Dahlias

Our local Gardening club has set two competitions so I need advice on: the dahlia with the largest flower head potential and what to grow from a 'pip'/stone - apple,pear,etc...

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Can't comment on dahlias. But I would suggest you try a variety of pip/stones and see what works best. Much depends on how long the competion runs for as you'll not get much from a pip in a year. Apart from apples and pears you might try pomegranate as it grows fairly easily if kept warm and makes a nice bonsai. Others we have grown are avocado and lemon and orange pips.
We also have a 20 year old bonsai apricot, but it takes a while for one of these to look half decent.

[ 13. April 2006, 11:06 PM: Message edited by: Dave W ]

 

For dahlias I think you need one of the large mophead. Don't know too much about them but for exhibition purposes, RHS A-Z classes 'Giant' as over 25cm, (10 in). 6 full pages listed of dahlia varieties but just one taken at random D. Cream Alva's 1.3m tall (4 1/2 ft.) and 60cm (24in) bloom :D

For pips/pits/seeds etc most anything will grow. You can search for info on pineapple, apple, (called pipins - eg Coxes) You can try any Grape, Almond, Peach, Lychee, Passionfruit etc. or you can have a go at citrus. Lemon, orange or grapefruit are easy to grow but I've not yet found a lime with seeds in.

Here's some pink grapefruit I did last year, now all in separate pots and growing away happily.

GC thread: Pink Grapefruit