General Dahlia Chat 2023

blown_dry · 2023-02-04T23:41:17+00:00

Continuing from https://cubits.org/Dahlias/thread/view/91587/?offset=560#end_of_thread

Teddahlia

Genetic characteristics concerning tubers is the biggest factor. All of this "I cannot get them to store" seldom applies to good tuber maker- keepers. This year I got Formby Kaitlyn(notorious for rotting tubers) to store well and I believe that the copious amounts of cinnamon I used on the rather dry tubers made a huge difference. Good storage number for it would be about 60%. My Black Cherry did better than usual with only about 50% rotten tubers. My good tuber varieties need no cinnamon and no storage medium beyond a plastic kitchen bag. They need to be dry and no more than about 10 per bag and the easy keeping ones do just fine with nothing but the bag. I got a couple tubers of HH Purely Purple to store this year for the first time in about 5 years . Cinnamon helps but is not a cure. More has been written on storage of tubers than any other dahlia subject.

Cosey

edewitt I lost about 80% of my tubers

Oh I am so sorry. I'm just catching up on all these forums.

Just like growing, there seems to be something new the pops up with storage every year. I had a couple of varieties that just didn't store as well as they usually do. Did I not let them fully cure after dividing? Did they not like the spot in the cooler? Did they bring in botrytis from the field? 🤷 New year, new challenge.

I do love those easy keeping tuber varieties though. I laughed at the Ferncliff Copper comment. It could survive anything. I keep a plant around my seed row every year. I might not germinate seed from it every year but the seedlings I kept have inherited it's mama's tuber traits. I have found FCC to be a dominant orange seed parent. It might have different variations of orange (sometimes yellow) color ways but it's consistent.

JessieC

Cosey Fascinating! My FC tubers look like turkey drumsticks. Well, maybe not that big. Jessie G also was prolific and the tubers are nice and firm with thick skins. However, she is either slow to wake up or I missed the eyes entirely. They all have short necks without a very obvious crown area.
I’m most grateful for the many visual guides available from generous growers like yourself. I completely blew it last year. Well I had one success (speaking of unkillable tubers,) Maarn grew in two locations for me in 2022 even though I only planted one. I suspect I accidentally knocked a tuber off when digging it up. The stray plant was in the same spot as the first one, and must have survived in the ground all winter. She was such a good plant that I bought another one and ended up with two, which bloomed like crazy from July until frost and then left behind well over a dozen stout tubers. And like magic, I’m hooked! It’s very gratifying to see one survive, so I’m hoping my efforts are rewarded this coming season.

Cosey

Maarn is a beautiful dahlia. My sister grows a lot of it. I don't think it makes seeds. Or at least I've never collected any. I walk through her fields in the fall scouting good plants with good seeds to find potential new seed parents.

I'm at the point where I don't have room to grow dahlias outside my own branded plants and a few plants I trial for seed parents. But I LOVE hearing about people's experiences with great dahlias.

JessieC

Cosey Well I am thrilled that I'll be able to grow a couple of your tubers this season!! I was lucky enough to get CT Babycakes at your sale, as well as a pair of Rock Run Ashley.

calico20hill

The comment above about Ferncliff Copper...I had totally forgotten that I think it was the seed parent form
y Salish Sundrops. And yes, S Sundrops is yellow, and tall and sturdy and makes lots of flowers and lots of tubers. I wouldn't mind an orange version of it at all if Ferncliff Copper would like to try again!

Cosey

calico20hill I wouldn't mind an orange version of it at all if Ferncliff Copper

All the above are orange seedlings from FC Copper currently in my field. The last one is Coseytown Penny. The first medium tone, solid orange bloom is from last year. It's a big bloom that had oodles of flowers. Had a pile of tubers too. The middle bloom unfortunately is the odd duck that has an atypical petal shape for FCC seedlings and isn't generous with tubers. 😂

edewitt

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I spent the week being bummed out about it but mostly over a couple of varieties that I really loved that weren't salvageable (AC Fernando being the main one). Fortunately I've got some different varities to enjoy for this year that I bought over the winter. This should open a bit of room up to plant some seeds I collected as well from last year.

AndreaB

Cosey The middle one and Penny have beautiful coloring.
Have you grown Robann Butterscotch? Seems to have the same attributes as FCC. I’m going to grow them side-by-side this year for comparisons sake. I also want to make sure they are indeed two different varieties.

Bessie

Cosey the middle Dahlia is mesmerizing and has a very "rich" coloring. I really like it. Does it change color based on the temperature and sun exposure? I've been wondering how florists respond to flowers that change color with the season.

calico20hill

I love your Coseytown Penny...Its going to be your lucky penny indeed! I hope I have some FC Coppers to plant to collect more seeds from this year! I think I do...or maybe I can find some at the Portland Dahlia Club tuber sale...

Cosey

AndreaB Have you grown Robann Butterscotch?

I have not. It does look similar to FCC. Grow and report back!

Cosey

Bessie Does it change color based on the temperature and sun exposure?

I'll watch closely this year if it changes color. I don't think it does and haven't made any notes to that effect. As far as florists go, in my experience they aren't ordering specific varieties. Just color palettes. Varieties that shift colors just get blended in to different color palettes. As you grow the same dahlias season after season you will begin to understand what to expect from an Aug bloom vs Oct bloom. That's why finding a true baby pink dahlia would be groundbreaking. The colors usually intensify in the fall.

Honnat

Cosey As far as florists go, in my experience they aren't ordering specific varieties. Just color palettes.

Mostly the case for me as well. Some exceptions I've had: Peaches N Cream, Brown Sugar & Rock Run Ashley

Cosey

Honnat Yes. Rock Run Ashley is getting to be known by name. Oddly, fewer stems of PnC went out last year. Cafe would be the other named variety known by florists. "The buff flowers, not the pink!" 😂

Honnat

Cosey year. Cafe

Cosey Cafe would be the other named variety known by florists. "The buff flowers, not the pink!" 😂

I don't fool with Cafe. Let someone else deal with it. Starting to feel the same about the knee high RR Ashley. But that one is at least pretty.

Cosey

Honnat

I must have gotten really lucky with the strain of RRA I received from the Elkhart Dahlia Society. It's been a great specimen in my field. I will admit these plants want for nothing and they reward me with incredible blooms until season end.

PS, I don't grow cafe anymore either. 😆

KitCMC

Cosey that’s gorgeous!

Honnat

Cosey I must have gotten really lucky with the strain of RRA I received from the Elkhart Dahlia Society. It's been a great specimen in my field.

Those are gorgeous! RRA is one that I write off in July and August as it blooms early on pitiful stems. But when the heat lessens in September, I forgive her all over again. Still a shorty, but pumps out way better stems late.

blown_dry

What a unique color!

MissyWeitzel

I absolutely love RRA! It is one of those colors that looks even more unique in person. Somehow it is kinda smoky/dusty yet it has a warm glow at the same time. So pretty! I am planning to grow a lot more of her this season.

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