|
|
Post by Raymond on Sept 7, 2014 21:51:29 GMT
Moonlight a number of clearviews shown in Kent show. Posted pictures in dahlias 2014 thread. Clearview Edie is a stunner. Think it's one you will want. How did your shows go ? I loved it today totally engrossed
|
|
|
|
Post by Moonlight on Sept 7, 2014 22:40:30 GMT
I thought that you would get the bug if you went to a show. It really is a good way to absorb everything out there a huge variety of all things dahlia. I saw Weston Stardust at a show last year and fell in love with it, grew it this year and mine haven't been a patch on those that I saw. So I might grow more Pirate and maybe an extra Spanish Dancer next year. A 1st, x2 2nd and x2 3rds. Won't repeat my post about that here from the 2014 thread and I'll include more detail in my Diary (No surprise there). 
Feeling good.
|
|
|
|
Post by Moonlight on Sept 8, 2014 11:57:27 GMT
Likewise Moonlight !! I imported a number of american tuber chicken legs last year. Luckily I got a good number of cuttings from them but they had to be nursed along to get anything. I think in future unless its a new knockout variety that I'm desperate for I will wait for someone else to do the hard work and ship them in. It is indeed expensive and all told probably not worth the trouble. You live and learn ish !!
That's the problem, it is a gamble because some of the websites the blooms looks so good but in reality have significant weaknesses but then the temptation of getting that knockout dahlia with that something special about it is difficult. Purchased tubers from a couple of raisers unfortunately, one doesn't seem to be online anymore and I can't work out why. Website dead and email account bounces - will keep an eye online in case they have just changed website and email accounts.
Thought now would be a good time to explain what we are talking about 'chicken legs' from the US. After unpacking the parcel and packaging, we got down to a bag of tubers. I photographed it along side my house keys and key ring to give a true representation of size.
There are 7 tubers in this bag. One included Clearview Misty which didn't grow for the 2nd year running and Clearview Edie which we ordered 2. One Edie tuber grew and the other one didn't.
![]() 
I haven't got a similar picture of them with the key unwrapped but these are the 3 that I grew from the 7. Some how or other Dad managed to get all these 3 to grow. Jenny has yet to start flowering and Candy Jayne is just getting going. Which is another thing to factor in, as you can see from the photos only a tiny bit is sent which means that it takes longer and you get fewer shoots of cutting potential. It might be that next year there will be loads of cuttings but that is when it is part of a regular tuber. So in fact you might be keen to crack on with a new variety, it could be that someone else has done the same thing as you but been really lucky and got one to grow whilst your one just staggered on and might not even flower in it's first year. This has happened with some of the ones that Dad has had. It might be better value to take out that risk of wasting a year waiting for your own tuber to grow and then get your own plants from someone who has ordered it in themselves
but it exciting to think that you might have ordered something extra special that nobody else (to your knowledge) grows with potential to do well at shows / cross and seed with your seedlings / both.
Like all things dahlia - there is an amount of skill and expertise doing these things but it is a risk and you might get lucky but then you may well not.
|
|
|
|
Post by Moonlight on Sept 8, 2014 12:24:36 GMT
Moonlight a number of clearviews shown in Kent show. Posted pictures in dahlias 2014 thread. Clearview Edie is a stunner. Think it's one you will want. How did your shows go ? I loved it today totally engrossed
This is the one growing at Dad's looks really lovely but look at the rest of the plant:
I know that people have mentioned that Moonlights have marked easily but according to my Dad Edie is a lot, lot worse and if you grow it, it is one of those varieties that really needs to be grown under covers. Otherwise, if you are growing with an eye towards possibly exhibiting it, you could be wasting a season growing a plant when an old faithful might be better suited for your growing conditions but also your level of dahlia experience and expertise.
Certainly nothing that I would to grow. Dad is talking about getting rid of pretty much all of these varieties as some of them just are not as good as he was expecting. Until a variety is shown over here there is no way of telling just how good a variety is. Some of the ones that he does not want to grow include petals that don't go all the way back and those where the centres of the dahlias stay big in proportion to the rest of the dahlia.
With all things some people grow dahlias in different ways, some people have no luck with some varieties and others that other people struggle with grows well like a dream. Dad has talked about focusing on his seedlings rather than waste time, money and effort on those from abroad (I'm not saying that they are all rubbish dahlias far from it) but it is whether or not it is worth the time, money and effort when something you raise yourself can more than give other varieties a run for their money. Whether or not Dad will end up tempted to try another variety next year is another thing...
|
|
|
|
Post by Tel on Sept 8, 2014 12:32:48 GMT
Its a cracking bloom, well worth growing under cover. Shame my tuber did nothing, it could have been on its way to Harrogate this week. |
|
|
|
Post by Moonlight on Sept 8, 2014 12:44:51 GMT
With all things some people grow dahlias in different ways, some people have no luck with some varieties and others that other people struggle with grows well like a dream. Dad has talked about focusing on his seedlings rather than waste time, money and effort on those from abroad (I'm not saying that they are all rubbish dahlias far from it) but it is whether or not it is worth the time, money and effort when something you raise yourself can more than give other varieties a run for their money. Whether or not Dad will end up tempted to try another variety next year is another thing...
This is Trooper Dan growing in my garden and here in the show yesterday
Grown outside uncovered and I'll be growing him next year. |
|
|
|
Post by Moonlight on Sept 8, 2014 12:50:01 GMT
Its a cracking bloom, well worth growing under cover. Shame my tuber did nothing, it could have been on its way to Harrogate this week.  It wasn't for want of trying was it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Moonlight on Sept 8, 2014 12:57:13 GMT
A couple of my Dad's seedlings at the show.
 |
|
|
|
Post by Tel on Sept 8, 2014 16:18:04 GMT
With all things some people grow dahlias in different ways, some people have no luck with some varieties and others that other people struggle with grows well like a dream. Dad has talked about focusing on his seedlings rather than waste time, money and effort on those from abroad (I'm not saying that they are all rubbish dahlias far from it) but it is whether or not it is worth the time, money and effort when something you raise yourself can more than give other varieties a run for their money. Whether or not Dad will end up tempted to try another variety next year is another thing...
This is Trooper Dan growing in my garden and here in the show yesterday
Grown outside uncovered and I'll be growing him next year. A well deserved winner there moonlight, its a cracker.  |
|
|
|
Post by Tel on Sept 15, 2014 13:21:35 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Raymond on Sept 15, 2014 13:53:39 GMT
Tel What a great display of colour do you sell off your blooms that you don't use in comp ? Florists would love them sell for loads down in London. Can I ask what support method you use for your beds ? One if my biggest mistakes .
|
|
|
|
Post by Tel on Sept 15, 2014 15:00:48 GMT
Tel What a great display of colour do you sell off your blooms that you don't use in comp ? Florists would love them sell for loads down in London. Can I ask what support method you use for your beds ? One if my biggest mistakes . I use the 3 cane method. |
|
|
|
Post by Raymond on Sept 15, 2014 15:45:53 GMT
Tel the three cane method I still not sure as scrumpy uses one with main stem then 3 around it. Dave Spencer showed me these angled setting of the cane. Didn't quite follow it. You obviously twine them for added support and to hold the canes firm and support the plant. One ring of twine and go up as the plant gets taller. Do you happen to have a picture you can post ?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2014 17:02:28 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Raymond on Sept 15, 2014 17:40:02 GMT
You've got the bug ! You will be great at it Mark ! Go for it mate. I expect big things from you. Your border and blooms look fantastic as is your taste in dahlias. Just don't enter Kent novice class next year please !  haha haha |
|
haha haha 
