Dahlias 2014 Season

[robh]

had a long conversation with jack gott last night realy in=mformative give me loads of tips one being he uses white sand to pot his cuttings in , i explained i used john innes no 1 but it set like concrete he said to try the sand give the plants 3weeks in the sand and pot on as the roots will have formed has anyone else tried this method

[Raymond]

robh there are so many mediums you can use for the cuttings. I asked this in beginners thread and ian mentioned silver sand, rock wool, vermiculite etc.... I guess it is what works for you moisture is the key Not to much but enough. Dave s and Andrew a in Kent use coir. They say they have less root rot and damping off gurtla twilight  can have a problem they said. I am going to try 2 ways one good multipurpose with perlite like scrumpy and also the coir and see how I get on.

Jack gott I emailed previously really nice man and full of advise . Good website. 

Has anyone grown raisers pride ? Looking at it as a single to try. 

[ian]

Now then if there was ever a section that is very very poorly supported then it is the medium cactus section of which Raisers Pride belongs. There are far better semi cactus tan Raisers Pride it is a nice colour & can have reasonable form. Try one of the Symbols, or if it is just one plant go for it you are not loosing much.

[Deleted]

Dec 8, 2014 15:50:36 GMT ian said:

Now then if there was ever a section that is very very poorly supported then it is the medium cactus section of which Raisers Pride belongs. There are far better semi cactus tan Raisers Pride it is a nice colour & can have reasonable form. Try one of the Symbols, or if it is just one plant go for it you are not loosing much.

I saw Robs Symbol at Wisley and Harrogate, and really liked the look, but was told not to bother, as it was an old variety, and that there are better varieties around.  Went for Clearview Louise instead, but may look around for it next year.

[Raymond]

ian just one plant to try it. Agree a poorly represented section very little in directory. I will check out the symbols have not seen them. Just picking some singles for the display now. Then I am finished with the plant planning.

@markymate Clearview Louise looks lovely. I am trying Sundance the triffid and also Debby a lilac small Dec.

Did see a rather nice looking ball on clearview site called camano mordor. Not getting chicken legs I have enough.

[Raymond]

I think I might go grenidor or another pastelle to try instead

[diggie]

Dec 8, 2014 13:44:17 GMT Raymond said:

robh there are so many mediums you can use for the cuttings. I asked this in beginners thread and ian mentioned silver sand, rock wool, vermiculite etc.... I guess it is what works for you moisture is the key Not to much but enough. Dave s and Andrew a in Kent use coir. They say they have less root rot and damping off gurtla twilight  can have a problem they said. I am going to try 2 ways one good multipurpose with perlite like scrumpy and also the coir and see how I get on.

Jack gott I emailed previously really nice man and full of advise . Good website. 

Has anyone grown raisers pride ? Looking at it as a single to try. 

Hi Raymond, I use multi purpose compost which sieved to remove all the large particles. This is then mixed with an equal part of sharp sand. This works for me. As you say each to their own.

[Ian k]

Hi Raymond I grew Raisers Pride about 15 years ago then I was really good, as for rooting mediums I use Singletons multi purpose and mix in Perlite

[Raymond]

Hi diggie Ian k . What I am gonna try is a good quality multipurpose something like clover or levington seived and add perlite and some sharp sand for bite. Got the ratio written in my note book. Will set it up like scrumpy and surround with peat to keep the moisture steady. Some of the others gonna try this coir . Supposed to be very free draining only thing you got to watch for is it can look dry on the top but good moisture level underneath also it can dry out quickly so you need to check them twice a day unless you have one of these misting systems which I would love !

I will just be happy to get some viable cuttings at all ! Hahaha . Let's see what Jan Feb bring. 

Thanks on info Iank on raisers pride think I will try a single of it. I seem to be likely cactus more than semi cactus. Doing this ac Abby and that's a med cactus that is if it survives as it was very skinny tuber formation . 

Here is a pic looks more blended than true bicolour which is what I wanted in my display but hopefully 3 or 4 of them. 

[Ian k]

Hi Raymond don't order it yet I might be able to get some cuttings from the guy who raised Kelsea Carla

[ian]

Rooting mediums as long as it will hold moisture any of the mediums mentioned will work fine, pick one for your conditions try several ways you will soon come to the conclusion which suits your conditions. Jack does indeed has great success with the sand he uses Jack also roots without any heat apart from a frost free heater just incase the temperature falls, also he roots the cuttings in the dark no lights they take a little longer to root but he usually roots in three weeks. The yellowing of the cuttings green up fine when potted up and placed in the greenhouse.

I personally use potting compost and also use a mist system, my reason for using the compost is that if I do not have time to pot them up straight away then there is a little feed for the freshly rooted cuttings.

Raymond as for the ball Dahlia Clearview Comano Mordor does look pretty good Dave Kent (National Dahlia Society) is acquiring it

[Raymond]

Thanks ian I will try some different ways until I do it I won't know. It's in the practise not the theory. I had heard about rooting in the dark some of the big commercial growers use it. 

Camano mordor I like but also some of these new blyton coming through.thought chiraz looked fabulous Nicer than Valentine. I can try one or two next year let me see how I get on with my w  Diane and d superb etc....  etc....

How do you contact Dave Kent Ian ? There is a collarette I want badly colouring unique called kelsie Annie joy. 

Ian k cheers for that. I won't order it not ordering anything else until the new year Ian. Some cutting would be great. Only 1 or 2 so I can trial it.  Going to wait for the bulletin and add in some singles from the top ones for this year. 

About to place my order for growlights and heatmats waiting to see if any good deals. Not starting mine until end of Jan.  Large Vitapod arrived was an early birthday present 

[Deleted]

Just thought I'd post a couple of pictures I took at Harrogate this year, while winter creeps on, and the nights are getting longer .  A bit of colour, to get us through the cold dark months.

 

[Raymond]

Gives us all something to look forward to @markymate bring on spring please !

[Ian k]

H everyone had a good day today lifted 350 tubers in 4 hrs only another 100 to lift tomorrow, even though they have had a week of frost on them they are in great shape and a fair few starting to show signs of new growth.