Dahlia Seedling Pictures - 2024

Bessie · 2024-05-25T17:40:24+00:00

First to bloom seedlings May 21st to May 25th. I don't think there are any keepers here, but I'll wait and observe for a while. I do like the ruffled petals...

Bessie

mocullen35 (nyctinasty)

it's nice to know what the "closing at night" behavior is called. I find it to be a rather dominant trait. However, this is only my second year growing saved Dahlia seeds. I pick blooms every morning for vase life tests, and one interesting negative (for me) of nyctinasty is I can't take photos of blooms after 5pm, because the flowers start closing very early in the evening. Also, a general observation is if the flowers are used for an evening event, the size and shape of the flower changes(shrinks) from the daytime.

calico20hill

Bessie What hppens if you put your evening flowers in a brightly lit area? I have a vase of flowers I picked 3 days ago here beside my chair. I have one reading light on near it but not directly shining on it, The flowers are closed up a bit from full mid day light but still open enough to show their lovely color patterns. I have never noticed a dahlia that would not open under artificial light inside. I could see if being a problem for maybe a romantic low light area but that is not a problem in my house....(sigh).

Bessie

calico20hill I'll check that out, to see if bright light will open the flowers with nyctinasty.
I keep the flowers in my kitchen which has great natural light all day, but by 5pm the sun is not directly shining in the room.

mocullen35

Here's the same seedling second flower. Today afternoon and evening. This flower has a
better angle but shape is still kinda off.

Justafewdahlias

I don’t think this is a good dahlia. I just wanted to ask about the change from bloom 1 (right) vs bloom 3 or 4 (left).

It has gotten less petals (now 8) and looks more tidy vs initial blooms. Before idk how many petals it had maybe 12, one row with random extra ones behind it not 2 full rows. I have heard how early blooms might have less petals initially then more later (for fully doubles). But is decreasing and less petals with later blooms, is that a thing that happens in singles? Are the earlier flowers a result of the plant still “loading” up its final bloom form? I have noticed this with a couple of the seedlings. Petals getting less and overall appearance more tidy vs initial blooms. Is this a thing that happens or to be expected with single dahlias?

Teddahlia

No experience with open center dahlias here. I do know that people who show them grow multiple plants so they have numerous choices for the show flowers. That implies that they are not very consistent bloomers or the show person is fanatical. Probably, a bit of both.

Justafewdahlias

Teddahlia I have a few single/open center tubers that are new to me this year. I will keep an eye out to see if it’s a trend with the tubers and the seedlings. I do like consistency and reliable flowers so maybe this will be my first and last year of growing these single dahlias!

MissyWeitzel

Teddahlia I've exhibited collarettes the last few years and I think the reason one might grow multiple plants has more to do with the acceptable maturity window for them being somewhat smaller than with doubles. Not all, but many, are pretty floriforous! I can't remember if it's one or two rows of pollen around the center being ideal for showing, but it's pretty tough to nail that without bringing several blooms that are just opened. I stage my open center ones last and try to guess which will be at the appropriate stage at judging time.

MIDahlias

Teddahlia I think a lot of my collarettes and Orchettes are good bloomers. I have some tgat might have some wonky petals, but I have plants I feel all the blooms are beautiful. I feel I've become a little snobbish when it comes to collarettes. People gush over them with short petaloids... I dont understand that.

I also love the look of the puckery cultivars, but understand those are not show quality. I love when I see a collarettes or single with all the petals flat on plane to the degree it looks like a line from a side view.

Teddahlia

As a judge of the open center types(probably have judged them over 25 times now) the flowers need perfection to do well. Flowers with no defects are not the norm for any variety on the plant and growing large numbers of plants allows you to find those perfect flowers. It helps when you grow any dahlia for shows and last night it was said that Steve Santose grew 250 plants of Edna C. when he was at his showing pinnacle.

Bessie

Here's a few seedlings.
Second year seedling 23061:

First year seedling:

First year seedling:

First year seedling:

Second year seedling 23038:

First year seedling 24308:

First year seedling 24526:

First year seedling:

Bessie

Some more pictures:

SteveM

Bessie Great selection! Several I really like, I am especially drawn to first year seedlings 310 (great vase life),505 (interesting form), and 305 (beautiful, will sell well as cut). Thanks for the update.

mocullen35

Bessie I love 24305! Can you share the seed parent?

Teddahlia

Nice collection of first and second year flowers. 23061 looks great in a vase and is almost pure white. We have some second year flowers blooming and only two losers so far in the first year. Your 24128 is a nice white too.

Bessie

Thank you Teddahlia and SteveM for your feedback!
Getting external input really helps validate or invalidate my own evaluations. I'm actively culling seedlings, but also marking those that will be "keepers" for another year.

Bessie

mocullen35 the seed parent for 243xx is Bahama Mama. If you look in the earliest posts of this thread( https://forum.dahliaaddict.com/d/337-dahlia-seedling-pictures-2024/26 ) you'll find a key. So far, I think Bahama Mama has been a surprisingly excellent seed parent.

Teddahlia

People like seedling pictures . I just had a glorious seedling picture sent to my cell phone and can say I was impressed but sworn to secrecy. Here is a picture of miniature white cut flower that would be nice if it had a bit more depth. White ones get more consideration as it is a difficult color to breed.
If it makes lots of easy keeping tubers, it may have a future.

Bessie

First bloom of 24116 (5.5") picked today:

24914 (3.5-4.5" ) has bloomed like crazy, with the first bloom on May 28th. It ages well in the vase, with a vase life of 5-7 days. Color varies from white with a creamy center to a pale pink blush over white.

Teddahlia

Tricolor that Margaret likes. Second year seedling.

MissyWeitzel

I only saved 2 seedlings from last year. This is a 2nd year Kelgai Ann seedling. It has poor form for ADS standards, right?

It has so many good qualities and I'm not far enough into my dahlia breeding journey to make myself cull it. Pros: It is early to bloom, is a great cut flower, the plant habit is very nice, it makes more flowers than 98% of named varieties I've grown and it has the dahlia shimmer. I actually really like dahlias with blooms that are always a bit different.

Tell it to me straight. 😊
Kelgai Ann seed parent on left, seedlings on right

Krista

MissyWeitzel No pro here, just giving my two cents - I like dahlias varieties that produce unique blooms from the same plant too and I think this one is very pretty!

Bessie

MissyWeitzel I have a terrible time making decisions and I'm sure not an expert, however, a few weeks ago I decided on my ultimate criteria (for now) for keeping MY seedlings. The criteria is closely aligned with my breeding goals. 1) Would I like to have it growing in my garden to use for either yard decor or bouquets? 2) Is it "easy" to grow ( which is deliberately vague and a relative term). 3) Do I get a little bit of excitement when I'm cutting blooms? 4) Do I admire it when it's in the vase/yard? 5) Does the flower(s) look nice as a stand alone bouquet, or mix nicely with other bouquet flowers?
Whether it will be a good tuber keeper and propagate nicely is a whole other discussion, but related.
An example of a hard decision... I have decided to keep an open centered 3" yellow Dahlia. It's just so cheerful, at this point, I think I want to keep it around.

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