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Post by lisaann on Mar 19, 2019 17:16:58 GMT -5
Some of them sprouted in two days, using gentle bottom heat and a plastic drape to keep them warm. They are easy and you will like them because you get results the first year. Sometimes you have to wait till the next year for flowers from seed of some perennials.
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Post by heirloomfan on Mar 20, 2019 9:41:09 GMT -5
Thanks for the comments on Unwin's. I am starting them today so will let you know how they go. I have grown Dahlia from seed before but it's been a while. If they work, will try to dig the tubers for future growing.Thanks everyone for your comments on the Unwin's Dwarfs. I am looking forward to growing them and will send pictures once they get going!
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Post by heirloomfan on Mar 20, 2019 10:23:29 GMT -5
One small correction, they aren't the dwarf mix, but the regular Unwin's Mix from Baker Creek.
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Post by binnylou on Mar 31, 2019 2:58:15 GMT -5
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Post by binnylou on Apr 8, 2019 10:09:19 GMT -5
heirloomfan, did you get your dahlia seeds planted? How are they doing? Mine are approaching their 4th set of true leaves, and I think it may be time to pinch. Do you do this?
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Post by heirloomfan on Apr 9, 2019 9:19:25 GMT -5
Yes I did get my seeds planted, they are up and most getting their second leaves. I probably will plant them into larger pots in a couple of days. One tip I read was just to start them in a flower pot and then transfer the whole bunch into a bed, but I think they might do better once they are able to get a little more room and roots of their own.
I haven't pinched yet, I did go to Swan Island's site and they have some great tips so I printed that information out and will try to follow it. I'm looking forward to seeing how they do. Will be nice if they do well and I'm able to then dig the tubers and replant.
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Post by binnylou on Apr 9, 2019 9:26:22 GMT -5
Swan Island does have good info. Michael at Suumer Dreams Farm has started a dahlia blog. I did order from his business and am expecting tuber arrival any day. I also have a couple of replacements coming from Swan.
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Post by binnylou on Apr 18, 2019 12:55:58 GMT -5
Replacements from Swan Island arrived today. The tubers are firm and each has a sprout.
I received a message from Summer Dreams telling me that two (same variety) of the four tubers ordered will not be available to ship. They donβt meet his standards. That variety was the reason for my order. The two other varieties were just for fun and to ride along on the shipping charge of fifteen dollars.
Unwins growing under lights have settled into their bigger pots. The were quite floppy when I up potted them, but are now growing pretty much upright.
And thatβs all the dahlia news from this dahlia addict.
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Post by binnylou on Jun 1, 2019 12:14:04 GMT -5
The unwin babies have been in the grow trailer for at least a week. Today may be the day to move them to their summer pot. I had hoped for bloom so I could plant by color, but thatβs a bust. Maybe three to a large pot and accept what they are.
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Post by lisaann on Jun 1, 2019 12:40:43 GMT -5
Maybe three to a large pot and accept what they are. We sometimes get LUCKY! Don't forget that we have a 50/50 chance of a great color combination. And sometimes the least expected combination of colors turns out to be the most appealing! Waving at you!
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Post by binnylou on Jul 16, 2019 13:01:57 GMT -5
Still no bloom on the Unwins. Something that crawls or flies has been chewing, so I dusted both plants with DE. heirloomfan, do you have bloom yet?
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Post by Mumsey on Jul 16, 2019 16:50:18 GMT -5
binnylou, I had white dahlia last year, the JB decimated it. So I didn't even dig it up.
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Post by heirloomfan on Jul 17, 2019 10:38:11 GMT -5
Hi Binnylou, I don't have Dahlia blooms yet but the plants are coming along. Had a couple of setbacks with them, so will explain.
I started them from seed and one person online suggested that a great method is that you start them in a flower pot. Germination was excellent and they seemed to be coming along but just got very leggy and poor quality in the flower pot. I waited a couple of weeks to see if they would improve, the other flowers along side them getting the same light did fine so it had to be this method. They didn't improve so scrapped that idea and started again with sowing some in a six cell pack. Germination was good, they came along very well and as soon as I could put them outside I did.
Early on, we had a problem with rabbits, and some got into the flower bed and chewed on some of the leaves. Once I got the barriers up, that helped with that problem. Right after that around the end of June, had an invasion of slugs. We normally don't have a big problem with them since it is drier here and they like the moister environment. So more damage to the leaves and they ate one of the six right to the ground. The rest of them survived and around July 1 when it began getting hotter, the slugs disappeared. But until then I did have to do daily duty of removing them from any flowers until the went away. On July 5th we had a hailstorm, did some damage to the leaves but overall they survived.
So I have five of the six that I set out doing Ok and one is the taller and producing a flower stalk. I figured after all of these setbacks if I could even produce tubers then that would be good but I may end up with some flowers after all.
I'm not sure about the mid-July date for them blooming here, it's probably specific to your zone when they will bloom. But did see a local flower grower say she was taking pre-orders for her dahlias and to expect them mid August into September, so that may be the time they do the best in my climate.
The seed was good quality (from Baker Creek) and had good germination, it was just the setback with trying the flower pot method and then the rabbits/slugs/hail that gave me problems but overall I think they are finally recovered. If I get any blooms from them it will be a bonus, those little plants have been through a lot! If I do get blooms, will try to post some pictures.
Sorry for the lengthy reply, just had a lot to report on what happened!
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Post by binnylou on Jul 17, 2019 10:43:17 GMT -5
Golly, heirloomfan,you have had some challenges. I'm betting that even if you don't get bloom, your plants will produce tubers. Don't give up.
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Post by binnylou on Aug 2, 2019 0:04:53 GMT -5
First bloom of the season from a dahlia tuber...it's either Giggles or Groovy. Can't remember which one. And, the dahlias will take over now that the daylilies are fading.
And one of the Unwins has a bloom just starting to open. Looks to be a coral peachy color.
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