Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2014 19:35:33 GMT
Well done you!!.....so pleased Karenglen came up trumps for you......had forgotten what a gorgeous dahlia she is !! Garden Friends did well too......doesn't matter about her legs......,her face is what counts....lol Yes well done Tel, back on the winning trail I see. Stems look fine on 'Garden Friends', you dont get extra points for being straight as long as they are in proportion to the flower. Collerettes dont favour well in the NDS Trials but you may well be in with a bit of a shout I think and obviously everyone on this board hopes. |
|
|
|
Post by scrumpy on Sept 6, 2014 19:47:40 GMT
What do you spray them with?
I have problems every year with spider mite, getting better, and it tends to like certain varieties more than others in my garden. The adult mite can live anywhere over winter, bamboo canes is one place that I reckon may cause problems.
|
|
|
|
Post by Raymond on Sept 6, 2014 19:51:23 GMT
Hi Raymond, Not sure why you would want to keep a dahlia that has not flowered yet but has a heavy infestation of spider mites ? Normally we keep our best stock whether it produces the strongest plants or the best flowers. This is a gamble, you could end up taking cuttings from a complete pile of c*** and hey presto you have produced not one but more of the same. Where did you get the tuber from ? if it's one of those produced in their zillions and put in a pretty packet then there is good chance it wont be very good quality and the spidermite problem arrived already attached to it. Not all Spidermites die off in the winter they go to ground with adult, 2 nymph stages and the eggs quite capable of living on a dahlia tuber, waiting for next spring and the warmer weather to start all over again. My tubers get sprayed 3-4 times every 3 days once they are dug up, washed, trimmed and then stored in dry peat. This hopefully will eradicate all the egg and nyph stages as well as the adults. They also get sprayed again in the spring twice before I set them up on my prop bench. You are joining Kent dahlia society, they have tuber and plant sales each season where good healthy stock can be purchased for not a lot of money. I know the midlands tuber sale auction some off for about a pound each. Good stock you will find is as cheap if not cheaper than the rubbish hanging in bags at the local garden centre or DIY Shop. Hear, hear.....good advice there .... Sir Alf is being incinerated on Sunday . I never like to bin any plants if it is salvageable. It was my only competition variety and I guess just wanted one bloom. Being stubborn like many many gardeners. Which I am sure you all have been n one way or another at some time  The tubor was from unwins. It grew very fast as was planted late then started going bad about 3 weeks ago was looking very healthy until then. It's a pity but another lesson learned. All my dahlias are going in the bin or given away to work colleagues bar a couple I like and I can practise the storing of them and the new ones will come from recommended growers that I have found through these forums and my own research. I will be getting a mixture of tubors and cuttings depending on the variety as currently do not have heated propogator so some will have to come later. I will also see what Kent society offer. I am a newbie with lots to learn I have never grown dahlias before and bought on a whim. I doubt I will ever compete in the future in any class but I will have a great looking garden though. Best of luck to anyone showing competing in any competitions. Best regards Raymond |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2014 20:20:57 GMT
What do you spray them with? I have problems every year with spider mite, getting better, and it tends to like certain varieties more than others in my garden. The adult mite can live anywhere over winter, bamboo canes is one place that I reckon may cause problems. Dymamec !! Works a treat. I have an overgrown garden next door with lots of spidermite infested conifers but last two seasons no or very little spidermite damage. The bamboo canes may be an issue. I soak mine in an old tin bath for 12 hrs filled with a decis protech mixture and bleach at the end of the season. They are then pulled out left to dry and this is repeated in the spring. Its a long job but once you get a system going you dont miss the time. Its minutes a day. What you must remember with spidermites is the adult lives for only 4 weeks, it is sexually mature at 2-3 weeks and will lay around 20 eggs a day every day. If their lifecycle is interupted for whatever reason and say for instance they have a shortage of males or females they can pre-programme what sex their next batch of offspring will be !! Dead clever things. Most insecticides wont kill the nymph or egg stage so it is important to spray every 3 days on varieties that suffer a lot to catch hatching youngsters. I dont do this !! but I spray every 5 days with either nynamec, majestic or decis protech rotating for good reason. Majestic works well but is a sufficant so a thorough drench of the entire plant is needed. The decis protech is not for spidermites. The decis protech is fantastic on earwigs, no vaseline on the stems for me this year, again this is 1st. Mildew - Systane 20EW is also sprayed weekly, I think 1 ltr is about £90 but lasts many seasons, much much cheaper then the systane sold in the shops. A good spraying programme for both mildew and pests is the lifeline of a show flower. |
|
|
|
Post by Raymond on Sept 6, 2014 20:53:05 GMT
