J. D. Semple, Glasgow
KIWI GLORIA S.C. dahlia. White and Lavender
Most dahlia exhibitors had seen this little beauty during 1988
and I’m sure a lot of people would have grown it in 1989.
Made beautiful plants early on with me then I got the fright of
my life when the first flowers retained a hard green centre. However
it soon settled down and produced masses of high quality blooms
right through the season. Has great depth and will be a banker
for me in the nineties.
FERNHILL CHAMPION M.D. dahlia. Yellow.
Early on this was the finest batch of plants in my garden and
I was optimistic about getting some quality blooms from them.
This did not materialise however as the blooms marked rather easily.
Makes good size grown at eight up but with eleven plants grown
and no vases exhibited I’m afraid it will have to go. Would
probably fair better in more airy conditions than I experienced
for most of September.
JOYCE LAMBERT S.C. dahlia. White.
I had seen this one at the Bradford trials a few years ago and
I thought that it showed
potential. Unfortunately I was wrong as I have been in the past.
No weight - no depth - no use.
SUNRAY GLINT M.S.C. dahlia. Yellow/Pink Blends.
This one caught my eye at London National in 1988 and I decided
to give it a try as I am a Symbol fan and this one is a sport
of Sunray Symbol which I believe to be the same as Majjas Symbol.
Beautiful plants were recived from Mrs. Porter and I was not disappointed
in any way with it. I showed several good vases of this one throughout
September and it created a great deal of interest. A good M.S.C.
The undernoted varieties were grown by my son Andrew and I
feel qualified to comment on them:LAURA MARIE Mm. Ball dahlia.
Red. After seeing this little beauty on Tom Bebbington’s
Trade Stand at London I asked him if it would fade like most of
the other reds. He assured me that it wouldn’t and he was
right. Flowered prolifically throughout the season and as I write
this article it is still blooming beautifully. A good dahlia.
WANDA’S CAPELLA G.D. dahlia. Yellow.
Recommended to us by Dave Reid. who said it was early and good.
Early on in the season it did not look all that great but it settled
down and produced some super blooms. Lovely fresh colour. Has
good depth and flowers early which should suit Scottish growers.
AMARAN RELISH G.D. dahlia.Orange.
Only one plant of this one tried but it produced one of the best
giants that I have ever seen - a few days too early for AYR Show.
After reading Derek Hewlett’s comments about this one I think
Andrew was a bit wary of it but I’m sure he will have a reasonable
number of this one in his plot in 1990.
John Wallace, Clackmannan
ALICE IRELAND Mm. Dec. dahlia. Deep Pink
This was a tall grower 5’. It dresses right back to the stem,
but inclined to be a bit rough. Difficult to match.
DAVENPORT EVELYN Mm. Dec. dahlia. Mauve/Pink
Grows to 3’. Tremendous stems. grown 14 up and easy to match,
it has nice form but was about a fortnight later than my other
miniatures to flower.
CATHERINE IRELAND Mm. Dec. dahlia. White/Lavender Flush
Grows to 3½’. Most came clock faced and some were
daisy eyed. There was the odd good bloom, but not worth growing.
SENZOE URSULA S.D. dahlia. Lavender/White
I grew this one 8 up. I had seen it at Ayr last year and decided
to try it despite being warned about the weak stems. I should
have listened. I caned ten blooms one week before Grangemouth,
but they all broke just below the bloom. Next time I’ll listen.
DANA IRIS S.S.C. dahlia. Red.
I grew this one 12 up but it did not produce flowers of any great
depth. It may have been the dry summer, as I cannot water my plot.
MAJESTIC & LAVENDER ATHALIE S.C. dahlias.
Grown 12 up. Both had nice form, Majestic the better of the two.
Both were inclined to damp at the back - it could be the year
we had. I will definitely grow again.
Most varieties that I grew this year produced blooms that had
either double elongated centres or daisy eyes. As my soil is very
sandy and I don’t have access to water I will put it down
to the dry spring. Any other ideas??
David McMillan, Coatbridge.
