Does culling get easier?

magucci

So, as a newer grower some things are getting easier as I go along. Culling for suspected or actual disease, however, isn’t one of them. Ripping out an otherwise healthy looking plant is just painful. I want to think that my integrity is high and my genuine love for healthy dahlias is greater then my hope to supplement an early retirement with tuber sales, so I’m just leaving this here as a commitment to do the right thing for the long haul. Does it get easier???

Bye Bye Bloomquist Jean

MIDahlias

I think so. Once I learned there are enough tubers to go around, I have no problem practicing, "when in doubt, throw it out" sooooo many tubers.

Teddahlia

I thought you meant culling seedlings. Remember the virus people have declared that some virus does not survive storage of the tubers.

DarcyD

Teddahlia I don’t think I’ve read this. What virus doesn’t survive in tubers over the winter?

Emilyp

DarcyD I saw in the ADS Clean Stock Offense publication that INSV "tends not" to overwinter in tubers. Perhaps this is what Ted is refering to?

Teddahlia

As a breeder and there is only one seedling and it catches what appears to be virus and it is the best one of it's type you have ever seen, will you decide to grow out the tubers to see if they all have the virus? The old advice was "it's hopeless" and a waste of time. Now there is a glimmer of hope that a virus does not overwinter in the tubers. And, also they say that parts of a plant may not have the virus and there may be a tuber free of it. I have dutifully destroyed all stock of many really nice seedlings over virus issues. I still will destroy some that are not worth the effort but if that magical seedling appears there is a slight glimmer of hope.
Margaret's picture that she posted to Facebook and has gotten lots of likes.

Juliarugula

Teddahlia Margaret’s photo is stunning!

MIDahlias

Teddahlia
This is beautiful.

Krista

Teddahlia Lovely!!

magucci

Thank you for the replies!