A few years ago when I was at my peak as a dahlia exhibitor - it seems so long ago that it is only a faint memory - while some unkind folk might suggest that I have not yet peaked - medium semi-cactus varieties were enjoying phenomenal success.
Most of the championship classes which did not specify the actual class-ifications required featured a high percentage of medium semi-cactus. The Symbol family was fairly dominant; the Galators had come and gone; Hamari Bride and later Suffolk Bride were proving difficult to beat.
A change evolved when a number of exhibitors turned to the emerging Keene family for their back vase and Reginald and Salmon Keene became regulars in these classes. A number of exhibitors then opted for a large; a medium and a small in their exhibits and in recent times a common entry would comprise a vase of Keenes; a vase of Moonlights and a vase of Dianes or Glorias.
As we head for the turn of the century I see another trend
developing with some exhibitors having the audacity to stage three
vases of miniature ball and/or miniature decoratives in three
vase championship classes.
Looking back to the early 1980’s miniatures were not very
popular and the only really good ones that I recall being exhibited
by John Scriven from Royston, Herts. who was a regular at the
Scottish National at that time and some vases of Horn of Plenty
set up by Mr. Thomson from Plean.
Times they are a changing and miniature decoratives and miniature
ball varieties are becoming very popular. The miniature cactus
are less so despite the efforts of my friend Tom McLelland in
England and Donald Buchanan nearer home. I have a standing bet
with Mr. Buchanan that miniature cactus will never win the miniature
championship at the Scottish National Show and those of you who
know me realise that I only bet on certainties.
One of the main reasons miniatures are becoming popular of course
is that they can be grown outside without the need for expensive
or unsightly covers.
In recent times there has also been an increase in the number
of good new varieties being introduced and of course they appeal
to the people who just want to grow a few dahlias in their garden
with a view to cutting some for the house from time to time.
The views of the judges also have to be taken into consideration.
In the past a vase of miniatures staged in a multi-vase exhibit
may have been looked upon as the weak link but this is no longer
the case.
In recent times I know of a number of exhibitors who have staged three vases of miniatures in open championship classes with a high degree of success. Miniatures winning Best Vase in Show awards used to be very rare but that is no longer the case.
Here in Scotland we have only two exhibitors that I would term
as top class exhibitors of miniatures. Tom Cleghorn from Cupar,
a seasoned campaigner who is very thorough in all his dealings
with his dahlias but who now appears to have a distinct preference
for miniatures.
Tom has had Best Exhibit in Dahlias at the highly competitive
Dundee Show on a number of occasions with six vases of miniatures
and he also won the Gold Medal at the Scottish National for Best
Vase in Show a few years ago with Davenport Honey. He also secured
the Silver Medal at the “Scottish” which goes to the
runner-up to Best Vase with L’Ancresse, the miniature ball
that he grows so well, a couple of years ago.
Andrew Allan from Chryston, near Glasgow is the other grower of miniatures that I rate highly. Andrew is a relative newcomer to the scene but he has proved to be a quick learner. Concentrating on the Cupid family and Karenglen, Andrew has scooped several top awards with them recently. His Peach Cupid won the Silver Medal at Stirling in 1997 as runner - up to Best Vase in Show. Yours truly has also devoted more time and space to growing miniatures in recent times.
A chance remark that I made to Dave Reid on the telephone one
night early in 1997 that I was growing 15 varieties of miniatures
later appeared in the Garden News as a challenge to all and sundry.
In future when conversing with the said Mr. Reid I will adopt
the tactics of a politician. A lot of waffle without actually
saying anything.
I will now outline my growing methods for my miniatures and give
an honest assessment of their recent performances under my care.
For the past two or three years I had been growing about 100
miniatures in my next door neighbours garden. I grew them close
together and double stopped them all and they made a wonderful
display and I enjoyed some success on the show bench with them.
They were all grown out in the open with no protection whatsoever.
In 1997 I reduced my total number of dahlia plants grown but I
actually increased the number of miniatures grown. I ceased growing
in my neighbours garden and I tried some under cover.
Again I double stopped everything but not all varieties respond
to this treatment.
Contrary to some growers I believe it is important to get a
big bushy plant as early as possible and I would suggest moving
them up into at least 5 inch pots in May and give them their first
stop at that time. I then wait until each break has at least three
pairs of leaves before I give them their second stop.
