Dahlias for cutflowers. Sizes of them

Hello,

I am passionate about dahlia for cut flowers. I am living in Belgium and I am 70 years old. Another passion is old tomato varieties.

I am looking to add a few dahlias to my collection but I have a though time to find out what the size fork is for each dahlia flowers. I am looking for a size fork between 12.5 and 15 cm. This is 5 to 6 Inches.

Who could help me with the following varieties?

After dusk
Apricot desire
Arc de Triomphe
Bracken Ballerina
Carolina waegemans
Cream alva's
David Howard
Geerlings cupido
Geerlings moonlight
José Maria
Karma chok
Lindsay
Sweet Love
Orange garden
Madelon
Scaur Swinton

 

I only grow David howard out of all of these , I am not sure what you mean though with size of fork ? do you mean flower size ?

 

Assume @guyloup means the flowers diameter ?

Think the best way is to look at some of the specialist suppliers websites which detail the plants habits quiet well.

eg Dahlia Bracken Ballerina - Halls of Heddon

NO LONGER AVAILABLE - Dahlia Scaur Swinton - Halls of Heddon

 

@guyloup @ricky101 I think fork size refers to stem length from the flower to the first fork in the stem.
I grow both David Howard and Karma Choc both of which have flowers about 10cms in diameter.
Length of stem to first fork depends on cultivation.
The National Dahlia Society say "If a dahlia plant is left to its own devices, each flowering stem will terminate in a flowering bud, with generally two smaller buds alongside it. The two side buds, or wing buds should be pinched out as soon as practical. This will encourage the terminal bud to grow larger and develop a longer stem thus lifting the opening flower well above the foliage. The two side shoots below the terminal bud should also be removed to encourage the growth of the terminal flower and of the stem. If bigger and better blooms are required for show, then more side shoots lower down the stem can be removed. In the case of giants, all the side shoots can be removed, perhaps leaving the lowest to survive to produce a replacement flower later on in the season."
I don't grow for cutting, but what I find is that the first stems are longer and first flowers are bigger.
As ricky mentioned specialist web sites have a lot of information on them that may help

 

I am sorry about the confusion on the word "fork". My Mother tong is french. What I meant was the diameter of the flowers.

 

Yes

 

to Ricky101


Thank you for the hint. I have been to multiple sites before posting my question. The problem is that most sites, Hall of Heddon give a very broad estimate, e. g. 100 to 150 cm or 150 to 210 cm. while I am looking for flowers with a diameter from roughly 12.5 to 15 cm

 

Hi,

Seems all the uk specialists just have size bands over a 50mm range.

Wanting something within a 25mm range I wonder if thats possible ?
Would have thought the growing method used , eg dis-budding, feeding etc, would affect their actual size ?

Are you looking to grow them to Show standards ?

Hopefully someone with experience in that area will see this post and be able to offer some advice.

Do you have any local flower shows/competitions where you can chat with other Dahlia growers ?

 

No, I do grow them for my wife. She loves to have vases with Dahlia flowers around the house. Of course precise dimensions of flowers are difficult because they vary on the same plant. She just think that 10 cm is small and around 17 + mm too large.

I know the "categories" that you are mentioning. So I am looking for "small " "Médium sizes" or large "small sizes"...........LOL.

 

Hi @guyloup I have just been and measured David Howard. The flowers are between 10 and 12 cm across ie diameter. I think they were a little bigger earlier in the season. But definitely good cut flower size.

 

Thank you, Caroline. Normal for flowers, to be a bit smaller at the end of the season. Definitively one to try.

 

It's the only dahlia I grow! Fantastic flowers, decent dark foliage.

 

@guyloup - this is my favourite dahlia reference site and I think you will enjoy it too, if not the monetary outlay which might result!

Www.dahlie.net

It’s language friendly and you can sort by type, colour, height and bloom size. I’ve randomly checked some of the dahlias on your list and many are listed on this website.