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Post by Moonlight on May 20, 2013 10:13:46 GMT
My Weston Miss - bought at the same dahlia sale but at the other end of the spectrum. A much younger plant.
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Post by Moonlight on May 20, 2013 10:22:57 GMT
My Weston Pirate
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Post by Moonlight on May 20, 2013 10:47:43 GMT
My 2 poms both bought at the Dahlia plant sale.
Gurtla Twilight
Willow's Violet
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Post by Moonlight on May 20, 2013 11:12:22 GMT
I'll have to do my last 2: Jomanda and Mary's Jomanda later but one also has a flower forming. I did the photos yesterday but I wanted to make 100% which was which but can't get inside the greenhouse right now. Hopefully later otherwise I'm a bit stuck.
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Post by Moonlight on May 20, 2013 12:14:36 GMT
I go along with Scrumpy, if you let the bud develop it slows down the plant from forming and growing the laterals, this is where you want your blooms to develop from for the Autumn shows. The problem with a plant showing bud now, when you really want flowers for a autumn show is, you may have to stop it twice. What dates are your Autumn Shows.
Shows? 
There is one class I really want to go for and that is the Novice class at our local horticultural society show of 1 single dahlia bloom. I can have a maximum of 2 entries in the class. That show is Sunday 8th September. There are other dahlia classes but that's the one I would like to win. I would be disappointed if I don't but I won't be gutted because there will be next year. 
There are another 3 dahlia shows that I want to go to but they are at county level and I wouldn't want to embarrass myself. The main show Novice class is a vase of 3 and I can't see that happening. A bit of luck and the wind blowing in the right direction, I could have a chance of getting a couple of blooms for the local show but well that is in the realms of possibility.
There are single bloom classes at the county 2 mini shows but there are no Novice classes. That would be against experienced exhibitors including my Dad. (If he shows this year but I can't see him not showing). I've deliberately gone for varieties that he wouldn't go for. He is more of a Medium SC, large Trooper Dan (which I'm the only person in the universe that isn't that fussed on) and Alf Ramsey etc.
I really like the Weston dahlias but as my Weston Spanish Dancer comes from one of Dad's tubers and he showed and won with that I've kinda mucked that possibility up for the future. . My husband thinks that ball / dec and pom dahlias are a bit 'boring' but we shall see. It's be different when he seen them grow from the beginning. Hope so.
I've gone on a bit, prob. should have put most of this reply in my Diary. The quick answer would be Sunday 8th September local, 17th August mini show, 25th August Annual show, and 21st September mini show. |
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Post by markb on May 20, 2013 13:50:20 GMT
Hi Moonlight. I grow Willo's Violet on a 'three stop' strategy. So I would stop it now, let all the sideshoots develop and once they have two pairs of leaves and a growing tip take the growing tip out and let all those shoots develop, then repeat the stop on all the shoots from the second stop.
I usually aim to have at least 50 flower bearing stems as this variety goes too big to show on my soil otherwise. I used to grow Mary's Jomanda the same way but the stock I see around now is not as vigorous so I'm not sure if a two-stop would be better.
I haven't grown miniature cactus before (I have Avon Snowflake to try this year) but I would think that the more flowering shoots there are the less chance you have of oversize (and unshowable) flowers. You also get loads more flowers to choose from which is a bonus!
Hope that helps Moonlight.
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Post by Moonlight on May 20, 2013 14:41:46 GMT
Finally sorted out the Jomandas photos.
Mary's Jomanda on the left and Jomanda on the right.
Mary's Jomanda
Jomanda
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Post by dcdahlia on May 20, 2013 21:15:47 GMT
Keep your options open moonlight,just do the best you can and see what happens and don't be afraid to show against more experienced growers,it's how you learn.I would double stop that marys jomanda moonlight with the first stop now.
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Post by Moonlight on May 20, 2013 22:44:06 GMT
Thank you Mark. Thank you dcdahlia. I'll do the deed tomorrow work allowing. 
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Post by Moonlight on May 25, 2013 7:43:06 GMT
I go along with Scrumpy, if you let the bud develop it slows down the plant from forming and growing the laterals, this is where you want your blooms to develop from for the Autumn shows. The problem with a plant showing bud now, when you really want flowers for a autumn show is, you may have to stop it twice. What dates are your Autumn Shows.
Shows?
There is one class I really want to go for and that is the Novice class at our local horticultural society show of 1 single dahlia bloom. I can have a maximum of 2 entries in the class. That show is Sunday 8th September. There are other dahlia classes but that's the one I would like to win. I would be disappointed if I don't but I won't be gutted because there will be next year.
There are another 3 dahlia shows that I want to go to but they are at county level and I wouldn't want to embarrass myself. The main show Novice class is a vase of 3 and I can't see that happening.
There are single bloom classes at the county 2 mini shows but there are no Novice classes. That would be against experienced exhibitors including my Dad.
I've gone on a bit, prob. should have put most of this reply in my Diary. The quick answer would be Sunday 8th September local, 17th August mini show, 25th August Annual show, and 21st September mini show.
I have family commitments for the 17th August show - so I won't try to aim for them (nb If I did then I might - if that made sense.) but I do want to go to that show. If only to see my Dad's and see what I need to aim for and whether or not it is realistic to do so. Better to be honest than to look stupid.
25th August show what I would hope for is to have some Downham Royals ready for that one.
8th September local town show again I would love to show Downham Royals but also Franz Kafka because there is no large pom class in any of the other 3 shows. So with them it is then or not at all.
21st September anything really.
There I have a plan. Sticking it to it will be the problem. I have more Downham Royal than any other (except Happy Halloween and that isn't really a show dahlia.). Next to nothing compared to everyone else here but that's ok because as my Dad has told me "All you need is a bit of luck".
andKeep your options open moonlight,just do the best you can and see what happens and don't be afraid to show against more experienced growers,it's how you learn. |
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Post by Cherry on May 27, 2013 7:28:28 GMT
I am growing a dahlia for the garden, which came from you Tel, and I don't know if I should pinch out the top flower bud.
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Post by sweetpea on May 27, 2013 13:47:05 GMT
I am growing a dahlia for the garden, which came from you Tel, and I don't know if I should pinch out the top flower bud. Cherry, we pinch out the top bud to induce more sideshoots which will bear flowers. It is a bit of a trade off really. the more shoots and flowers the smaller the size of individual blooms but in the garden that is fine. |
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Post by Tel on May 27, 2013 17:09:48 GMT
You cannot argue with sweetpea. ;D
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Post by Lou78W on May 27, 2013 20:03:51 GMT
You cannot argue with sweetpea. ;D Oh yes we can!!......but won't in this instance......cos he's right......  |
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Post by Cherry on May 27, 2013 20:52:01 GMT
It hurts, but tomorrow it will be removed.
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Sept 6, 2018 17:58:08 GMT
Sept 6, 2018 17:58:08 GMT
Aug 10, 2019 9:01:47 GMT