3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
Thanks for sharing Lizalily!
Many blessings in this endeavor as the ideas take shape and form. I found myself about a week or so ago, looking ahead to next season's Dahlia's.
I am enjoying so much, my first Dahlia(purchased last year) 'coccinea'. It has been in an area that probably receives just a few hours direct sun. I trimmed it back, for a reason that doesn't come to mind right now, a few months ago. As a result it has grown into a wonderfully organic, relaxed form with branches dipping over and down its pot, then reaching back upward. I just love the energy it is giving off. I am feeling such joy about it. And, since it is now receiving less sun, as we move into Autumn, its blooms are lasting about a week, with the first being about a week ago, ruby red, with a bit of purple.
Very Best,
GreenD
Miss Lucinda makes a good point about the age of the flower you're cutting. I cut them before they're fully open, early in the a.m. or late evening when they have the most moisture, as alyrics said.
It also helps to hydrate the plants well at least 6 hours before cutting- makes a big difference in how long they last and how they look. I just had a vase last a full 6 days looking very well; never changed the water. Put the vase outside to keep cool at night, if you have such conditions. That helps too.
This evening I leave on vacation and am due back with the first frosts,(most likely). I am thinking about the beautiful dahlias I have had this year, what to get rid of, what to try for next year.
I am thinking of moving my cut flower business more to a "Cut your own" with conditioned flowers for sale too, but putting fewer out at the roadside to die in the summer sun waiting for customers has been just too heart breaking! GReat a few days in the summer when they really sell, and sad on too many others when no one stops by.
As I ponder changes in my garden for next year, I am wondering what other Northwest growers have particularly liked for cut flowers this year? Did you try any new ones that were terrific, or are you ready to toss any of the old ones because something better has come along?
Poochella, of course I am mainly asking you this, but also welcome opinions from any others!
Here are the changes I am thinking about...Move all those beautiful curvy cactus type ones to my personal garden...they are neither popular with my customers nor do they hold up well in the cutting business....However, they make wonderful mounds of summer long color in the garden! (These would include Star's Favorite, a peach and cream one, a coral and yellow, and a white with lavender brushing.)
Increase the number of sturdy waterlily type flowers...Have particularly loved them this year. Need to add Bracken Ballerina and any other Bracken one's I can find that I do not have! I do have Wildwood Marie, Pam Howden, Bracken Loreli,September Morn, Angel Dust, Painted Desert , Chilson's Pride. Bracken Rose has yet to bloom for me this year so will probably miss it.
Increase the Balls and Pom poms. Find some good B size Dahlias that will hold up well to picking.. I have some. I am also in love with. Get more of the Karma dahlias, though I find them harder to get going and growing into their potential. Wish I had a better source for small amounts of them! This year Bluebeard and Bergers Record (Red) were prolific cactus types for cutting.
And then there are the old friends I greet every year....Brandon James, Ruby Red, Procyon, Cornell, James Albin, Gay Princess, Grandma June, Brookside Cooley, etc.
Oh yes, My favorite "Trade" has been Tartan...Thanks to the nice guy who sent it to me!
I would love any input on next years list!
PS, POOCH, would you beleive I lost Mazama last year in moving plants? I miss her!
I am happy to say that, while there was some damage to the extremities, "the good news" is that the plants have all pulled through. I trimmed off several pails full of blooms(5 gallon pails), and blackened leaves this morning, and things look a lot healthier. I also had to cut back several of my brugmansia which were under the sheets. The frost was so hard, it went right through the sheets. I don't think I've seen that before at this time of year.
Anyway, I thought I would pass on "the good news".
Nice flowers. Lemon Meringue is such a sunny yellow. I wonder if your white one with slightly split tips couldn't be Gitts Attention- a 4-6" informal decorative.
The pink/yellow laciniated one I wonder about Nenekazi, linked below, but not sure that fits. It could be a faded version, or an entirely different dahlia.
They're all pretty! If you dig your tubers up for winter, try a No Blot Ink in a Pencil to write right on the damp tubers. They work very well. Sharpies work on dry skinned tubers.
Here is a link that might be useful: Nenekazi
Hey Tracy--
Well, thanks for making me feel like a celebrity! I am a flower arranger and a good one at that, but frankly, even I had no idea that hollow stemmed dahlias could use a few pin pricks up the stems ala "La" Poochella, and it is a great tip. So, in spite of your bend of the hat to me, I say Gratzie to Ms. Pooch!
Oh, BTW, stop fertilizing at least a month before frost. They need to hardy up.
Of interesting note, the weather forecast in my area is forecasting 4C degrees on Saturday and Sunday night. We may be getting frost here soon.
I looked up Islander and it's huge and gorgeous. Congrats on growing it! Was it really an 8"-10" bloom? Any pics?
Sorry about them dang critters. Have you tried the organic slug bait? I think it's iron phosphate and several brands available (I actually found some at Lowes in their new organics section). I used it this year on my organic veggie garden and around my dahlias with success.
Alice_ma6,
1) The bigger the better at least a gallon + - to make room for a good root system and also for tuber development. Some can get really large.
2) As many holes as possible. I take pails and drill holes in the sides near the bottom to plant my brugmansia. That way I can root prune easily and pull them out. Dahlia roots are not as large as brugmansia, so bottom holes will be okay. You still might have to dig deeply to get to the bottom of the pot.
3) Good soil with lots of nutrients. Also with good drainage. They don't like wet feet.
4) If your pot soil is good, you will need less fertilizer. I use Miracle Grow, but any balanced fertilizer is good.
Personally, I don't have the space to do what you are recommending, so I clean well, dry slightly, dust with bulb dust, wrap, and store in cardboard box in my cold cellar which does not freeze. This has worked well for years.
Go to the bottom of this page to where it says search (this forum) and post your search terms there.
Jroot and Poochella have both contributed fabulous postings with detailed photos as to how to overwinter and divide.
Dahliaboy also has an excellent posting.
The gist of it is that you will wait for the first frost or two to blacken your folliage then you will remove the folliage, clean the dirt off the bulb and store it (in plastic wrap, bags, etc. in a cool place in your house with temp hovering around 45 degrees. But read their posts. Have fun with your dahlia. You will get hooked.
WEll honey - which sites? Always up for some freebies
I'll send you an email.