The Poultry Keeper

stephen · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 5:43 pm Post subject:

Last year was the first time ever I'd grown them. We waited till the first frost, lifted them, stored them in trays with vermiculite and left them in the greenhouse (which had mild heat over winter) and they rotted Sad

Will try something else this year. Did you have to do anything special to them before putting them in the paper bags? Do you have to wash them or anything?

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

Steph,
No need to wash them, just let them dry if they are a bit damp, (i put them on kitchen roll) then take off as much soil as possible.

Don't store them in a greenhouse though, as it's too warm and they are more likely to rot, store them somewhere that's cool and not damp (I put mine in the outhouse as it's brick built and cooler than the shed)

I don't think there is any need to use anything else on them, I don't and mine are usually fine

The usual thing which causes rotting is having too much stalk on them, (this needs to have dried off as much as possible before storing) either on trays in a shed or greenhouse to make sure they are dry enough.

We split mine last spring, and both gardens had absolutely loads of flowers in the summer

(can you guess I like Dahlias Surprised

)

Most of the beds in my garden have them in, from the little pompom's to the huge stars, like you say they are great for cut flowers

Sorry knobby, these things happen mate !

stephen · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 6:00 pm Post subject:

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

I have an amazing purple star which produces huge flowers, which is probably one of my favourites as it is also tinged with white lines (difficult to describe properly)

When we move, I'm going to have to a least take some of them,

But like you say they aren't too expensive so might just buy more afterwards

stephen · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 6:17 pm Post subject:

I can see why they're addictive, though. When looking in the catalogues there are just so many different ones to choose from. It's like being a kid in a sweet shop.

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

Do what I did,

Order from one catalogue ...... forget that you'd ordered from them and order from another one (fortunately they were all different types Very Happy

)

Do you use Parkers? they are great value and very good customer service
http://www.jparker.co.uk/

George

debcat · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 6:39 pm Post subject:

Used to grow them where I lived before, don't know what sort, just ones I liked the look of.
Haven't tried here, they wouldn't survive the wind

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I used Parkers this year for quite a few plants, and overall they were excellent, have been planting them out over the past few days

stephen · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 6:55 pm Post subject:

I got mine from Suttons as I had a catalogue, I could order on the website, and they did some multipacks so i could try them out without getting too confused.

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

Been digging in the garden (well if you can call it that, just moved the soil a little)

There are quite a few baby tubars and also one reasonable sized one)

I'll dry them off a little and probably get them sent off tomorrow?

No idea what type they are, but the back bed (which is the only one I dared risking, as the iris's are all up in the other beds) is predominately the larger star flower shapes

Although, think there is an orange pom pom there as well.

Hope that's ok
George

stephen · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 10:28 am Post subject:

Yeah! That's wonderful. Many thanks.

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

no problem Laughing

It's the least I can do, after you have done so much for us Wink