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Post by Lou78W on Apr 23, 2014 20:51:06 GMT
Just been having a quick look at this week's GN......and Richard has an article in...yayyyyyyy !!!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2014 14:41:46 GMT
Spent the weekend rotavating the garden ready to plant out in three weeks. Sprinkled Q4 in so should be fine. Hired from HSS, £49 for the whole weekend, not bad I thought. My display plants are coming on really well now, with plenty of spares if needs be, 56 different varieties on show this year, so with the knowledge passed on from the forum, I'm hoping for a great display  . The new dahlia book out by Andy Vernon arrived today, had a quick look through, and the photos look stunning, so it's off to bed early tonight, and get stuck into it  |
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Post by Moonlight on Apr 28, 2014 16:41:42 GMT
I am trying to plan out my rows, looking at the height of the plants themselves, rather than just the blooms which grows tallest Ruskin Myra or Rycroft Zoe? Plant height wise, how big are they compared to Eastwood Moonlight?
Last year some of my dahlias where huge (e.g. Mary's Jomanda and Stalleen Condessa; wouldn't look out of place in a giants garden - I could not see the top of the blooms) and nothing like what they were in the dahlia lists, so I thought I'd ask the voices of experience instead.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2014 7:34:12 GMT
I am trying to plan out my rows, looking at the height of the plants themselves, rather than just the blooms which grows tallest Ruskin Myra or Rycroft Zoe? Plant height wise, how big are they compared to Eastwood Moonlight?
Last year some of my dahlias where huge (e.g. Mary's Jomanda and Stalleen Condessa; wouldn't look out of place in a giants garden - I could not see the top of the blooms) and nothing like what they were in the dahlia lists, so I thought I'd ask the voices of experience instead.
Moonlight, from what I've been told by a couple of dahlia producers, the height of individual plants will vary, depending on soil, geographical location and of course the weather. These are the reasons why the National Dahlia collection do not give any heights of there plants. I know how frustrating it can be when creating a display. Last year, with 37 different dahlias, I had at least 12 plants that, either grew much taller, or didn't grow as high as they were described. Totally mucked up the display. Keeping records and photo's will help year on year, to establish heights and spread. I found that some creative clipping, can sometimes make the display better . |
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Post by Moonlight on Apr 29, 2014 21:32:54 GMT
I am trying to plan out my rows, looking at the height of the plants themselves, rather than just the blooms which grows tallest Ruskin Myra or Rycroft Zoe? Plant height wise, how big are they compared to Eastwood Moonlight?
Last year some of my dahlias where huge (e.g. Mary's Jomanda and Stalleen Condessa; wouldn't look out of place in a giants garden - I could not see the top of the blooms) and nothing like what they were in the dahlia lists, so I thought I'd ask the voices of experience instead.
Moonlight, from what I've been told by a couple of dahlia producers, the height of individual plants will vary, depending on soil, geographical location and of course the weather. These are the reasons why the National Dahlia collection do not give any heights of there plants. I know how frustrating it can be when creating a display. Last year, with 37 different dahlias, I had at least 12 plants that, either grew much taller, or didn't grow as high as they were described. Totally mucked up the display. Keeping records and photo's will help year on year, to establish heights and spread. I found that some creative clipping, can sometimes make the display better .
 I
n my opinion Mary's Jomanda was too big to be the 1st plant in the row, so I need to move it back but that was nothing in comparison to my 8 foot Staleen. So what I don't want is to have another dahlia that has the tendency to grow a larger plant planted next to a plant that grows to about 4 foot.
Fence is 6 feet tall.
Just looking for common sense, voice of experience recommendation / warning. Staleen looked good but I could make any accurate assessment of it because it was so tall, so I've not kept the tuber, I've given it away and all the Staleen seeds because I can't risk another potential forest. Must confess to keeping back 30 seeds some of which have grown but I'll be giving them away to. (It would have to be the variety which has had the most seeds germinate ).
I was put off growing larger blooms because I assumed that giant blooms = giant plants but I've been told that Sir Alf and Trooper Dan aren't, so I'm going to grow them this year. There is a geographical factor, some varieties are grown up North but struggle down South and vice versa, others can be grown pretty much anywhere. I've been known to take the odd photo or make a couple of notes about what I've grown and I've asked loads of questions & asked for advice last year. At the moment, I've got a row of 3 dahlias from the US, so can't predict those but Ruskin Myra or Rycroft are in that row and just wondered which of the 2 grew the shorter plant. I don't really think of growing them for display. My dahlia patch is at the bottom of the garden, an explosion of colour which you can see in the distance, much of which is blocked by my greenhouse, from the kitchen sink, just want to give each a better chance to be seen.