BARBARRY CROWN S.D. Deep Violet.
Caught my eye in Cohn Bailey’s garden last year. Grown at
ten up produced immaculate blooms with good size and form. I grew
12 plants of this variety but only showed 3 or 4 vases. This had
nothing to do with the flower as it reached perfection mid-week
and was therefore past it by the time the week-end shows were
upon us. Do not cover this one. Grows 4’ tall.
BARBARRY SALMON S.D. dahlia. Salmon.
Grown at 12 up but this was not enough. Dressed right back on
to the stems but still had a heavy centre so it will carry another
two blooms next year. As you all know September was a bad month
with torrential rain and severe winds but this variety took it
all and had no weather damage. Grows 4’ tall and has very
strong stems.
LORD MASON Mm. Dec. dahlia. White.
After the great reports I had received about this one 12 plants
were grown and not one good bloom cut. Clock faced; daisy eyed;
oval centres; you name it and this variety had it. What rubbed
it in was George Bird, growing it from plants I gave him to try
said it was the best miniature grown by him so I will put it down
to the summer we had. In my area four of us tried this one and
we all had the same results. Made great tubers just like all the
rest you don’t want to keep.
ABRIDGE BEN Mm. Dec. dahlia.
Produced beautiful flowers early on and a lot were shown on the
bench. After the first flush flowers were really small so it would
need to be stripped down to about 6 up. If my stock lifts well
I will grow again.
LEMONS ELEGANS S.S.C. dahlia.
Managed to get good stock of this one and with late cuttings I
had nine plants. Grown at 14 up this one was oversize with a good
bit of centre still to come out. I will grow 18 up on this variety
next year. This also stood up to all the weather without marking
so if you do not cover this might be one to try.
VAZON BAY Mm. Ball. dahlia.
Beautiful, but rather late to flower with me. Nice refined blooms
on good plants grown at 10 up. Produced a succession of top quality
flowers so I will try and get this variety earlier next year.
Very shy to produce cuttings.
John Buchanan, Gargunnock:
CLOVERDALE S.D. dahlia. Lemom.
I was told that this variety had health problems. My head ruled
my heart and I bought in five plants. On the health side of things,
no problems. But trying to get three blooms ready at any one time
was a major headache. Blooms were of top quality both in size
and depth. Next year I will grow 25 plants in an attempt to get
a good vase on the bench.
YORKIE M.S.C. dahlia. White.
After reading some glowing report in last year’s ‘Impact’,
I thought this one could be a winner. I planted out 15 plants
which grew on strongly and made big healthy plants. Flowers had
good depth and stems but centres were oval and were here today
gone tomorrow. No match for White Moonlight.
CONNIE BARTLAM M.D. dahlia.
A waste of money. space and time. This dahlia, in my opinion,
should never have been allowed to be released. Any of you who
saw it at Falkirk Town Hall must surely agree.
NEAL GILLSON M.D.dahlia.
Second year growing this one. Grown three and four up I could
still get a small ring over this nicely formed bloom. I feel this
variety should be re-classified as a small. I will not grow again
as a medium.
KIWI GLORIA (S.C. dahlia. Lilac and White.
I first saw this one at the Glasgow Garden Festival. This small
cactus, in my opinion, is the best in its section. It has performed
well all season. Seven vases shown - six firsts and one second
(can’t be bad). Something to watch for in this variety is
a hard green centre, which you must give plenty of time to grow
out. A winner all the way.
L’ANCRESSE Min. Ball dahlia. White.
Not a new variety, but one that a lot of growers complain about
going oversize. Having received stock from George Robertson in
the ‘88 season my smalls’ ring ‘sat’ on top
of the blooms. However cuttings were taken and although I had
doubts, I planted out ten plants and what a season I had with
this one. Best Vase of Miniatures at Stirling; Best Vase at Townhead;
plus many more Red Cards. To get it down to size I tried stopping
at end of June, then let everything come on it, only removing
the side buds 10-14 days after they appeared. Blooms made top
size with only the odd bloom going oversize. Best miniature in
my garden.