After the usual fiasco of trying to over-winter tubers, I finally
got things going about the third weekend in January with the first
cuttings taken about 1st of March. Things progressed normally
with loads of some varieties and few of others. All this got sorted
out with some swapping and begging, and I even had to buy some
plants. Plants were planted out on the second weekend in June
on a lightly prepared plot. Due to a measuring error I finished
up with 15 rows instead of 13 and paid for it in September when
I could hardly get between some of the rows. A couple of light
feeds of liquid Chempack No. 2 got things going and the odd shower
of rain made watering easy during June. July, however, was totally
different. Extreme heat made watering a gamble. My plot is enclosed
by hawthorn hedges for wind protection and the temperature must
have been in the 90’s some days. My theory is that a plant
standing in that heat with someone lashing cold water around its
feet must wonder whether to go up or down - at least it looked
that way with some of mine.
When the first buds started showing colour some potash feeding
was applied but it must have missed some of them as I have never
seen so many plants ‘rocking and rolling’. Symbol, Lavender
Symbol, Candy Keene and Senzoe Ursula (of course) were the worst.
Later in the season they all recovered except Ursula.
My first Show was Blairgowrie, with about 8 vases set up. I thought
I would have won the Cup, but I did not. I did not get back to
see this Show, so I suspect some of the blooms must have collapsed.
The next Show was Dundee, and the same story - with some Exhibitors
standing ankle deep in petals. However, I was very pleased to
finish 2nd in one Cup Class behind Robert Fulton’s excellent
entry.
Talking to the West of Scotland lads at Dundee I found that they
were going to Gateshead the following week. This was the same
weekend as Perth, and purely to fill the benches I set up 22 vases
of dahlias - Perth being my local Show. This was the biggest mistake
of my life - half the vases collapsed before judging - what a
shambles
- a lesson learned the hard way.
I also started my Autumn Holiday and spent part of the time assisting
my wife with her Art Exhibitions. The next Show was Falkirk, and
things started to click. No weak stems or collapsed blooms, and
the Woolworth Cup was mine.
Next day was the Beechgrove Garden episode and the day after that
we went West for a few days holidays. Howling gales and lashing
rain followed us - what a holiday - and when we returned on the
Thursday it was to find some of the covers damaged and the blooms
also. I did cut some flowers for the Aberdeen Show and completed
the cutting on the Friday morning to set off for Stonehaven on
the Friday night. Nationwide flowers late with me, and was looking
good. The Judge thought so too as it got the Best Vase in the
Show. I won 5 Cups and 2 Medals, and almost died of shock.
The last Show for me was the Royal Caledonian Show in Edinburgh.
I won the Championship, but was disappointed that there were only
five exhibitors in the Dahlia Section.
That’s it over, and time to take stock. Good things about
the season were my 4 i~lants of Nationwide, which were the best
I have ever grown. My ‘sport’ from Kim’s Marc which
I hope is not the plant reverting to Richard Marc. If not it is
a ‘cracker’.
68
I also managed to show at Falkirk for the first time; next year
it is the Monklands Show (in the Novice Classes). One plant of
Hamari Gold, which I received by mistake, from which I showed
2 blooms - a good average. Disappointment were the poms grown
in buckets, which were great last year. but hopeless this year
- almost certainly due to irregular watering. Senzoe Ursula, with
some of the best flowers in the garden. and not a stem between
them. Next year I will grow one plant ot it and feed it on pure
potash. Also the Perth Show experience which I am trying to forget
about.
Varieties grown for the first time had mixed results. Reg Keene
was great, but Candy Keene was not. Joyce Lambert got me my only
1st at Stirling. and also first at Perth and Falkirk. Some flowers
are top sitters, but it is worth another try. Grenidor Pastelle
was a bit late, but excellent when it came. I hope it stays as
a medium. Three plants of Yorkie were destined for the bucket
until the show season was almost over when it started producing
some great flowers. I must give it another chance by starting
it earlier. Constantine. bought on the strength of a photograph.
must be the worst flower I have ever grown. A medium dec.. it
had about 6 rows of petals and looked straight up. The Photographer
deserves an Oscar - he must have taken the snap from an aeroplane.
Hopes for next year are to win a Cup at Stirling, show one bloom
of Sen zoe Ursula and win a Volvo Estate Car in a raffle - all
highly unlikely, but I am the eternal optimist. See you all in
1991.