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Post by Cherry on Mar 23, 2014 16:27:35 GMT
@markymate, you would never make a fool of yourself. How will you learn if you don't have a go. Nobody on this forum would think you are foolish. You would be admired for having a go. Test the waters with some local shows. I think you will.   |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2014 17:09:06 GMT
Thanks for the confidence booster Cherry. The trouble is, I love all types of Dahlias, with all the colours and forms, and I know if you show you need to grow 10-20 of the same kind. The only way I could do this, would be to get rid of the wife's chickens, to create the space needed . And believe me that's not going to happen. But maybe the veg patch could be cut back. |
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Post by Cherry on Mar 23, 2014 17:44:29 GMT
Yes, leave the chooks, try some local shows this year, and next year grow the right sort. |
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Post by Moonlight on Mar 23, 2014 19:41:08 GMT
Thanks for the confidence booster Cherry. The trouble is, I love all types of Dahlias, with all the colours and forms, and I know if you show you need to grow 10-20 of the same kind. The only way I could do this, would be to get rid of the wife's chickens, to create the space needed . And believe me that's not going to happen. But maybe the veg patch could be cut back.
It can be done, depends what you want.
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Post by Tel on Mar 23, 2014 20:22:15 GMT
@markymate, you would never make a fool of yourself. How will you learn if you don't have a go. Nobody on this forum would think you are foolish. You would be admired for having a go. Test the waters with some local shows. I think you will. There is only one room for a fool on here, me.  |
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Post by Cherry on Mar 23, 2014 21:34:18 GMT
Oh Tel. We are all fools for following such a foolish hobby. However, it is healthy and not as boring as a gym. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2014 9:56:42 GMT
Moonlight, I'm going to look at my Dave Gillam and Dave Spencer videos, to get some tips from the pro's. My passion is for large and giant decoratives and cactus, but I do have all other types as well, 42 varieties in all for this summer  . And Tel, you're certainly no fool, love reading your advice on all aspects of Dahlia growing . Keep up the great advice, I'm learning more each day!!!! |
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Post by Moonlight on Mar 24, 2014 10:37:59 GMT
I don't have a lot of room for growing dahlias in my garden but this year I am aiming to grow a single plant of Trooper Dan and Sir Alf mainly because my family like them. Hypothetically thinking, if they grow well enough to enter a show then I will have a go but they would have to be pretty spectacular for me to do that. Transferring them to the show would be an absolute nightmare. It's the worst bit because if an accident happens, that's it gone, left with a ruined bloomed that could have stayed quite happily growing in the garden. I'm bad enough cutting and putting them in their tins with a miniature. I take hours doing just that. Seriously. I love Kenora Valentine but I can't grow that without covers without the high risk of the weather ruining it. So I won't but I am sure that I will see it at county show as it was very popular and won a number of classes.
I've watched a lot of videos last year and probably will do this. Lots of ideas, advice and a lot of voice of experience are shared in these posts. There does seem to be a regional aspect, what works in some areas doesn't in another but at the main thing is to have a go and grow what You want to grow.
I'm going to grow 1 Water lily plant and I have tubers for 2 variegated varieties from the US. Chances are the variegated ones will be unshowable but I fell in love with one a couple of years ago.
Each to their own. I don't even have room in my garden for 42 plants, let alone varieties. I think you are very lucky your garden must look beautiful when your dahlias are in bloom.
PS I like chickens to.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2014 11:10:18 GMT
I don't have a lot of room for growing dahlias in my garden but this year I am aiming to grow a single plant of Trooper Dan and Sir Alf mainly because my family like them. Hypothetically thinking, if they grow well enough to enter a show then I will have a go but they would have to be pretty spectacular for me to do that. Transferring them to the show would be an absolute nightmare. It's the worst bit because if an accident happens, that's it gone, left with a ruined bloomed that could have stayed quite happily growing in the garden. I'm bad enough cutting and putting them in their tins with a miniature. I take hours doing just that. Seriously. I love Kenora Valentine but I can't grow that without covers without the high risk of the weather ruining it. So I won't but I am sure that I will see it at county show as it was very popular and won a number of classes.
