General Dahlia Chat 2024

Krista · 2024-01-05T01:50:48+00:00

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 t...

MissyWeitzel

Teddahlia interesting! I've gotten a few seeds from Woodland's Wild Thing both last year and this year.

blown_dry

Teddahlia Hybrid vigor in the classical definition involves crossing two extremely INBRED specialized parents together

What Ted says. Hybrids are "vigorous" in comparison to inbred parents. Dahlias have so much variability baked in with having 8 options for each gene. They can't have the solution because they don't have the problem.

Teddahlia

"...having 8 options for each gene." I would imagine that seldom are there 8 different genes for that location but more likely 2, 3 or maybe 4. But that is just one location and there are thousands of traits.

blown_dry

Teddahlia True! Just having that many slots doesn't not mean there are that many variants or more. I wouldn't be surprised if there were but I have no clue how much variation is available for dahlia genes.

Teddahlia

Dahlia genes: It is interesting to know why something happens but when there are so many genes that makes it very difficult. The best one can do is to notice the trait you want in plants and preserve /improve that trait when you breed.

bloomhjelm

Random question: Has anyone tried air layering dahlias?

I know 1. You don't need to do this as dahlias propagate pretty easily, 2. It's more common for houseplants.

But I think it would be a fun experiment, and those rooting clamshell balls are pretty inexpensive. 🙂

MissyWeitzel

I started the last week in September and have basically been working and not much else. I'm nearly finished. Just 8 fall orders I'm waiting to hear back from customers on, a little more outside cleanup, and mulching leaves to put on the beds. I'm really burnt out and tired or I'd be more excited. I'm going to help a fellow dahlia farmer friend divide some tubers this week, but after that I'm going to take a break. I'm looking forward to making some Christmas gifts, baking, and playing with all my dried flowers. Oh, and snuggling this nugget. 😊

Bessie

MissyWeitzel Dahlia farming is only for the strongest, most determined people, in my opinion. Looks like you're part of that group! I like to hear when others feel burnt out, since it makes me feel not alone. Thank you for being honest. The gopher(s) in my yard have really discouraged me, because dealing with them is a next level above all the other tasks needed to keep the dahlias growing year after year.

calico20hill

Bessie One of the best things I did when we downsized and moved was to set up limits on how big my flower garden could be. I know now just how many dahlias AND OTHER PLANTS I can fit in without crowding it too much. I pretty much had a clean slate when we moved here...2 acres and no fences, with a creek along 2 sides and a neighbors driveway on the other long side....Street at the top of the lot. I have to keep reminding myself that I LIKE a big open grassy field to look at...We are 78 and 79 now. Its never going to get easier to work on! Raised beds with Landscape fabric paths between and some space for one more bed or growbags . Now we have a small flock of chickens on one side of my garden, the ducks patrol my flower garden, and the uphill side is our backyard bordered with ornamental shrubs. OH yes, the garage makes up the other side. I'd love to keep trying new varieties but this keeps me limited to what I can currently handle,

MissyWeitzel

Bessie I haven't ever seen a gopher, but they sound like royal PITAs! Could you hire a gopher service? We have mole problems and it was worth the $500 to hire a mole service this season. We tried all the things they do, but they just do it way better and it actually made a huge improvement.

Bessie

MissyWeitzel perhaps a gopher service is an option. There's a vacant lot at the back side of my yard, and on the two side yard properties are landscapes that gophers can roam freely in. I have all the gopher candy, and water.😳
I'm thinking good landscape fabric can be almost impossible for me to to dig through.... Maybe I can find a solution using it.

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