If that makes sense. Clear as mud me, well most of the time.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2014 10:52:31 GMT
Moonlight, I think I must be to fussy. On an A4 sheet of paper, I print a small picture of the dahlia in question, then all the information, like where it was brought, type, height, spread, foliage colour, etc. Then as the season goes on I record time from putting on heat, to first signs of shoots, shoots to cuttings time,from cutting to potting up and so on. I then record stopping time, actual heights and spreads and anything else the plant does. I know, totally obsessive, but my memory is poor, and I'll forget if I don't write it down . I prefer the larger types, but really all dahlias are welcome in my garden. Sir Alf Ramsey and Trooper Dan are new to me as well this year, Last year I grew Kidds Climax, which grew 12" shorter than I expected, but the blooms were about 11" on great thick stems. Unfortunately I lost the tuber over wintering  . I grew Kranz Kafka two years and that went to about 5ft 6", which was much higher than expected, so That's when I started to keep records, but every year with new plants you will get this re-occurring problem. This year, I've got 28 new plants, bringing the total display to 56, so that's a lot of ****** paperwork  . Hopefully in a few years I can stop writing, but I'm not going to hold my breath... |
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Post by Moonlight on May 1, 2014 11:40:56 GMT
Moonlight, I think I must be to fussy. On an A4 sheet of paper, I print a small picture of the dahlia in question, then all the information, like where it was brought, type, height, spread, foliage colour, etc. Then as the season goes on I record time from putting on heat, to first signs of shoots, shoots to cuttings time,from cutting to potting up and so on. I then record stopping time, actual heights and spreads and anything else the plant does. I know, totally obsessive, but my memory is poor, and I'll forget if I don't write it down . I prefer the larger types, but really all dahlias are welcome in my garden. Sir Alf Ramsey and Trooper Dan are new to me as well this year, Last year I grew Kidds Climax, which grew 12" shorter than I expected, but the blooms were about 11" on great thick stems. Unfortunately I lost the tuber over wintering . I grew Kranz Kafka two years and that went to about 5ft 6", which was much higher than expected, so That's when I started to keep records, but every year with new plants you will get this re-occurring problem. This year, I've got 28 new plants, bringing the total display to 56, so that's a lot of ****** paperwork . Hopefully in a few years I can stop writing, but I'm not going to hold my breath...
Each to their own, live and learn and go with the flow. Most of my posts were in the beginner dahlia thread last year, I still post there but I've posted a bit more here, I've been a bit more brave this year.
P.S. I grew Franz Kafka last year, it wasn't that big but then it was next to my mutant Mary's Jomanda. Didn't keep it, too many daisy eyes on it.
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Post by Moonlight on May 1, 2014 11:47:44 GMT
P.S. I grew Franz Kafka last year, it wasn't that big but then it was next to my mutant Mary's Jomanda. Didn't keep it, too many daisy eyes on it.
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richardr
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Post by richardr on May 1, 2014 17:11:17 GMT
Just been having a quick look at this week's GN......and Richard has an article in...yayyyyyyy !!! Just catching up with the forum Lou so a late Thank You! Attachments:
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Post by Tel on May 1, 2014 19:08:30 GMT
Looking like we will have a frost Fri & Sat night. the dahlia's will have to go back in the greenhouse tomorrow.
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Post by Lou78W on May 1, 2014 19:32:36 GMT
Just been having a quick look at this week's GN......and Richard has an article in...yayyyyyyy !!! Just catching up with the forum Lou so a late Thank You! No problem richardr. Good to hear things are going well !! |
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2014 10:59:37 GMT
The last new dahlias for this year have arrived from, The Nation Dahlia Collection. 8 plants from the gallery collection, to go at the front of the display. Potted into 4" pots, and they won't go out until the roots have filled the pot. All the plants for the display are growing really well in 71/2" pots ready to go out at the end of the month . I've also ordered a new 8ft x 12ft greenhouse, so going to have fun taking down the old one, and putting up the new one. It's the same size as the old one, but has more roof vents and louvres with auto openers, plus one sheet toughened glass and higher eaves. I totally re-furbished the old last year, so I'm going to put it on ebay to get some money back, which hopefully will keep Jill happy, as she thinks I've gone totally bonkers  |
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Post by Tel on May 2, 2014 18:28:48 GMT
The last new dahlias for this year have arrived from, The Nation Dahlia Collection. 8 plants from the gallery collection, to go at the front of the display. Potted into 4" pots, and they won't go out until the roots have filled the pot. All the plants for the display are growing really well in 71/2" pots ready to go out at the end of the month . I've also ordered a new 8ft x 12ft greenhouse, so going to have fun taking down the old one, and putting up the new one. It's the same size as the old one, but has more roof vents and louvres with auto openers, plus one sheet toughened glass and higher eaves. I totally re-furbished the old last year, so I'm going to put it on ebay to get some money back, which hopefully will keep Jill happy, as she thinks I've gone totally bonkers Still waiting for my order to arrive.  |
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Post by Tel on May 2, 2014 18:34:38 GMT
All the dahlia's are back in the greenhouse, with a frost forecast.
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2014 7:19:20 GMT
All the dahlia's are back in the greenhouse, with a frost forecast. Same as you Tel, and just for good measure, all the hanging baskets. Heater up a couple of notches and kept the temp up at 11'c. No more frosts forecast down here now, so hopefully should be frost free until planting out  . Hopefully you're get your order next week. That's the only thing about the National Dahlia Collection, they don't deliver till quite late, last year, due to weather problems, I didn't get my plants till the 3rd week in may.
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. I grew Kranz Kafka two years and that went to about 5ft 6", which was much higher than expected, so That's when I started to keep records, but every year with new plants you will get this re-occurring problem. This year, I've got 28 new plants, bringing the total display to 56, so that's a lot of ****** paperwork 
. Hopefully in a few years I can stop writing, but I'm not going to hold my breath... 
.
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