Dahlia Season 2018

[Cat]

So,it has been agreed The Boss is going for the Championships at Cornwall Dahlia Society this year. I get to enter the novices again if there is time after supporting him. He wants to stage everything he enters on his own at the CDS shows now he has had a try or two so we will need maximum time for his entries. I will do the oasis and watering etc - his old job. We plan to get the heat bed up and running during feb half term (cold green house so bubble wrap insulation will be installed again) and we are going to try a capillary matting for first time.

We plan to make a rough list of varieties we would like to enter into the different classes by the end of jan so we can prioritise which to set up first. We are cutting down on how many we grow this year (she says) and growing less in large pots. The boss says he wants - less better rather than more but naff!

We are waiting on official confirmation of the new venue for Cornwall Dahlia Society shows. I have heard a whisper and if it's true then the venue has a lot of potential for promoting the Dahlia.

I have seen quite a few people have set things away already and it has us twitching to start but we are trying to be sensible and watching for the risk of frost.

[vc]

Hiya Cat.....fellow cornishman here.  Interested to know where the Championships will be held.
grow several dahlias and purchased Arabian Nights (is that Knights?) today.  Nice fat tubers for £1 too 

[Cat]

Hi vc I can certainly let you know as soon as it is officially confirmed. Maybe snute2008 could clarify further, he's in the know. Which area of Kernow are you? Yes it is Arabian night, a good dark red garden variety with large decorative flowers.

[vc]

Hiya Cat
I'm in the Penwith area......Hayle/St Ives....not far from the National Dahlia collection 
I grow a dozen or more different varieties so not a collector of them.  An increasing fondness for them though

[diggie]

Just typical. Started my Oakwood Goldcrest tubers early as they are notorious late starters. Checked them today and they are showing signs of life. Will have to use them as mother plants.

[Cat]

diggie that's typical. Like you say notorious to wake up usually, I've read of struggles with hot water black bags and all sorts to get them going. Well done you for not having that issue. I would be interested in seeing photos when you are taking the cuttings from the mother plants.I was sent a great drawing explaining it but I have never physically done mother plants so if you fancy doing a before and after

[johnjess]

Sounds like you're going to have a busy season Cat ( and Che)!

Good luck with the Championship. How many vases do you have to put on the bench when entering a Championship class?

I'll be following with interest.




johnjess

[diggie]

Jan 21, 2018 18:09:22 GMT Cat said:

diggie that's typical. Like you say notorious to wake up usually, I've read of struggles with hot water black bags and all sorts to get them going. Well done you for not having that issue. I would be interested in seeing photos when you are taking the cuttings from the mother plants.I was sent a great drawing explaining it but I have never physically done mother plants so if you fancy doing a before and after

Hi Cat, Have you seen Ian Sutherlands post on Facebook. All is revealed c/w photos. Very informative.

[johnjess]

I agree diggie, fantastic informative posts for a beginner like me.

Thank you ian.



Johnjess

[johnjess]

Hi all,

I have a beginners question re 'growing up'. I think I understand the basics eg to grow 8 up you have 4 pairs and growing tip. Remove the growing tip
and each pair of leaves should produce a new shoot giving eight flowers.

OK my question is to get a plant to grow 12/14/16 up do you have to double stop? How do you double stop? Lets say for 12 up do you start off with three pairs
of leaves remove the tip giving 6 shoots then remove the tip of each of the 6 branches when they each have a pair of leaves or is it not as simple as that?

Also how soon can you do the first stop? Does the plant need to be in its final growing position or can you do it while growing the plant on in smaller pots?

I hope the questions make sense!

I know its early for asking questions on 'growing up'but I thought I'd try to get the info and try and get my head round it rather than panicking in June!!

Thanks in advance

Johnjess

[ian]

Hi JJ yes as you describe will be fine stopping as you suggested will give you the breaks ie three pair of leaves will produces six breaks as you describe then depending how many leaves you decide to leave on the laterals or branches and these are stopped will determine how many flowering laterals you are producing to two pair on each lateral will give you as you say 12 but if you leave four pair you can get 24 as you would require or more on pompons. First stop in the main I would say depending on the variety stop on planting out if you want to carry out double stop. Then count back from the show and try and time for a show. on most I prefer to grow my Dahlias straight up. Now poms and some miniatures are better stopped in the pot a week or so before planting out. pompons I tend to keep nipping out the growing points until around 7 July. similarly this is how I grow Marston Suzanne. Good luck

[johnjess]

Thanks ian.

johnjess

[Cat]

ian beat me to it, sorry johnjess I've been busy, saw your post and thought I would pop back on tonight. It's never to early to ask a question. Sometimes I have to even ask the question again because I quite often learn dahlia techniques better with seeing them visually rather than by the written word. Poor old Ian and johndoe etc do put up with alot and they never grumble. The questions are all part of the learning curve - enjoy!

[ian]

Feb 9, 2018 20:21:11 GMT Cat said:

ian beat me to it, sorry johnjess I've been busy, saw your post and thought I would pop back on tonight. It's never to early to ask a question. Sometimes I have to even ask the question again because I quite often learn dahlia techniques better with seeing them visually rather than by the written word. Poor old Ian and johndoe etc do put up with alot and they never grumble. The questions are all part of the learning curve - enjoy!

Less of the poor and Old CAT lol

[johndoe]

It's alright with me Cat, I am poor, and feeling very old!!!