3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias

Have you had too much rain? I'm in NE Illinois, we've had so much rain that I have lots of things with moldy or rotting buds. See if other things are rotting besides the dahlias.

I have to ask the same question as linnea56.....have you had a lot of rain out there? That could be the culprit.
DB

Some of the local dahlia growers have had some problems with the stems after using Messenger. The plants put out lots of growth, the stems become very long & bend over. One reported the stems seemed mushy. One grower did a test-- 2 rows with it & 2 rows without-- couldn't see any difference when we looked them over together. However, she also used it on her roses & they're looking good- no black spot on them this year. I used it on my hanging baskets & didn't notice any difference from last year-- so... don't know but I wouldn't go whole hog & use it everywhere- a test to see how it does-- maybe in a part of the garden that you have more than one plant of a kind so you can compare them would be the way to go.

I used it on two sunflowers, and two without it. Although one had a very thick, (2" across), and was about 12 ft tall, the untreated ones beat 12 feet by quite a bit. So, seems to be a toss up to me.

Regards;
bluelytes

auroras kiss, natal

Aurora's Kiss isn't a pompom- it's a ball-- that's a lot bigger than a pom.

WOW! I love the yellow sport of Riverdance!

My Ducks decided they loved dahlias and ate all the red ones I planted into my red garden! I have Fire and Ice coming back ,now that the ducks have been in a different garden for 2 weeks and I hope the one behind it is Riverdance.

Yes, you have to take the cutting from the sported branch.

You have some gorgeous Dahlias Pitimpnai. There are a couple that I would just LOVE to have! I just have to find them in Canada....that could be a chore.

Any idea JRoot?

Nikki~

Check on the Big List for suppliers- there's a lot of places that carry Karma Dahlias.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Big List

I got mine at a local hardware store. It is also available at the garden centres now. It doesn't have to be Wilson's, just a good preservative to fight off any mold and mildew which might set in during the winter without it.

Good luck.

Here's a place to find sulphur dust. I've used this same size bag on many tubers and it lasted over 2 years.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sulphur dust

If I wind up taking cuttings from the sport, I'll save some for you ladies....
DB

Fabulous, Dahliaboy! Whatever I can trade you, is yours.

The 3rd photo contains Sparatcus....a dark red A size dahlia.
DB

Dahliaboy, what are those white stakes you use? Metal or PVC? Other? How do they hold up to a heavy plant like Spartacus?

And who is to the left of Spartacus? Very nice blooms there!

Thank you both. I have several dahlia beds and am plotting and scheming to get rid of perennials I could care less about to make more room for dahlias, dahlias, dahlias LOL! This is really a bad hobby!

Yes, dahlia boy I belong to Puget Sound Dahlia Association but I am the worst member having gone to only a couple meetings. Always make it to their tuber sales though!

I have been to the Mid Island website many times and find it very useful. Good luck to you and your group as you host the big National Show. It is a wonder to behold all those blooms in one place. I went to the one in Seattle two years ago and was just agog for days. Am sure you will put on an equally splendid event for the east coast visitors.

I'm getting irritated at those photobucket icons showing up instead of a photo. Maybe I've done some editing that caused it. My apologies.

A few more new ones that I like.
Skipley Spot of Gold. Lavender with each petal tipped in a spot of gold! Just starting out seen here:

Fully open here:

Another Skipley creation- SKipley Spot which is a rich vibrant red with each petal dabbed in white.

Sea Oro is a rich orangey yellow ID, Large flower on sturdy stems

Brandon James- a tiny 2 inch bloom in apricot/yellow with white tips. Reminds me of a rounded tiny Seattle dahlia in color.

Alpen X- Golden pink 4 inch blooms on 3 ft plant, great stems. It tends to fade if not cut early enough, but is beautiful as a cut flower.

Little bitty "Buffie G" a small 2 inch bloom in pale pink and yellow blended on a 3 ft plant. Lots of blooms that arrive late in the season, at least here.

Cafe Au Lait- large B size ID in ivory with pink undertones. 3.5 ft plant and about one inch stems LOL!

Closeer up on Cafe Au Lait

Clearview David, stunning lavender/white with each petal outlined in a deeper lavender. Nice!

CLoser to Clearview David. This is among my newest favorites of the year.

Crazy Legs! A stellar form and nice orange with red reverse petals; much smaller at 3 inches across than I anticipated.

Embrace- pale orange and yellow. Mine is squished into a crowded space but still doing okay.

Similar color on Hamilton Lillian. Fewer blooms on this one but well worth the wait.

Hillier Tanunda- too bad it's blurry as it is a beautiful little formal decorative. Maybe 4 inches across. The bush got shaded early by giant neighbor dahlias and was slow to take off. Now growing and I hope to see a few more blooms in the next month.

Jessie G is really impossible to capture accurately. Deep purple on a wonderful ball. Mine is over 6 ft, bloom tops at 7 ft. Very tough to support in a wind or rain!

Juul's All Star cute little orchid- mine is Purple and yellow, tons of blooms at any time and an equal number of bees buzzing to it.

That's enough for one night, but there are more.