Who’s growing Dahlias this year

[Onionbhajisandwich]

What varieties are you growing this year? I’ve got some Babylon Bronze and Kelvin Floodlight (among quite a few others) that I’m really looking forward to growing this year!

Works for aphids too. Especially on lupins as they love those. Was too late in the end though, by the time I'd killed them all the lovely flower stalk had shrivelled up 😭

All 4 of mine have lots of buds on. It's a miracle really as the slugs have been absolutely battering them.

@Disneyblueeyes i had aphids on my bananas last year so I sent the kids on a ladybird hunt around the garden and we put all that we found on the bananas - it was like an aphid massacre - the ladybirds marched around, hoovering them up until they’d pretty much gone.

Yeah I move ladybirds that are on my apple tree to aphid infestations around the garden. Not sure how long they stay!

Well, I hope you've updated your spreadsheet accordingly!
How did you decide which to rehome?

@TheSpottedZebra ive updated the spreadsheet 😁 I’ve picked out a few (about 20) that I really wanted to keep and I’ve tried to pick ones that each person will like. I’ve still got a few to give out - they’ll need to go soon as they need to be out of their pots now.

Two of mine are vvv close to their first flower!

My Bishop of Leicester has a flower and a visitor!

How beautiful!

I'm new to dahlias - I've planted 5 in my white border and a set of three for containers, all fromn SRaven. The ones planted out I'm quite worried about - it's been a devastating year for slugs and I've lost so many things already. I can only see one shoot so far.
White Onesta x3
Snowstorm x2

The SR trio are in the poly tunnel and are coming out to the patio this week. All three have a number of shoots visible.
Downham Royal
Urchin
Purple Flame

The advice on SR is to only keep 5 shoots per plant - does anyone else do this? And do they need feeding?

@SpiderVersed I started mine in pots inside then planted out once shoots were through. Hope the slugs haven't taken all of yours.
I don't have 5 shoots on any of mine and haven't fed them so no advice to offer.
Crème de Cassis out today.

@Sitoff your creme de cassis is lovely! I’ve got one of those but I can’t remember where I planted it out. To be fair I can’t remember where I planted most of them. Hopefully it will become clear when they’re flowering 😁

Did the spreadsheet not have a location column?

That CdC is beautiful! I have thatnone, so hope it's as nice. No flowers for me yet, and only one bud. It seems to have been almost flowering for soooooo loooong!

Stunning roses furries you have them in abundance and look fab with your house
Am not keen on the photo display with the new site Annekipankitoo

@TheSpottedZebra i had buds for ages too. Mine are all planted in a sunny spot in the garden and the last couple of days have finally opened the buds. Hoping everyone will be back soon to show us a host of different dahlia dreaminess!

I have a crème de cassis too!

This is my Bishop of Dover.

@TheSpottedZebra sadly not. I’d like to say I’ll put one in next year but I probably won’t 😂 it will follow the same pattern that my Christmas wrapping does - I’m really organized in planning, buying and wrapping, never bother with tags then forget which present is which.

@ThursdayLastWeek wow, how beautiful! I need to put them on my list for next year!

Hooray for the initial enthusiasm! You're like me,but with more dahlias!

CdC is so pretty. BISHOP of Dover too - I dont have any Bishops series this year.

First of the Bishop's Children has appeared this morning 🌸☀️

@Swanhilde beautiful colour and your foliage looks amazing - not ravaged by the slugs like mine.

@ThursdayLastWeek love your Bishop of Dover - want one to pair with my Bishop of Leicester next year I think

A chap near me is selling some dahlias. Which, if any out of these you you recommend me getting? I don't think mine will flower this year but will hopefully overwinter ok and flower next year.

Show n tell.
Lifestyle
Akita
Autumn Fairy
Tyrelli
Chat Noir
Preference
Kennermerland.
Fire Cracker
Park Princess
Hi Trio.
Bishops Children.

Do you have colours or shapes that you prefer?eg Preference is a gentle1 pink, Forecracker is obviously hot colours...

@TheSpottedZebra not really, maybe not the more bronze brown ones. I've gone for these Akita, Autumn Fairy, Chat Noir, Preference, Kennermerland, and Park Princess. They seem to be quite good for cutting and a good mix of flower types. I was going to go for one of all of them but was £50. A good price but not sure they won't get eaten by the slugs and snails in my garden.

Oh lovely photos!!

I've had to dig up poor bishop of Llandaff as she was getting eaten by slugs, in a pot now, there are signs of growth so will put her back once she is big enough to resist.

Another two are in bud,in the border, but I have lost all my labels

I'm useless at dahlias

But will post pictures once they come out