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Post by Amber on Feb 28, 2011 21:09:43 GMT
Hi Amber - I gather you are a dahlia fan/expert. I live just around the corner from the National Collection of dahlias. Their trial and growing beds are a wonder to behold :)The irony is......I can't grow them in the ground as my water table is high and the tubers rot in winter.Winchester Growers ( the collection holders) are on a slight slope and so, don't have this problem  Their site overlooks St Michael's Mount and you can visit the collection during summer months. A fan certainly.....an expert.?....No!!......You are very lucky living so close to Winchesters.....It would be very dangerous (for my bank account) if I lived nearby i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/grin.gif .......If you like dahlias, you don't have to leave them in the ground over winter.....we certainly don't up here. You could grow them in pots and store the pots in a frost free place over winter. i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/smiley.gif |
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Post by Auricula on Feb 28, 2011 22:48:26 GMT
Can't be ar**d I'm afraid  just grow little ones in pots Penstemons,fuchsias, phlox and alsteromerias are my faves  |
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Post by Amber on Mar 1, 2011 8:41:22 GMT
LOL  .......I like your fav's too  |
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Post by Auricula on Mar 1, 2011 13:48:12 GMT
I am growing some Bishop's Children from seed this year.........if they germinate |
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Post by Rosefriend on Mar 1, 2011 13:55:19 GMT
So am I Auricula - as soon as I can find room to sow some more seeds...
RF
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Post by Jilly on Mar 7, 2011 18:53:24 GMT
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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 7, 2011 18:59:00 GMT
Sorry to hear you've joined the long list of folk with losses this year Jilly.  What I have learned 'tho is that there are lots of smashing Dahlia around and some good sites too. The one with the National Collection seems like a good one. |
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Post by Jilly on Mar 7, 2011 19:03:42 GMT
Thanks LG, I'm really not surprised though, I was only looking in the GH yesterday, but I managed to resist as I couldn't think of anywhere to put any more. Oh well every cloud has a silver lining, I'll be back over there at the weekend.
Jillyx
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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 7, 2011 19:24:48 GMT
That's the best attitude Jilly, see it as a good reason for more buying. That's what I've done this year.  |
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Post by Rosefriend on Mar 11, 2011 16:15:32 GMT
Back from Olaf's GC (famous for Engelgesicht/Angelface rose) and ended up with two new Dahlia's - Honey and Lambada....
Also put all the ones that are/have sprouted in the GH for the first time today - swathed like babies in fleece they are!!
RF
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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 11, 2011 16:20:34 GMT
Have you taken any cuttings from your newly sprouted ones Rf? I took my 1st cutting early this morning from Vuurvagel.
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Post by Rosefriend on Mar 11, 2011 16:45:40 GMT
No, not yet - I am just pleased to have got them this far but although I don't any cuttings I must do one or two, just to see how easy/difficult it is...
RF
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Post by Tig on Mar 17, 2011 15:21:34 GMT
I've potted all 14 of my tubers today as the darned things had started to sprout, most of them upside down They are in barely moist compost in the growhouses, so fingers crossed they'll be OK  x Tig |
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Post by Rosefriend on Mar 17, 2011 15:29:15 GMT
So are most of mine Tig - I have 4 layers of fleece on them - we are down to zero and possibly minus2C for the next few days - fingers crossed for us both.
RF
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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 17, 2011 17:35:16 GMT
We're having frosts at night here too and I don't have room in my mini growhouse so I'm keeping mine out in the covered back near the boiler flue for the time being. They seem to be happy enough there although they'll not really get enough light as they get bigger. I'll move them when I come back from France.
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Post by Auricula on Mar 17, 2011 19:15:23 GMT
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Post by Rosefriend on Mar 18, 2011 6:34:29 GMT
My Bishop's Children are germinating as well - very quick.
RF
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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 18, 2011 6:48:08 GMT
I do think that seeds germinate quicker when the time is right for them. I think I sowed too many too early (for a change you understand ;D)
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Post by Rosefriend on Mar 18, 2011 6:52:04 GMT
Same here LG - I can never wait but after 30 years gardening, things ain't gonna change now methinks!!
RF
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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 18, 2011 7:09:04 GMT
;D
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Post by purplejulia on Mar 21, 2011 10:51:59 GMT
I need some advice from one of you experts on Dahlias.
I planted some tubers last year and nothing appeared. I've gone mad and bought several more dahlia tubers this year and what I need to know is:
When shall I plant the tubers? (they will be in pots) and
Do I need to soak the tubers before planting?
Should they be kept in a warm place or would a cold greenhouse do?
Any advice would be much appreciated
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Post by Barbara on Mar 21, 2011 11:47:06 GMT
Plant them after all liklihood of frost has passed PJ, and you don't need to soak them, don't keep them to warm I find that makes them go mouldy, lots of people plant them in a shallow pot to get them started early before planting them out, I hope any of this helps, I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be along soon. |
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Post by Auricula on Mar 21, 2011 13:53:20 GMT
Mine are all planted, fairly shallowly in pots and left in a cold greenhouse PJ. Don't soak them as they are prone to rotting. I keep mine moist but not too wet. Sometimes,if they don't sprout, I scrape some soil away as they seem to like to be quite shallow and I can be a bit heavy handed with the compost ;D. I'll put mine outside in about a months time. I'm no expert ( on anything!! ;D) but that's just what I do |
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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 21, 2011 14:19:06 GMT
I too grow mine in pots for a while at least and some will stay in pots. What I did was to plant them in good sized pots, not too deep, in fact I've left a bit sticking out in them. I used ordinary MP compost and have it damp but not wet. All mine are now sprouting. I have them out in my back yard which is covered with perspex. The boiler is out there and it is above freezing. When the risk of frost has passed, I'll either put them out in their pots or plant them in the ground. Best of luck. |
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Post by purplejulia on Mar 21, 2011 17:10:47 GMT
Thanks everybody for your advice. I have planted the dahlias in pots, in multi purpose, not too wet and put them in my mini greenhouse.
I might just have planted the tubers too deep so I might just remove some of the compost.
Hope I get some flowers this year as I've not had any luck in the past.
Barbara, Auricula and LG I look forward to seeing your dahlias!
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Post by Auricula on Mar 21, 2011 18:16:14 GMT
 for all of us 
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Post by Tig on Mar 30, 2011 18:30:26 GMT
I had a broggle where the dwarf red cactus one was left in the ground all winter - still had tubers but they were opaque inside and a bit soft so I've removed it. Got a gap for another one now  x Tig |
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Post by Auricula on Mar 30, 2011 18:42:19 GMT
Too much "broggling"  My seedlings of Bishop's Children are going great guns, hope they don't rot off ;D |
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Post by Rosefriend on Mar 31, 2011 14:44:47 GMT
I sowed my Bishops's children seeds and thought that I might get one or two...mmmmh - they have all germinated.....
Why is it if you desperately want something to come through it doesn't....if you aren't bothered how many you get, they all germinate.
RF
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Post by Jasmine on Mar 31, 2011 15:48:42 GMT
The law of something or other RF ;D
I planted my Bishop of York tuber a few days ago - forgot to say. I've got 3 Bishop's Children seedlings all doing well - only sowed 3!
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Their site overlooks St Michael's Mount and you can visit the collection during summer months.
just grow little ones in pots 
What I have learned 'tho is that there are lots of smashing Dahlia around and some good sites too. The one with the National Collection seems like a good one. 
