr on Apr 21, 2013 8:58:09 GMT
I've been busy with the dahlias so not visited the forum for a while; sorry that some of you have had problems this season. For the most part ours have come on well, certainly better than the last two years. A few cultivars have been very slow to start throwing shoots and therefore very late before we began taking cuttings; however, these are now coming on.
Re: Compost - we only use traditional loam based John Innes; seed for cuttings and No1 for potting on. We would not touch multi purpose with proverbial barge pole. JI is the right constituency for drainage and has the balance of nutrients needed, we do not have time to add this and that to non loam based composts to improve drainage and then re-balance the nutrients.
Winter has finally turned into Spring. here's hoping that Spring turns into Summer!
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Post by Cherry on Apr 21, 2013 9:32:43 GMT
I don't grow dahlias seriously Richard, but really like to know what people find the best methods and ingredients for propagation of dahlias and all plants. JI could prove expensive for me, but I agree that it would be good.
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Post by snute2008 on Apr 21, 2013 14:55:27 GMT
Allotments have dried out nicely now and are both ready to rotovate which I will be doing in about 2/3 weeks time.I can now get on and finish clearing an unused area for a leek trench and onion trench (I have joined the local wmc show after years of them badgering me to join).At the moment I only have 200 dahlias potted up with 50 of them being janal amy and hillcrest candy.There is 250 in the propagator so I am hoping the majority have rooted,I will be having a look today and taking my last batch of cuttings of most varieties.I will only hang on a bit longer with some early flowering varieties.Looks like we are never going to get 2 seasons the same again last year early growth was good then they slowed down this season early growth has been slow,I only hope they now get a move on and save this season.  Would be really great to see some photos of your setup - My rooting mix seems to be drying up quite quickly is it ok to water? |
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Post by Tel on Apr 21, 2013 15:01:31 GMT
I've been busy with the dahlias so not visited the forum for a while; sorry that some of you have had problems this season. For the most part ours have come on well, certainly better than the last two years. A few cultivars have been very slow to start throwing shoots and therefore very late before we began taking cuttings; however, these are now coming on. Re: Compost - we only use traditional loam based John Innes; seed for cuttings and No1 for potting on. We would not touch multi purpose with proverbial barge pole. JI is the right constituency for drainage and has the balance of nutrients needed, we do not have time to add this and that to non loam based composts to improve drainage and then re-balance the nutrients. Winter has finally turned into Spring. here's hoping that Spring turns into Summer! Glad to hear things are going well for you Richard.  |
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Post by dcdahlia on Apr 21, 2013 15:38:53 GMT
Will put some photos on soon snute,I always give a little water if they start to dry out snute but you do run the risk of them damping off if you give them to much.also try to keep it off the leaves.potted another 50 cuttings up today and took another 160,propagator is now full.Just hanging on to marys jomanda,leopold chloe,charlie two, joan walker,ruskin myra. and ruskin michelle for another week.
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richardr
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Post by richardr on Apr 21, 2013 17:12:04 GMT
Glad to hear things are going well for you Richard. Thank you Tel. We scale up a bit more each year now we have the Flower Market outlet for our cut flower. Hoping this year to get a bit closer to fulfilling the demand for our blooms, we were miles short last year ???I wonder why  We now have a 60 x 18 polytunnel which is, obviously, too small! But the ground will be in better condition this year so hoping to plant around 3,250 - 3,500 plants this year. |
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richardr
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Posts: 149
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Post by richardr on Apr 21, 2013 17:15:49 GMT
I don't grow dahlias seriously Richard, but really like to know what people find the best methods and ingredients for propagation of dahlias and all plants. JI could prove expensive for me, but I agree that it would be good. Hi Cherry, the problem I have with multi purpose composts is that they contain chemicals to aid water retention. I want to be able to control the level of moisture especially in newly potted on plants so good drainage is essential. They also contain a minimum of 20% recycled organic material; I'm sure the better composts use authentic materials but the really cheap stuff could be any old stuff. We have had customers kill their rooted cuttings in 2/3 days by using £2.99 multi purpose composts and over watering. So I'll stick with JI and recommend it to our customers. |
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Post by Lou78W on Apr 21, 2013 20:06:42 GMT
I don't grow dahlias seriously Richard, but really like to know what people find the best methods and ingredients for propagation of dahlias and all plants. JI could prove expensive for me, but I agree that it would be good. Hi Cherry, the problem I have with multi purpose composts is that they contain chemicals to aid water retention. I want to be able to control the level of moisture especially in newly potted on plants so good drainage is essential. They also contain a minimum of 20% recycled organic material; I'm sure the better composts use authentic materials but the really cheap stuff could be any old stuff. We have had customers kill their rooted cuttings in 2/3 days by using £2.99 multi purpose composts and over watering. So I'll stick with JI and recommend it to our customers.This is good advice Richard, which I shall be following. Not many good MP composts around these days. I do hope you have a good season this year ;D |
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Post by Lou78W on Apr 21, 2013 20:10:16 GMT
All sorts of reasons; other commitments, plus, I don't have the energy for it now; its an awful lot of work, as you know  ;D I would not worry about the showing. You have learnt a lot about the dahlias and now you probably can't bear to have bad ones, so your garden will always look good. I pulled out all my bad dahlias and won't grow these sort again. The sweetpea growing for show did the same thing to me. Now I like to grow good ones which are much more satisfying. How right you are |
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Post by Tel on Apr 22, 2013 18:30:09 GMT
I would not worry about the showing. You have learnt a lot about the dahlias and now you probably can't bear to have bad ones, so your garden will always look good. I pulled out all my bad dahlias and won't grow these sort again. The sweetpea growing for show did the same thing to me. Now I like to grow good ones which are much more satisfying. How right you are Show dahlia's, except for the large and giants I would say, can put on a very good garden show for just a little looking after. Even I had a compliment the other day when a couple walked past, They mentioned the dahlia's in the garden last summer. The lady said she had not seen anything like them. I guess that couple had never been to a flower show then. ;D |
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Post by Tel on Apr 25, 2013 12:37:03 GMT
Taken the last cuttings, off Birkenshaw Pudsey today. Now if they all take, that will give me 40 plants.
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Post by Lou78W on Apr 25, 2013 15:44:01 GMT
That is a respectable number Tel. Hope they all grow well for you ;D
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Post by Moonlight on Apr 25, 2013 17:43:56 GMT
Fingers crossed. So exciting.
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marynz
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Post by marynz on Apr 26, 2013 8:30:55 GMT
All the best with those, Tel!
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Post by candyblue on Apr 30, 2013 19:31:08 GMT
Have just put in a last minute order to halls we are getting a few of westerton Lillian after all to try |
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;D
