Dahlia Season 2016

[johndoe]

Well, with the Dahlia 2016 season coming to a close, I thought I'd post a couple of pictures from the greenhouse. 

How the season began in late January, and how it's ended in December.

Always an exciting time for all of us who love our dahlias.  I just love this part of the season, second only to going to shows and showing, in my opinion

And the end.   Some of the 140 tubers all set now for the winter, in their peat beds today.  Fan on, keeping the air moving around, and yes, from time to time, they listen to the radio.....I really need to get out more

Hope everybody has a great Christmas, and a happy new year.  Oh, and don't forget to keep checking those tubers for fungus, and young slugs.

Mark

[Cat]

looks great johndoe I would love to set ours up like this but having a cold set up we have to store accordingly. I really like the trays you've got. What dimensions are they roughly please and a source of supply would be handy. Finally, approx. how big are the tubers you are setting away? some of ours are huge but yours look less so. Have you cut any tubers off or are they just set as they come? Thanks for tips Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you and yours from me and mine

[johndoe]

Dec 9, 2016 16:45:49 GMT Cat said:

looks great johndoe I would love to set ours up like this but having a cold set up we have to store accordingly. I really like the trays you've got. What dimensions are they roughly please and a source of supply would be handy. Finally, approx. how big are the tubers you are setting away? some of ours are huge but yours look less so. Have you cut any tubers off or are they just set as they come? Thanks for tips Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you and yours from me and mine

Hi Cat.  They are Garland Titan trays, and are 100cm X 55cm X 15cm.  Fantastic trays for storing, and setting the tubers off.  Nice, deep and rigid. The only thing is, when you have them full, they're blooming heavy. So always set in place, and then fill!!!

Here's a link for the cheapest place to get them, half price than most other places.   www.charliesdirect.co.uk/garland-titan-tray

All my tuber are uncut, just trimmed, and vary in size, so some trays have quite a few in, and others not so many.  I never cut my tubers, just think that you expose them to rot and other fungal disease. But that's just my opinion .

Hope you and Mr Cat, and the budding Champion, have a cracking Christmas, and New Year.

All the best

Mark

[Cat]

Thanks for that info Mark, johndoe . We are looking to buy new benches ready for next season so new trays may be an investment too. Thanks for the link I will go look see now

Cat

[Raymond]

I agree on the weight of those titan trays johndoe don't try lifting them single handed when full and watered . They are really heavy.

A tip with young slugs . First watering of the tubers. Add slugclear liquid to the water should get rid of them.

[johndoe]

Not long now for the big switch on

Get some of those slow starters going over Christmas.

[Deleted]

Bit like Blackpool lights eh JD? Fabulous set up you have by the way, very neat and tidy looking. I start later like Cat and get the tubers set up March 1st. Now my plot is fully rough dug and manured, tubers all put away I can have a fairly relaxed couple of months.

[johndoe]

Thanks David, I try to keep the greenhouse as tidy as possible. I think it keeps the chances of disease or virus down.

Have to control the urge for putting the heat on.  It'll only end up with me having to many cuttings, and no room to put them .

As I'm always told by she who must be obeyed, patience is something I don't have in abundance!!

[Cat]

Merry Christmas to all and a prosperous new year

[johndoe]

Dec 23, 2016 21:48:17 GMT Cat said:

Merry Christmas to all and a prosperous new year

Happy Christmas to you Cat, hope you Che, and the OH, have a lovely festive holiday.

Happy Christmas and New Year to everybody, may your glass never run dry

[Lou78W]

Here's hoping all my dahlia growing friends have a lovely Christmas and a successful growing year in 2017 xx

[diggie]

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you have a wonderful day.

[ste b]

Merry Christmas everyone , soon be tuber wake up time can't wait .

[diggie]

Here we go. Getting ready for 2017 season. Set off today Oakwood Goldcrest, notorious for taking a long time to wake up.

[ian]

Hi Good buds all my very best for the New year and the new growing season. Diggie I have Oakwood shooting already hehe.

Good luck and good fortune.