Dahlia's without covers.

[Tel]

Recommendations required on which dahlia's will stand the weather, without covering.

Brenda T is one I have grown well with out covers.

[ian]

Most miniature dahlias, cactus/semi cactus, ball, decoratives, pom-poms will all perform very well uncovered. Larger blooms tend to get nocked about by the wind and rain they then tend to lose form.  Hillcrest Duncan Edwards although a large semi cactus does grow very well outside and does not mark it is quite weather proof. Rosendale Stephanie (small dec) is another one. Brenda T as you say does well outside.  

[scrumpy]

All of my smalls and miniatures survived some nasty rainfall last year. Biggest problem is with Senzoe Ursula You must cane the stems.

[markb]

As Ian says, most miniatures and sizes below will do well uncovered, however, I would avoid 'Dikara Kent' as when we had it in the trials in Pencoed it produces white spots on the petals in heavyish rain.

The small ball 'Westerton Folly' did well uncovered for me the last two years. The only small dec I have successfully grown uncovered is 'Amber Festival' although 'Leopold Chloe' doesn't seem to mind rain too much, but you know the problem I'm having with that!

'Hillcrest Candy' doesn't seem to mind rain too much but doesn't like the cool nights and heavy dews we get from late August.

[sweetpea]

Jul 17, 2014 12:10:30 GMT markb said:

As Ian says, most miniatures and sizes below will do well uncovered, however, I would avoid 'Dikara Kent' as when we had it in the trials in Pencoed it produces white spots on the petals in heavyish rain.

The small ball 'Westerton Folly' did well uncovered for me the last two years. The only small dec I have successfully grown uncovered is 'Amber Festival' although 'Leopold Chloe' doesn't seem to mind rain too much, but you know the problem I'm having with that!

'Hillcrest Candy' doesn't seem to mind rain too much but doesn't like the cool nights and heavy dews we get from late August.

You sure it was just rain markb? reason I ask as that is exactly what I got on my dahlias and some veg. years ago when there was a sudden hailstorm. I can't recall the varieties I grew then but I usually grew a few of each class. as I recall the damage was only superficial and they soon grew out of it although some of the older leaves kept the damage.

[markb]

Yes, sweet pea, just rain. Our trials co-ordinator spoke to the raiser at the time who confirmed he'd had the same thing. That summer was exceptionally wet even by Welsh standards and was a good test of the cultivars on trial as they were all grown without covers even the larger types.

[scrumpy]

What sort of rain was it? Did it come from the Atlantic or from continental Europe, or up from the Mediterranean?
I've noticed that rain from the Atlantic tends to be a lot drier, but more pure, than from continental europe where because of the heavy industry, rain tends to be more acid and a lot wetter due to impurities. As to Mediterranean rain, the least said the better. Tends to pick up sand particles form North Africa and once deposited on your petals will stain badly.

[ian]

I am off on my holidays on Saturday can you give me the weather forecast Scrumpy Hehe only joking. Valid point.

[scrumpy]

Acid rain in Paris. Atlantic rain in Porthcawl. No Mediterranean rain forecast

[ian]

Three years ago I had hailstone three times in a week just after planting out which reduced all my nearly 600 plants to stems and doily leaves. That year I won the National this just shows you how resilient the Dahlia is and how important a good root system is. All my Dahlias are covered with the exception of one row of miniature decs. 4x3 & 3x2 constructions and a recently acquired poly tunnel (54 x21). Covers will go on around the 15 August. The Dahlia is a wonderful thing, the job I do not like is tying up but it has to be done. So I will go and do a bit now. Bye bye for now

[markb]

Jul 17, 2014 16:46:40 GMT scrumpy said:

What sort of rain was it? Did it come from the Atlantic or from continental Europe, or up from the Mediterranean?
I've noticed that rain from the Atlantic tends to be a lot drier, but more pure, than from continental europe where because of the heavy industry, rain tends to be more acid and a lot wetter due to impurities. As to Mediterranean rain, the least said the better. Tends to pick up sand particles form North Africa and once deposited on your petals will stain badly.

Most, but not all, our weather systems tend to come from the Atlantic. Having said that it looks as if a weather system from France is coming to visit this weekend!

That year we had a lot of heavy rain, so much so that the stream opposite our house backed up and flooded our road - the only time that has happened. It may have been due to the frequency of the rain therefore. I will try and find a record of what won the trials that year, I know we had 'Abbie' on trial that year as a small dec and that took all the weather could throw at it - unfortunately it got classified as a miniature dec.

[MarkE]

I was wondering if pom specialist's tend to cover there plants? Thankyou

[Tel]

Aug 21, 2014 15:15:46 GMT MarkE said:

I was wondering if pom specialist's tend to cover there plants? Thankyou

Not that I know off. but there is an exception to every rule.

[markb]

Aug 21, 2014 15:15:46 GMT MarkE said:

I was wondering if pom specialist's tend to cover there plants? Thankyou

The only grower that I know of that covered poms was Brian Warriner. He used to say he had better control of the growing environment this way.

[MarkE]

Cheers lad's! I've got another question if you don't mind me being a pest! I've only managed to grow 5 plants of each variety this year, mainly because I couldn't afford the 20 of each I wanted, so I got 5 plants of each with plans to propergate the 15 or 20 for next year. so my question is. how many of the tubers would you keep for each variety to end up with say 20 plants? Hope this makes sense as you can tell writing and spelling is not my forte! Haha !!