Whooo-hoo! First flower pic of 2020's blooms~ I have at least 3 budded but not opening yet.
teddahlia Jun 21, 2020 5:09 PM PDT
Name: Ted Oregon We enjoy breeding new dahlias!
Here you all are showing pictures of flowers and I am still checking lots of the tubers to make sure they are sprouting. Robin Hood is an older UK variety. Perhaps there is a play on the name as the originator is named Littlejohn and that was Robin Hood's pal. I just bet that Robin Hood did not grow dahlias or shoot arrows through ball dahlias placed on top of Littlejohn's head.
My first dahlia is blooming but I will not burden you with a picture of a POT TUBER FLOWER. The pot tuber table is green and lush and I bet I will see a lot flowers there this year.
DillyDahlia Jun 24, 2020 6:34 AM PDT
Name: Tina NY Zone 5b/6a Flower Power!
Ted, could you share a picture for those of us who don't do pot tubers?
sylviap Jun 24, 2020 8:38 AM PDT
Name: Sylvia West Sacramento, CA Zone 9b
teddahlia wrote:Here you all are showing pictures of flowers and I am still checking lots of the tubers to make sure they are sprouting. Robin Hood is an older UK variety. Perhaps there is a play on the name as the originator is named Littlejohn and that was Robin Hood's pal. I just bet that Robin Hood did not grow dahlias or shoot arrows through ball dahlias placed on top of Littlejohn's head.
The day Robin Hood bloomed was the same day the final tubers were planted in the garden. It took a long time to coax some of them to start this year, including HH Clowning Around.
teddahlia Jun 24, 2020 9:11 AM PDT
Name: Ted Oregon We enjoy breeding new dahlias!
This first flower to bloom was in the pot tubers. It is seedling 1837, a flower whose disposition depends upon how well it does in the main garden this year. This pot tuber is actually a tuber that I used to take cuttings and was left in the 7 inch diameter pot afterwards. It was in the shadiest area of the pot tubers and it is a tall grower in the garden and thus a tall "pot tuber".
First Flower 2020
Tahoma Amble. bb fd bred by Les Connell. I think he only sold it one year...2 or 3 years ago. It has survived every adventure in my gardening life.
sylviap Jun 27, 2020 7:40 PM PDT
Name: Sylvia West Sacramento, CA Zone 9b
Very pretty!
Cosey Jun 28, 2020 11:35 AM PDT
Name: LeeAnn Zone 6b, Pennsylvania
Islander wrote: First Flower 2020
Tahoma Amble. bb fd bred by Les Connell. I think he only sold it one year...2 or 3 years ago. It has survived every adventure in my gardening life.
My sister is also growing this. I did collect some seeds from it, but sadly none germinated due to mildew.
Cosey, cool! Let both try to collect seeds from it and see what we get. It will be fun to compare! I wasn't sure how widely this one had been distributed. Sometimes I picked up some of the Connells' less distributed ones at our dahlia club sales. I had one I really liked that was called I think, Tahoma Puff or maybe it was Summit Puff, a big red fimbriated one that was lovely in the garden but when I went to dig it in the fall it had one ginormous tuber over 18" long and no other. I'd love to try that one again but bet I never see it for sale, LOL.
teddahlia Jun 28, 2020 1:50 PM PDT
Name: Ted Oregon We enjoy breeding new dahlias!
Several years ago, Wayne Shantz made the comment that a majority of new introductions were not available after a couple of years and that after 10 years it was something over 90%. These may not be the exact numbers he stated but you get the idea. When you see something new that you want, it is risky to wait a year for the price to drop.
Example: We introduced Hollyhill Wicked Witch for 2020. It is an exotic dark variegated waterlily flower that is unlike any other. I checked my bag of tubers to plant and there was only one tuber .I had filled the orders but it is not a prolific tuber maker and some of them rot. Will we it sell next year? That is a big unknown although I did plant 5 or 6 plants from rooted cuttings. I will probably not sell it and as we get older, it becomes more and more likely that we may not sell some introductions after the first year. That story is repeated over an over for new varieties from other breeders.
Cosey Jun 28, 2020 6:11 PM PDT
Name: LeeAnn Zone 6b, Pennsylvania
Islander- she wasn't supposed to have it. It came as a mislabel that was verified as Tahoma Amble by seller. A mistake because they weren't selling it, but it found a good home in PA. I was sad about the seeds. I had one group of seeds go bad after I picked them by stacking them in the counter and a lid was put on them. 3 days later I found them with mildew growth. I still kept them being the overly optimistic person I am but none germinated for me.
Ted- I am hanging on to one wicked witch cutting this season. My tubers rotted (as I always expect some but sad to see these were in the group). It looks so obnoxious, I had to have it. My Pollyanna's are looking quite well.
Oh that is funny that Tahoma Amble was purchased that way! I am going to pay more attention to mine this season since it looks so fine as my first bloomer. If it makes good seeds maybe we can trade some for fun and see what else it has in its potential. It is joined in blooming now by a Ken's Rarity (which I had mis-labled as Ken's Choice) and Jowey Winnie is opening not far away. I tried to get most of my plants with others in the same categories this year.
When I got Tahoma Amble I had also purchased a Crazy4 one that was similar and they were by Andy's Legacy and Labyrinth. I m afraid the others stole the attention and I wasn't quite sure whether this was the Crazy 4 orange one or Tahoma Amble, so I made up a name for it ...something Amble that I knew I would remember the history. Well, I am finally convinced it is Tahoma Amble and not the Crazy4(Don?) one which has more pink to it...Anyhow, I got them in late and they were late to bloom. Last year was just chaotic with selling the house and moving but I am pretty sure now of its nomenclature.
I have a photo of Ken's Rarity if I can get my iphone to release it to me.... . I always love this one!
Name: Steve San Diego Commercial cut flower grower
That's great to know Cory! I will be sure to let everyone I know in San Diego that Tree Service San Diego is a spammer and do not do business with them. If I have time later today I will leave you a review on Yelp. :)
later - Pedro, I left you a review on Google Services, I will remove it when you remove your post here.
Thank you Steve for promoting True DAHLIA LOVE in San Diego!
SharptoothRex Jul 3, 2020 2:12 PM PDT
Richmond, VA
Maarn tuber from Swan Island
Things rebounded nicely after that late cold weather her in VA, thank you all for your help. Also have Amber Queen (P) with blooms but they haven't been of the best quality.
. I always love this one! 