Large Dahlias

I saw some in a Garden and the were about the size of dinner plates , any idea what variety they could be
Baz

 

Barry - I wouldn't know about varieties - there are an awful lot.

But I understand that if you cut off the leading buds, you will get a smaller bushier plant with a large number of smaller blooms. But if you cut off the side buds you will get a small number of much larger blooms. And presumably, if you are exhibiting, you cut off all the side buds and just get one huge dinner plate. Feeding can make a lot of difference too, and watering. My book on Dahlias says they need the equivalent of 40 inches of rain during the growing season. That's more than the annual rainfall needed just over the growing season. So you should keep watering them, even when its raining. :D

 

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Hi!

if you want to grow dahlias, you are better off trying the medium sized flower type!

The dinner plate size ones are fine with no rain or wind, get those two and the flowers are top heavy, and the plants keel over!

I have some medium sized ones in my allotment, with having no rain for yonks, they are growing up straight, but they will have to be staked as soon as they start flowering and the wind and rain comes!

Cheers!

:gnthb: