We've had a really good array of dahlias grown by posters on the thread, over 30 mentioned by name. I know @Eustace, @celcius_kkw and @ki_buxt all grew a wonderfully wide variety. Ki was worried about the late start. Eustace seems to have had a stonking dahlia year - a one person flower party. Some people have allotment space to stretch out in.
The most popular and grown by various of us (as mentioned) include:
Bishop of Llanduff, Oxford and York
Cafe au Lait
Sarah Raven
Waltzing Matilda
Nuit d'Ete
David Howard
Cornel
I'd be interested to hear how the year has been for you. Lots of people had a hard time at the start, with tubers slow to get going. @WhereAreMySecateurs was worried about the late beginning and aphid attacks. She grew some from seed. How did that go in the end? @Loxley's tubers struggled to get going too. Do those people towards the north find their plants get started much later. @Dirty Harry I think yours started in July.
@Buttercupdays started with lots of varieties but found the weather brutal and some got scorched. @Crazybeelady had similar issues, I believe
@RoddersUK had overwhelming slug attacks at the start and then aphid swarms - how did it all turn out? @Bilje had great slug problems too. @Jacquimcmahon had problems with vine weevils.
Lots of us grew varieties in sunset shades - like @Janie BÂ and @Bettywales . Lots of people grew Cafe au Lait, but Janie didn't like it much. @TerryAnn what do you make of it? @D Couch seems to certainly have got the dahlia bug and enjoyed Cafe, I think.
Lots of us grew dark reds and purples, such as Soulman grown by @Didyw . I grew KarmaChoc, which is a keeper, I think. For @Athelas this was the first time growing dahlias and played with purples. How did the Flower Power feeding go? Several people grew Nuit d'Ete, including @Gearoid . @Plantminded grew an array of reds.
Lots of people grew from cutting and seed, including WAM, Cecelia-L . I'd like to try Bishops Children next year and am looking forward to putting the three tree dahlias in the ground for an annual forest. I guess Cecelia has lots of new bed space to fill with dahlias now. 😊
Please up date and tell us how your season went/is going for you. What are your keepers, discoveries and disappointments? x
[Apologies for mistakes and misunderstandings in the synposis].
One of my most frazzled dahlias is just about to produce a flower! I cut some of it back and there is a lot of fresh growth at the bottom so no death at least. A couple other small ones I have cut right down and they're on their way back - it's like spring! I went to Wisley on Sunday and saw some beauties:
Mine haven't been great this year, a few are starting to get into their stride now but there are also a few that haven't even flowered yet. The new tubers I bought are probably not even going to manage.
I believe there have been a few contributing factors-
1. Moved further North although not so much that it would make a massive difference IMO. (Tayside/Angus to Stonehaven) 2. Was later than normal to get mine started in plastic pots and they were outside in a growhouse. The past few years I had kept them in my conservatory at the old house so they were properly warm by comparison. 3. Evergreen Peat-Free Compost used for the first time. Have been fine with New Horizon Peat-Free every other year before but I've noticed a few plants other than dahlias seemingly struggle to thrive in this.
Slow start or not they should have been doing better by now given they're facing south.Â
Definitely, I'm going to put loads of manure in the soil soon and lots of mulching to try and add some more sun protection. Also probably different locations!
@Crazybeelady I'm glad yours made a come back and all was not lost. It sounds like it has been a hard year in the garden for you, though.
@Dirty Harry will you keep the tubers and try again next year?
For sure. I bought a load of large terracotta pots specifically for them when I started growing them and wouldn't have anything other than tulips to put in them otherwise!
I still have a few from the original handful I bought in 2019. Totally tangerine and Braveheart have become colossal tubers and, unsurprisingly, are the main two leading the charge this year as usual.
@Dirty Harry What will be your revised plan for next year?
I'm limited in terms of warmth early on unfortunately. I didn't have a growhouse at the time I would usually want to start them this year although I'll have to be careful as the protection from frost will be minimal with what I have-
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Lou Farman again
I went to Wisley on Sunday and saw some beauties:
I believe there have been a few contributing factors-
1. Moved further North although not so much that it would make a massive difference IMO. (Tayside/Angus to Stonehaven)
2. Was later than normal to get mine started in plastic pots and they were outside in a growhouse. The past few years I had kept them in my conservatory at the old house so they were properly warm by comparison.
3. Evergreen Peat-Free Compost used for the first time. Have been fine with New Horizon Peat-Free every other year before but I've noticed a few plants other than dahlias seemingly struggle to thrive in this.
Slow start or not they should have been doing better by now given they're facing south.Â
I still have a few from the original handful I bought in 2019. Totally tangerine and Braveheart have become colossal tubers and, unsurprisingly, are the main two leading the charge this year as usual.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07MC51W7M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
So only options are to get them started as early as possible whilst trying to avoid frost and getting some New Horizon compost again.