General Dahlia Chat 2024

Krista

When do we grow up and stop ordering more tubers than we can possibly fit into the space we have, for the next season? Is that something I can look forward to one day, or is that a pipe dream? 🥴

Juliarugula

Krista I’ll let you know once it happens! 😜

blown_dry

Krista I feel like I am getting a little better... ?

AndreaB

Krista When do we grow up and stop ordering more tubers than we can possibly fit into the space we have, for the next season? Is that something I can look forward to one day, or is that a pipe dream? 🥴

This is gorgeous, Krista!
What’s the bottom peachy one?

DarcyD

Gosh that’s beautiful!

Definitely an issue for me as well. I just go with that I’ll figure it out in the Spring and keep on buying! 😂

Krista

DarcyD That’s definitely where I am too! 😆

calico20hill I need to consider retiring myself from being a cut flower grower if I want to keep having any space for vegetables! 😜

Krista

Juliarugula I’ll bank on never hearing follow up 🤣 #itsnotyouitsme

calico20hill

Well my solution was to move to 5 acres and just keep adding more of it to my garden,,,that worked for me until we moved to a smaller acreage. Then I found out how truly hard to improve this clay soil was and went for purchased soil in raised beds, and that limited my space real quick! Besides, I "retired" from being a cut flower seller. But I am so glad I got to do it for that time...

drewtheflorist

I'll grow a variety for 2 years, and if I'm not wowed, I'll send it on it's way . With limited space, I can't keep growing everything ....

Krista

drewtheflorist I agree with DarcyD, a strict 2-year wow factor requirement is a great rule of thumb!

AndreaB

drewtheflorist if I'm not wowed, I'll send it on it's way

This is so much easier said than done. It’s also the criteria I like to use when deciding who stays.
Sometimes I resort to “this or that” for similar cultivars.
Eventually I’d like to have entire garden of WOWs and have to pick my jaw up off the ground every time I walk through!

DarcyD

I need to get better at that, Drew! That’s a smart way to do it. I’m needing to narrow my planting list for next year as I’ve already bought so many new varieties to try.

Teddahlia

Get real! The first year is the critical year and I seldom give them another chance to disappoint me. I like dahlias that are easy grow and vigorous,. I toss most of the new UK varieties as they are not vigorous enough. Of course, Margaret and I are prejudiced as we grow new ones to see if they would bring some good genetic material with them. They call cars that look good but are never driven, "trailer queens". If a dahlia does not grow well but has good flowers, we generally would never use it for breeding. Been there done that and it takes several generations of breeding to get good vigor and good flowers when you start with one with poor vigor.

Dahlia53

Teddahlia I like your criteria; easy to grow and vigorous (but not TOO vigorous in making tangled heavy masses of tubers, like bride to be). I think one reason I love some of the 'oldies' that are still around is that they pass the vigor and easy to grow test. Early bloom time is a bonus. I would love to know people's list of tried-and-true varieties they still love. I know many growers love to try new ones all the time. I'm happy with anything that will grow and make tubers in my wet clay soil.

Krista

AndreaB Thank you! “Fawn” is squeezed in at the bottom there.

AndreaB

Krista Oh! I thought the others were Fawn. Are they HH Daydream?

Krista

AndreaB Yes, HH Daydream!

blown_dry

Krista I need that one. 🙂

Krista

blown_dry Everyone needs HH Daydream!

MissyWeitzel

I'm working on this year's planting order. Last year I did by form and then alphabetical within form. I think I'll do by form and color within form this year. All open center dahlias and seedlings will be planted away from the rest this year too.

JessieC

MissyWeitzel What a beautiful arrangement! And a welcome sight during this cold and dark month. May I ask the name of the Pom in your bunch? They’re all lovely! 🤗

MissyWeitzel

JessieC the ones on the far left are Lismore Peggy, the purple one in center is Rocco, and the light pink with white center is Dutch Baby, which I lost my stock of unfortunately. I'm a big fan of pompons!