Hybridizing Dahlias

Bessie · 2023-09-14T03:43:02+00:00

Krista to discover if seeds are growing in the seed pod, after there are no remaining anthers on the pod, gently squeeze the pods between your thumb and fing...

Teddahlia

I have observed some dahlia seedlings that have exceptional vigor and do not produce flowers that make seeds. I have wondered if they are even more than octoploid. The old fashioned method for identifying ploidy is to stain the genetic sample and count the chromosomes using a microscope. Probably very old school for the genome crowd.

Teddahlia

You breed for good tubers. This year the first year dahlias are pain in the butt as they most all have huge tuber clumps. It is taking me a whole lot more time to divide them. I would not want to be an inexperienced person dividing the clumps. They are hard to do for me who has done it for 30 years.[

NCDahlia

Do you ever wonder how many tuber clumps you have divided. Often times I think someone out there has made 1 million divisions lol.

calico20hill

NCDahlia I would like some of that "large tuber clump" thing, but even more I would like some larger tubers. Of course a lot of mine were seedlings this year but even so my keepers don't seem to grow very big tubers. When I find a good sized clump I feel happy.

Teddahlia

I do not like varieties that make large tubers and have heavy tuber clumps. Average(Hens eggs or slightly larger) are just fine with me. Or tubers that are a bit long as they are easier to divide but not too long as the necks break.

calico20hill

2 or 3 years ago I gave my daughter a couple of dahlia seedlings to plant by her back door. She lives in the city with a very small yard and patio around the back of the house. Kristie planted these by her back door. The first one was an open centered dud, now forgotten. This one, she has dug up and we will divide it after Thanksgiving Dinner. I only saw it blooming once this summer and liked it and told her to save it... (the other one was open centered). She sent me photographs today and wow, I think this one might be my Grand Dahlia. One Grandson and one Grand Dahlia, LOL...

Juliarugula

calico20hill wow! That’s gorgeous!

calico20hill

I'm excited to grow it next year! It was just a random seedling I gave her ...I don't think we even had the name of the seed parent...Maybe I did though because I think I knew it would probably be orange....but I no longer remember...
Its possible it was from Bracken Palamino....

Teddahlia

It makes one wonder if Bloomquist Jean is related to Bracken Palimino.

calico20hill

Teddahlia It does look rather like that. I think that in fact I did have Bloomquist Jean 3 years ago...maybe. And I have grown Bracken Palamino as often as I could keep it going. I am excited to see how many tubers we get when we divide it!

Teddahlia

I wish the Brits would include Margaret's name as she does as much or more of the breeding, especially the waterlilies. Letitia is from the Pam Howden line that was created by her hand crossing.

calico20hill

Teddahlia That is weird, that they don't recognize your work as a team! Is that an English thing, to not acknowledge that? You might have to officially change your name to TedandMargaret Kennedy.

SteveM

Teddahlia Congratulations to you two, that's quite an honor!

Krista

Teddahlia Congratulations to you and Margaret! It’s nice to know Hollyhill Letitia made it across the pond and is thriving!

MIDahlias

Juliarugula
School Bus is fun and unique.

Teddahlia

Finished dividing the first year seedlings. Average yield is 4.2 tubers. It would have been more but the large clumps of below average seedlings were only divided to yield about 5 tubers as that is enough. It took longer than normal as the clumps were so large. Always some labeling issues. Some have only a ribbon and if lucky the original tag that indicates the seed parent. A couple rotted and yielded no tubers. Most of the seedlings are quickly forgotten after you label them and the few notes you make are very important. Pictures are a luxury and the best one got about 20 pictures but most have no picture. The Boleys commiserated with us on Facebook in that their first year picture taking is similarly bad. Our excuse is that we are so excited about the flower we cannot think straight. 😳 We have lots of pictures that are not labeled and a few that are labeled. We marked for retention a little more than 10% of the seedlings. Pretty typical.

calico20hill

Last year I grew Mak's Meredith and saved seed from it. I really don't remember it that well, but I have a beautiful seedling this year and I am wondering how much different it is from its mama....I would love to see pictures, and comments on whether the seedling is different enough to keep. I only remember that the plants were really big and healthy...

Juliarugula

calico20hill that’s really pretty and soft. ❤️

Teddahlia

Looks to be a miniature wl.

calico20hill

I don't remember it as a miniature but if it looks like a good waterlily I will happily grow it again.

calico20hill

Juliarugula It seemed real healthy too. It was in a part of the garden that starts to shade out earliest so I will try it where it has better conditions next year.

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