What do you spray them with? I have problems every year with spider mite, getting better, and it tends to like certain varieties more than others in my garden. The adult mite can live anywhere over winter, bamboo canes is one place that I reckon may cause problems. Dymamec !! Works a treat. I have an overgrown garden next door with lots of spidermite infested conifers but last two seasons no or very little spidermite damage. The bamboo canes may be an issue. I soak mine in an old tin bath for 12 hrs filled with a decis protech mixture and bleach at the end of the season. They are then pulled out left to dry and this is repeated in the spring. Its a long job but once you get a system going you dont miss the time. Its minutes a day. What you must remember with spidermites is the adult lives for only 4 weeks, it is sexually mature at 2-3 weeks and will lay around 20 eggs a day every day. If their lifecycle is interupted for whatever reason and say for instance they have a shortage of males or females they can pre-programme what sex their next batch of offspring will be !! Dead clever things. Most insecticides wont kill the nymph or egg stage so it is important to spray every 3 days on varieties that suffer a lot to catch hatching youngsters. I dont do this !! but I spray every 5 days with either nynamec, majestic or decis protech rotating for good reason. Majestic works well but is a sufficant so a thorough drench of the entire plant is needed. The decis protech is not for spidermites. The decis protech is fantastic on earwigs, no vaseline on the stems for me this year, again this is 1st. Mildew - Systane 20EW is also sprayed weekly, I think 1 ltr is about £90 but lasts many seasons, much much cheaper then the systane sold in the shops. A good spraying programme for both mildew and pests is the lifeline of a show flower. Where do you buy all the above products Mark ? Some I may get for next year. I will in general be trying to be a little more organic next year and will try some mixed planting of beneficial plants with the dahlias eg perennial painted daisies which the flowers heads can be used to make a natural pesticide also nematodes for slugs and beer traps etc... Rather than so many pellets and liquid poison. I will even try dilute ammonia on slugs and snails. I plan to do some more fruit and some veg next year so need to look into more organic ways as all in my back garden. I also plan to try compost tea which is supposed to be good for all plants. I will definitely use your advise on the bamboo canes. But I think I am going the stock fencing route to support the dahlias as recommended by markymate and used by ayletts. Raymond |
|
|
|
Post by scrumpy on Sept 6, 2014 20:59:42 GMT
I use dynamec but have never sprayed tubers. Will do that this year. Cheers.
I was also looking at systane, possibly nimrod, as the fungicides I've used this year just haven't worked.
I also use the original Decis.
If you can find a supplier, the above don't come cheap !!
|
|
|
|
Post by Raymond on Sept 6, 2014 21:08:46 GMT
Nothing comes cheap nowadays scrumpy the cheapest part is the plants   I want to spray my begonia tubors as going forward I am getting blackmore and Langdon and they are expensive but worth it. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2014 21:15:36 GMT
I use LBS Horticultural Supplies: You will need a trade account as they wont sell willy nilly over the shelf to anyone. www.lbsbuyersguide.co.uk/chemicals-accessories/canda-chemicals/insecticides-horticultural-chemicals.htmlLike scrumpy said none of their insecticides, mitacides or fungacides are cheap. The Systane 20EW is fab, but again you have to spray weekly which is a pain but necessary. If you plan on going the nematode route remember you cant spray insecticides as it will kill them. Its one or the other, not both. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2014 21:21:15 GMT
Nothing comes cheap nowadays scrumpy the cheapest part is the plants I want to spray my begonia tubors as going forward I am getting blackmore and Langdon and they are expensive but worth it. Blackmore and Langdon are expensive !! Try these: www.fibrex.co.uk/tuberous-begonias/I have used them and while they dont carry as many varieties they are equally as good. |
|
|
|
Post by scrumpy on Sept 6, 2014 21:31:40 GMT
linkThey will supply if you have the necessary certificates.
|
|
|
|
Post by Raymond on Sept 6, 2014 22:17:49 GMT
Nothing comes cheap nowadays scrumpy the cheapest part is t:D> Blackmore and Langdon are expensive !! Try these: www.fibrex.co.uk/tuberous-begonias/I have used them and while they dont carry as many varieties they are equally as good. Thank you I will check them out at rhs show in October which I am attending as they are exhibiting. |
|
|
|
Post by dcdahlia on Sept 6, 2014 22:29:01 GMT
Phil Watson carried on where he left off at wisley today at a local agricultural show winning numerous classes and the silver medal for best vase with kenora challenger.I managed 5 entries and got 2 firsts and a second all with poms (minley carol and gurtla twilight) 3 vasese of five class and 2 single vases.Should have a bigger cut for harrogate damping off permitting.
|
|
|
|
Post by Moonlight on Sept 7, 2014 0:46:37 GMT
Well done Everyone that have shown today.
I thought I was getting better at cutting but have been told that my 10 plants cut over 4 hours - so I'm not. I'm going to have another look at semi/cactus small and miniature & poms in the morning.
Daughter no.2 has her first dahlia all cut (by me) and ready and waiting in the tin with the others. She hasn't coped that well with the stress and adrenalin, whole family a lot more than a tad grumpy with each other.
She has told me emphatically that she is going to stage her dahlia herself on her own, unless she gets stuck.
Looking forward to Monday. This might be our local town show but it is a massive one in our family.
Giving up now and going to bed, a stressful day.
My lovely lilac Willo Violet sport was attacked last night. Knocked over bag ripped. Doesn't look so good now. Current plan is outside day time and inside night time. It's the best that I can think of doing right now.
Forget the show tomorrow, just want a better day tomorrow.
Hay hoe.
|
|
|
|
Post by Raymond on Sept 7, 2014 1:13:23 GMT
Good luck family moonlight ! Rooting for you all ! Have a great day and fingers crossed . Have a great show I will post pics from Kent tomorrow evening with names of varieties if I have time. Goodnight |
|
|
|
Post by Tel on Sept 7, 2014 6:35:44 GMT
Hope today is a less stressful day for you all and you all enjoy the show as a family. |
|
