Honnat, I still grow it because it won't go away! I planted it here 16 years ago, moved a tuber of that to my new garden bed in about 2006, and never dig it in the winter. Occassionally I dig a tuber or two for someone who wants it. The silly girl grows about 6' tall out between a couple of rose bushes. I seldom use it for bouquets, but its sort of like a comfortable old aunty who is just always there when you need it. It gets to its show off stage when we have really warm weather. IN cooler weather, the petals just kind of sit there and be pink and white. When picked, in warm weather, its like those photos of winning baskets.
At one point, in its first location, I spilled the extended release fertilizer when I planted it. a few weeks later I picked 100 flowers off of the giant bush it had become, all those at the same time.
CCvacation Oct 18, 2016 7:01 PM PDT
Name: CC PA
Had to toss mine for virus. Not going to replace it.
mandolls Oct 20, 2016 7:19 AM PDT
Name: Geof WI
I got it in a trade this year (non cubits) - and it was terrible - every bloom open centered, and most of them a very washed out pink.
teddahlia Oct 20, 2016 7:32 AM PDT
Name: Ted Oregon We enjoy breeding new dahlias!
I would imagine that there is a lot of bad stock of Chilson's Pride out there. The last time we grew it was about 15 years ago and the stock was bad and we dumped it.
vikingcraftsman Oct 20, 2016 11:42 AM PDT
teddahlia Oct 20, 2016 12:40 PM PDT
Name: Ted Oregon We enjoy breeding new dahlias!
I bet that very few of you can identify this giant dahlia. Any guesses?
Benny101 Oct 20, 2016 2:31 PM PDT
Greenville MI - zone 5b
teddahlia wrote:
I bet that very few of you can identify this giant dahlia. Any guesses?
Irene's Pride ??
Benny101 Oct 20, 2016 2:46 PM PDT
Greenville MI - zone 5b
Is it normal for Taratahi Ruby to turn Orange late in the season or have two of my plants sported ?
CCvacation Oct 20, 2016 4:13 PM PDT
Name: CC PA
Sure looks like AC Ben met Irene's Pride in a dark alleyway, and this is the result...
CCvacation Oct 20, 2016 4:22 PM PDT
Name: CC PA
"Is it normal for Taratahi Ruby to turn Orange "
I grew TR for one season, and it seemed pretty 'confused red' in the summer, and even more in the fall. The yellow tinge in the center (and I bet an undercoating of yellow base) ruins a decent red, and it can't figure out how to do a graceful reddish-orange flame. I wouldn't go figuring out baby names for it quite yet.
teddahlia Oct 20, 2016 5:12 PM PDT
Name: Ted Oregon We enjoy breeding new dahlias!
Hint: Teresa Bergman entered it in the Lane County show and it is a somewhat old variety.
PNWGal Oct 21, 2016 1:24 AM PDT
Name: Linda Portland OR, zone 8b
My Red Velvet seems to need the light to make the red pigment. I have noticed that with the shorter (and frequently darker) days, the blooms in the least sun are orange, while the ones in full sun still look close to normal. I got excited about the orange until I realized there was a pattern.
teddahlia Oct 21, 2016 7:47 AM PDT
Name: Ted Oregon We enjoy breeding new dahlias!
Gwyneth is the orange sport of T. Ruby. They sell it in the UK. Margaret liked it and one of these days we may get it back. And John Spangenburg is releasing the orange sport of Red Velvet called Crazy for Velvet this year.
CCvacation Oct 21, 2016 10:57 AM PDT
Name: CC PA
Hold off on the answer... I'm doing research... And, no, I'm not going to her store.
CCvacation Oct 21, 2016 1:09 PM PDT
Name: CC PA
teddahlia wrote:
I bet that very few of you can identify this giant dahlia. Any guesses?
should be 0203, or 0210 LB...
Alfred C was what itched at the back of my mind all day, but it has more intense orange in the center, with yellow in the recurved petals if it fades.
AC Big Johnson or AC Dan might fit the bill, but they are 2013 and 2015, so not old enough.
Sarah Huston might possibly be it, with a 1987 intro date, but it says its a pink/ yellow blend, with no picts online.
Oh, drat it all. I peeked. It's an ID, not SC. Not fair.
sylviap Oct 22, 2016 8:25 AM PDT
Name: Sylvia West Sacramento, CA Zone 9b
This year I grew Wyn's Hot Lava. Unfortunately it was shaded out by another plant, but I did get two great blooms and they were spectacular. Sadly I didn't get a picture.
teddahlia Oct 22, 2016 9:22 AM PDT
Name: Ted Oregon We enjoy breeding new dahlias!
Curt Sell originated varieties with the name Goshen and the giant is his Goshen Giant. I believe Curt Sell is now deceased. We visited his dahlia patch during the downside of his business. He grew a lot of Barbarry varieties and I remember seeing Barbarry Signal at his place. He was one of the first people to appreciate barbed dahlias and I believe he originated one called Thistle or maybe it was Pink Thistle.
DahliaGardener Oct 23, 2016 4:33 PM PDT
Name: Cynthia BG, KY USDA Zone 6b Sanity = Dirt under your nails...
vikingcraftsman wrote:
Had that one, left it in the ground in OR, because it just never really did well. Yours looks like a nice clear red, Viking.
C DG
sylviap Oct 23, 2016 7:57 PM PDT
Name: Sylvia West Sacramento, CA Zone 9b
Finally, a great looking Comet. All it took was a rainstorm to knock the plant down so it was shaded out by another plant. Maybe next year I'll put it in the shade.
Standing on my tiptoes trying to get a good picture of Show N Tell. Bloomed late and only a half dozen blooms this year, but so pretty!
vikingcraftsman Oct 23, 2016 8:11 PM PDT
DahliaGardener wrote:
Had that one, left it in the ground in OR, because it just never really did well. Yours looks like a nice clear red, Viking.
C DG
Yes it has several different looks. Not so much this year because of the heat. But last year I got a solid white, Solid red , and the combination red and white, and a pink. I grow it in pots in a place I can see it easily, This year one bloom so far.
I wouldn't go figuring out baby names for it quite yet. 
Not fair.