I've watched a lot of videos last year and probably will do this. Lots of ideas, advice and a lot of voice of experience are shared in these posts. There does seem to be a regional aspect, what works in some areas doesn't in another but at the main thing is to have a go and grow what You want to grow.
I'm going to grow 1 Water lily plant and I have tubers for 2 variegated varieties from the US. Chances are the variegated ones will be unshowable but I fell in love with one a couple of years ago.
Each to their own. I don't even have room in my garden for 42 plants, let alone varieties. I think you are very lucky your garden must look beautiful when your dahlias are in bloom.
PS I like chickens to.
Moonlight, I'm growing Trooper Dan and Sir Alf Ramsey as well this year. Yes, and the videos showing large flowers at shows does seem very daunting indeed. When the summer comes, I'll post some pictures . Yes, the chickens get better treatment than I do, I'm certainly way down the pecking order in our home |
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Post by hammygirl on Mar 26, 2014 21:19:33 GMT
I'm new to this, so I'm not too sure of the form. Can anyone recommend a good company for mail order Dahlias? I have just ordered some from Halls of Heddon. Are they good?
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Post by Moonlight on Mar 26, 2014 21:52:12 GMT
I'm new to this, so I'm not too sure of the form. Can anyone recommend a good company for mail order Dahlias? I have just ordered some from Halls of Heddon. Are they good?
I've bought some from Halls this year but they have not come yet (because I have requested that they are dispatched beginning of April.) other people have ordered from there before and put in order with them following years. Have you ordered all the dahlias you wanted now? |
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Post by scrumpy on Mar 26, 2014 22:25:45 GMT
Thanks for the confidence booster Cherry. The trouble is, I love all types of Dahlias, with all the colours and forms, and I know if you show you need to grow 10-20 of the same kind. The only way I could do this, would be to get rid of the wife's chickens, to create the space needed . And believe me that's not going to happen. But maybe the veg patch could be cut back. I grow a maximum of 6 of each variety. Over 20 varieties. 134 in total. Last year I managed over 100 blooms for shrewsbury, about 50 for southport. The more you grow the more choice, but if you have shows over a 2 week period, or one particular date, then when you learn how to time your blooms it can be done with fewer plants. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2014 8:03:09 GMT
Welcome Hammygirl. I'm fairly new to this forum, and I can tell you, you will get all the beat advice there is here, from a very friendly group of people. I've just received my plants from Halls, and there are really good quality, would definitely recommend. Other suppliers I use are The Anglia Bulb Company, whose owner Tracey is brilliant to deal with, same again for Riverside bulbs. Both have online websites. The one with the most choice is The National Dahlia Collection, they have over 1000 dahlias available as cuttings. Go on their website, but give yourself a couple of hours |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2014 8:06:46 GMT
Thanks for the confidence booster Cherry. The trouble is, I love all types of Dahlias, with all the colours and forms, and I know if you show you need to grow 10-20 of the same kind. The only way I could do this, would be to get rid of the wife's chickens, to create the space needed . And believe me that's not going to happen. But maybe the veg patch could be cut back. I grow a maximum of 6 of each variety. Over 20 varieties. 134 in total. Last year I managed over 100 blooms for shrewsbury, about 50 for southport. The more you grow the more choice, but if you have shows over a 2 week period, or one particular date, then when you learn how to time your blooms it can be done with fewer plants. Thanks for the info Scrumpy. Will be looking to see if I could do some shows next year maybe. So will be pestering for advice |
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Post by Tel on Mar 27, 2014 9:37:57 GMT
Welcome to the forum Hammygirl. |
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. And Tel, you're certainly no fool, love reading your advice on all aspects of Dahlia growing 
