Dry and drier and almost dry enough to till and the rain storm hits us
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Weather Chat - 2023
I am concerned that our weather forecast over the next week has jumped up into the mid 90's for a day or two. I am just in the process of planting out my pre-started dahlias that are growing in 3-4" pots. Also flats of seedlings. Would it be better to get them into the raised beds in full sunlight, or leave them outside in the shade of a tree? The soil in the beds is still damp from heavy rain about 3 days ago. I have about 15 more flats to move out of the greenhouse that have my known varieties up and growing in. I am not sure that tree makes enough shade mid day for all the plants I have!
Noni: I do not know the answer to that question. I have planted in heat successfully and also have had plants die. We do our best and hope it is enough.
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calico20hill Wow, it looks like you have a couple of days in the mid 90s starting Sat/Sun. I would keep them in the shade (and watch the moisture so they do not dry out) until after the heat wave. If I needed room I would plant out the sprouting tubers but keep the new seedlings and cuttings in the shade, especially if they haven't had any sun exposure yet. When I plant cuttings in very hot weather I shade them by placing plastic crates (that bulbs come in) over the plants for several days, during the hottest part of the day, to harden them off.
It is brutally hot 83 and humid as can be. I am planting my dahlia tubers, the ground has finally dried out enough to plant. I have already planted 300 seedlings. I think next year I might just start all my stuff from cuttings I find they grow better than from tubers and do not rot out if we get spring rain being in lots of clay soil. Looking the last 2 years I planted April 23, May 7 and May 12.
I also got 20 yards of compost for garden + dahlias so that will take me till end of the month to spread it, yes I use a wheelbarrow lol. I gave the driver a tip of $100 for dumping it in 2 different spots on the opposite sides of my property.
Rain this weekend maybe 1 inch total but I have enough tubers if I lose some to rot I have backup cuttings and extras.
Happy Mothers Day to all the moms here!
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I think next year I might just start all my stuff from cuttings
I completely agree! The cuttings have vigor that the mother tuber just doesn't seem to have. There's probably a good reason some tubers are so finicky. Genetics?
Having a heating mat and good lighting setup has really made rooting cuttings easy for me.
Maybe a tuber is like a fat savings account. If that cutting doesn't throw out a bunch of leaves and sock away some carbs, stat, it's toast in the next drought or cold spell.
SteveM The suggestion of using the plastic crates over the seedlings is awesome! Because I did put out a bunch of big strong seedlings today ...just couldn't help myself! I think I moved 6 bulb crates south with me and that should cover most of the row...Maybe we can stack other items on top of them for shade! I am sure my husband has a few ongoing projects in his workshop he could donate, LOL.
As we get closer to this projected heat wave the temps are dropping on it. I think we are down now to expecting a high of 89 rather then 96. I'm happier with that and if they would like to drop it a few more degrees I will be even happier. And by the way the "seedlings" I did set out are quite big and strong...they have been individually potted for several weeks and are beginning to grow tubers.,They are acclimated to the outdoors and the soil is nicely damp.
The same is happening to the forecast in Seattle, previously in the 90’s but high now is 86 on Monday. I can definitely live with this! My partner is rebuilding our hose faucet though so I’ll need to wait until this is complete before planting. It sounds like your seedlings are in good shape to make it through the weekend, calico20hill!
The warm up is started. So far it is pretty nice out under the old asian pear tree where I have my plants on tables. The seedlings I did set out looked fine yesterday afternoon and I gave them a good watering.
I do not have strong organizational skills and it shows when trying to organize my dahlia plants. Do I arrange them by height, color, breeder, type of bloom, size of bloom? By the time I am done it is sort of a mix up off al the different catagories! I used to plant out by color when I was selling cut flowers. Now that I am growing out seedlings I start out putting all the incurved cacturs together, etc, but then find myself wandering off into other catagories...(What would be good next to my "blue" Salish Hiro's Welcome"? What genetics would be a good addition?
Maybe the most important irruse is "Don't plant a tall one in front of a short one".
calico20hill Oh I’m having the same conundrums! While I don’t wish this on anyone else, it’s nice to know I’m not the only one. I’ve added additional tabs to my spreadsheet of inventory; reorganizing by bloom size (so I know when to stop each plant), form (to help with my planting map), and height so I don’t do exactly what you mention - plant a tall one in front of a short one. I’m a little overwhelmed because I’m feeling rushed to get them into the ground! I’m at the debilitated stage currently.
calico20hill "blue" Salish Hiro's Welcome"
Oh I’d love to see a photo of this one, I’m not familiar with it!
calico20hill I too had a few days with my brain in a whirlpool. That's the day I asked about Kelgai Anne's seed making ability. If I'm trying to breed new varieties, I better have some viable seeds to work with!
I finally decided to trust the words that @Teddahlia has said many times, that like types are best planted with like types.
With that said, for days now, I've wondered what the seedlings of an anemone(such as Take Off) would look like crossed with a waterlily, such as Hollyhill Serenity. If it was able to make viable seed, it likely would not make a dahlia type approved by the ADS. What if it made something with a combination of both petals? I dream it might look like a fluffy centered Peony Flower.
Bessie I think part of the fun is trying out some of these wild ideas. Then we will know if they were just dreams or if there is a possiblity that it might work/. If you have the space to grow them out, do it just because you want to see. Besides, some times they are so NOT what you wanted that they make you laugh and that is good for the soul!
Well, here is Hiro''s Welcome that is named aftger my grandson, Hiro. He only arrived 3 years ago which is a long time to wait for a first grand baby! His mama is my youngest adopted daughter.
Whoops, that photo was supposed to go under the weather chat.
I tried some anenome seed only once and we gathered them at Swan Island. The seedlings were 100% trash. I think the disc floret flowers need to be crossed with flowers that have disc florets and even then most will still be lousy. I followed that Aussie breeder of anemones for years and he posted pictures and spreadsheets and I kept waiting for some nice ones. They must be a pain in the ass to breed.
calico20hill
Well, the earlier forecast was more true then then the downgraded ones. We were up around 94 by mid afternoon. I soaked the pots that are in the shade this morning then again this evening. Likewise, the ones that were planted in the garden. Some leaves were looking uncomfortable. But the heat wave is just starting....I hates it!