Pompon Dahlias

[geof]

Hi all,

I am new to Dahlia growing - I started last year.

I have browsed this site for a couple of weeks to tried and catch up by reading all the old posts before posting.

I intend to grow and show Pompon dahlias - just pompons no other dahlia.

So I would like to know all you know about Pompon Dahlias please.

What has won all the shows in the past?
what is winning now?
Where can I get hard to find Pompon Dahlias?
Who has some of the old stocks of the old varieties?
What is the best way to grow them?

I have looked on various sites around the net and tried to get photos of as many pompon varieties as possible, but would still like more. Do you have any?

Perhaps this thread could be made a "sticky" and eventually contain all that is ever needed to be known about pompons, contain a photo of every variety and possible as many winning vases as there are photos of to help both myself and anyone interested in just Pompon Dahlias

I intend to grow a few varieties this year and continue to add to the stock - hopefully in 5 years time I should have enough varieites to stage a "20 single blooms" of just Pompons.

Well thats my long-term goal

Regards

Geof

[Moonlight]

Feb 19, 2013 0:00:32 GMT geof said:

Hi all,

I am new to Dahlia growing - I started last year.

I have browsed this site for a couple of weeks to tried and catch up by reading all the old posts before posting.

I intend to grow and show Pompon dahlias - just pompons no other dahlia.

So I would like to know all you know about Pompon Dahlias please.

What has won all the shows in the past?
what is winning now?
Where can I get hard to find Pompon Dahlias?
Who has some of the old stocks of the old varieties?
What is the best way to grow them?

I have looked on various sites around the net and tried to get photos of as many pompon varieties as possible, but would still like more. Do you have any?

Perhaps this thread could be made a "sticky" and eventually contain all that is ever needed to be known about pompons, contain a photo of every variety and possible as many winning vases as there are photos of to help both myself and anyone interested in just Pompon Dahlias

I intend to grow a few varieties this year and continue to add to the stock - hopefully in 5 years time I should have enough varieites to stage a "20 single blooms" of just Pompons.

Well thats my long-term goal

Regards

Geof

Hiya Geof,
Welcome to Garden Friends
My long term goal well dream is to show but I'm trying to learn how to grow them 1st (I'm a beginner here)
Gurla Twilight, Willo’s Violet and Noreen are varieties that did well last year.
PS don't forget to post in the Welcome Topic Say hello and/or introduce yourself it is in the Welcome to Garden Friends forum because there are other people here that would like to welcome you that don't read the dahlia forums.

[Rosie]

Good luck with the dahlia's Geof, I am sure someone will be along soon to help you. And welcome to the forum

[Tel]

Hi Geof, welcome to the forum, have you tried googling the National Dahlia Collection over here in England? They have over 60 different poms and they export to Europe, most of them on the site have pictures too.

[geof]

Tel et al.,

Yes I have been in touch with the National Dahlia Collection and ordered a few plants from them I am also a member of the Midland Dahlia Society and have picked some tubers up from them.

To date I have either tubers or plants from:

Willo's Voilet
Noreen
Moorplace
Gillwood's Violet
Hallmark
Little Snowdrop
Johann
Mrs Black
Willow's Surprise
Storr's Julie
Pink Carol
Lakeland Polly
Minley Carol

I hope to get hold of some Gurtla Twilight plants at the MDS plant sale as there were no tubers at the auction.

[markb]

Try checking out Dave Bates website, www.dahliaworld.co.uk (I think) which has lists of suppliers and their current stocked varieties. Ordering from nurseries can be a bit hit and miss in terms of quality of stock, though.

Advice given to me recently was to source stock from exhibitors who have been careful about stock reselection as this will hopefully ensure you start with exhibition quality stock. Worth asking around the Midlands Society members who show poms for plants/tubers that you want.

[geof]

Cheers Mark,

I know Dave Bates personally, He gave me quite a few of my tubers ;-) He an others from the MDS have been very forthcoming with their information and advice with regards Pompons.

I have done exactly that, but thought it wouldn't hurt to ask on here too as there seemed to be quite a few knowledgeable on here from other areas of the country and world. As I see it, it never hurts to hear other opinions. Plus, I may well find someone somewhere who has some old stock of one of a past winner that is no longer put onto the showbench

My inital thoughts were to try and source the best stock, plant them in the best media I can and I may then have half a chance of getting a few nice blooms.

I would like to grow a few more of the very old varieties as my whole allotment is set in the 1950s. I try and grow old varieties of vegetables too along with my show produce.

[marynz]

I hope I have really bad stock of my poms. Otherwise I am doing something very wrong!

[Deleted]

Hi Geof,

Welcome to the forum.

I am also a member of the midlands and I recall meeting you at their one day show last september, I beleive you were the new chap showing two pom blooms in the novice classes ?

Anyway, I wouldn't bank on getting any Gurtla plants at their annual plant sale in May, this variety does not overwinter too well and has a strong rendancy to rot.

From 12 pot tubers I kept only 4 survived but I should be able to fix you up with some of my spares. Please send me a message via this forum and we can exchange details.

All the best Mark

[geof]

Mark,

You are correct I am Geof.

I entered the Novice section with one single bloom of "Minley Carol" in the Poms at the MDS member's show last year and I came 2nd to you. I also entered 6 poms in the "proper" class but didnt get in the cards.

Thanks for the offer - I have PMed you my contact details.

[Deleted]

Feb 20, 2013 11:09:05 GMT geof said:

Mark,

You are correct I am Geof.

I entered the Novice section with one single bloom of "Minley Carol" in the Poms at the MDS member's show last year and I came 2nd to you. I also entered 6 poms in the "proper" class but didnt get in the cards.

Thanks for the offer - I have PMed you my contact details.

Yes, I have only been showing for about 3 yrs and after a good year in 2012 I am now banned from the novice classes so intermediate and above is where I have to aim for. I did win quite a few cards in the grwonup classes so it wont be too much of a step up. - 'Famous Last Words'

They are a good bunch at the midlands, probably one of the best affiliated societes in the UK, and definitly the best in our area with good shows and other supporting activities. So you are in good company.

I have just sent you a PM.

Good luck with your poms !!


Mark

[dcdahlia]

Not as good as the bishop auckland society though Mark ;D
I set 6 (poor) ground tubers of gurtla away but only one is showing anything but I have some pot tubers coming from a member of our society.

[geof]

Does anyone know what variety each of these blooms were?



Alan Barlow with his "E. J. Widdowson" Trophy Championship Winning Exhibit at The National Dahlia Show Shepton Mallet 2006.

[Deleted]

Geof,

Please check your PM's.



Mark

[geof]

Apr 24, 2013 20:05:52 GMT @woodforddahlias6 said:

Geof,

Please check your PM's.



Mark

Cheers for the heads up Mark - for some reason the system had not sent me an email to say I had New PM's. I will have to keep a check on that.

In answer to your PM - Yes please, I will take all of them