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...

calico20hill

The one of the left is really a much more vibrant orange than the photo shows. The center is not as good as on the first seedling, but I want to see more blooms. Theses are just starting now, from seeds started this year. They are in an area of the garden that gets the earliest shade in the afternoon.

Teddahlia

We were notified that Hollyhill Golden Glow won best new foreign introduction in show at the UK National show.

calico20hill

Congratulations!

Teddahlia

There are no brown dahlias. 2025 seedling picture taken yesterday late in the day. No color corrections done to picture.

If you showed me this color swatch , I might say "dull red".

Bessie

Teddahlia that color would be great for Fall bouquets, but also blend nicely with mauve and cream colored flowers.

frencm12

As someone purposefully crosssing forms with extremely specific goals I will note that you will get a lot of culls but you will also get drop dead gorgeous flowers everyone will want. Last year I crossed two different forms that normally no one in their right mind would cross and some of my absolute best keepers are from that cross. I will then be crossing those that have the traits i want with each other to further get those traits fixed.

frencm12

Half of that group is not even serious about breeding dahlias

Teddahlia

Dr. Hammett would call your outcross "'creating mongrels" . He would say every cross is done for a reason. Creating a pretty dahlia from such a cross is one thing but the mongrel may be difficult to replicate. Remember I am quoting him. I believe that very many dahlias have come from these types of crosses. If you are selecting a classified form to breed it is good to know that the flower has lots of the form in it's pedigree. If you are creating a new form you need to stabilize it over several generations.

frencm12

Teddahlia I'll be crossing half siblings with the same traits to fix the trait. I agree with you that mongrels can have unstable traits but if I cross those with the same like traits I'm more likely to fix the trait especially if they already share quite a few genes.

Teddahlia

"...but if I cross those with the same like traits I'm more likely to fix the trait..." How many years will this take?

Bessie

@frencm12 , @Teddahlia RE: crossing unlike types
I call this wild thinking and methodology "mad scientist". With a mad scientist mindset, I don't necessarily expect perfection, maybe not even something "nice". I don't strive to win a prestigious dahlia award. What this mindset does is light up the brain with possibilities, to execute ideas, to play and have fun. The anticipation waiting for bloom time is fun. The goal is to satisfy the inner voice that asks "what if?".

Justafewdahlias

Bessie

Having fun and satisfying curiosity can be a goal! And goals can change! I’m sure with years of experience one will start to notice what works and what is low success rates. Or what is worth time trying out vs what was a fluke/waste of time. But for now I’m right there with you mad scientist. It’s the most fun I’ve had in my garden in years! And I have gotten a lot that I’m quite happy with so far!

I have many hobbies I am not great at. But, I have fun doing them and that’s what hobbies are all about. Of course having a career/business or job vs having a hobby are two different things. Bowling, watercolors, embroidery, knitting, baking, etc I enjoy them all even if I am average, good, great or below average at them 😂

frencm12

Bessie yes and this is how we get new forms and I'm okay with spending the rest of my life 'playing' with genetics. This is what makes me the most happy in life. I'm actually getting good results so far with what I've chosen to do.

MissyWeitzel

Conflicted on saving this one or not. It's a nice 4" size and I like lavender. I don't see any obvious faults other than it's kind of boring? Maybe also not entirely tidy?

SteveM

MissyWeitzel Conflicted on saving this one or not

I would grow it again and evaluate it as a cut variety.

Teddahlia

(1) depth not shown. (2) show or cut flower or garden flower?
Show: From the face on picture(need another picture from the side to really evaluate it) it is a formal decorative flower that has florets that do not lay flat and are slightly elongated. Thy are not evenly spaced and some adjacent florets are a slightly different size. It has even color and good center but picture shows a crooked stem. 4 inches may put it into the BB class where it would show better.

I am a senior judge and if someone asks me about show potential you get my unvarnished opinion.
I am not a cut flower judge or garden flower judge or flower arranger judge. I like this color and believe other people like it too. It may be classified as dark pink instead of lavender but like you I call it lavender unless I am forced to color class it using the color swatches.

MissyWeitzel

Teddahlia Honest and unabashed opinions are what I want! I'm not in love with it and I definitely don't think it has perfect forn but like Steve said maybe I will test it as a cut flower. It's getting long in the tooth and bug munched now.

BackyardBouquets_17

I have one very similar to that one. Like you I don’t really love it but it’s a second yr seedling that’s been lasting 5 days in the vase for me so I’ve hung onto it for now. Plus it pairs really well with its sibling so I’ve decided to see wat it does next yr again.

Teddahlia

This one is smaller at about 3 inches. 2025 seedling.

Teddahlia

HH Calypso passed on the ADS bench. Did not have flowers of the other ones to show due to the rain. Picture by Jennica a club member.

Krista

Teddahlia What a beautiful color, and I love seeing the spiraling petal formation in blooms.

calico20hill

Beautiful, Ted!

« Previous Page Next Page »