It is important to take notes of the date that you carry out each
of these functions and then record when they flower and what the
flowers were like.
Varieties grown in 1997
ABRIDGE TAFFY: White. One of the best miniature decoratives. Not
the easiest to grow. Tends to be late to flower and sometimes
prone to flowering low in the foliage. Grow about 24 up to keep
down to size. Get it right and Taffy is capable of winning Best
Vase awards.
AMIRA: A recent Dutch introduction in purple. I struggled to keep
this one down to size and did not show a vase of it all year.
I believe this one will be classified as a small ball in due course.
I will not grow it again.
BARBARRY IDEAL: Orange/bronze. There is some dubiety as to whether
this one is a ball or a decorative. This is the case with a lot
of miniatures introduced recently. I believe it is a miniature
decorative and it does well with me. It has loads of petal but
has a serious fault in my opinion in that it has a sunken centre.
But then so too do the Cupids and we all know how successful they
have been.
BARBARRY VINTAGE: Pillar box red miniature decorative. I grew
far too many breaks on this one with the result that it was very
small and weak stemmed.
Probably worth another try. Grow it about 12 up. I grew it under
cover in 1997 but it will probably fare better outside.
CANDY CUPID: A miniature ball in attractive pink. Has a tendency
to have traces of white on the tips of the petals which spoils
its overall appearance.
DAVENPORT HONEY: Perhaps the late great Alan Dunlop’s finest
raising.
A miniature decorative in a pleasing light bronze colour. Could
do with having more petals in it. Colour is not so good when grown
under cover.
ELIZABETH HAMMETT: An import from New Zealand. Miniature decorative
in light pink. It is not everyone’s cup of tea but it is
one of my favourites. I grew it under covers in 1997 but it performs
equally well outside.
FERMAIN: A miniature decorative which was raised quite a long
time before it was on general release. It comes in lavender and
white blends. Not the easiest to match but it is capable of producing
some very good blooms. I grew it under cover in 1997 but it was
better outside the previous year.
JOMANDA: A recent introduction, again from Holland I believe.
A tall grower and difficult to keep down to size. Some growers
exhibited this one as a small ball. Loads of petal but not all
blooms are round. It featured in some of my better exhibits in
1997. Grown under cover.
KARENGLEN: Orange/red miniature decorative which has become one
of the section leaders. To be honest I have not yet mastered the
growing of it but my mate Andrew Allan gets it superb. With me
it tends to be late and it is hard work keeping it down to size.
When grown well it is a sure fire winner.
LAURA MARIE: One of my all time favourite dahlias. A red miniature
ball which does not fade. I have grown it every year since it
was released by my old friend Tom Bebbington. Double stop and
grow outside. It has a tendency towards weak stems so feed plenty
of potash and cane blooms a few days before you require them.
LORETTA: Unclassified at the moment but in my view it is a miniature
decorative. Introduced from Holland to rave reviews but I am still
to be convinced.
It comes in a pale lavender but has a tendency to throw some blooms
with a white fleck through them which detracts from an otherwise
classy flower. Probably better not covered.
PEACH CUPID: I consider this to be the best of the Cupid family.
Double stop and grow about 24 up. Occasional variation in colour.
Match them up carefully and you will not go far wrong.
Can be grown outside or under cover with very little difference.
RED BALLOON: A recent Dutch introduction in bright red. Despite
my friend Dave Spencer showing this one to good effect at London
in 1996 as a small I tried to grow it as a miniature without any
success. Much as it grieves me to say this maybe Mr. Spencer was
right and I was wrong. Will probably be classified small ball
in due course. It will not grace the Semple plot in the future.
RIISA: An American introduction in red. Another one which is difficult
to say whether it is a decorative or a ball.
Did not perform well with me although I have seen some good vases
of it. Not one that I will bother with again.
That is my assessment of the fifteen varieties that I grew
in 1997. There are obviously many more that are worthy of consideration.
L’Ancresse. I have already mentioned. Wootton Cupid, possibly
the original and best of that family. Hamari Rosé which
has immaculate form but comes in a wishy - washy colour which
does not excite me.
Amgard Coronet and Emma’s Coronet were shown at Harrogate
in 1997 by Ronnie Rimmer from Southport and were so good that
I was drooling at the mouth.
There are also some new varieties of miniatures advertised in this magazine which you may wish to try. That is one of the better things about this great hobby of ours. YOU grow what YOU want to grow and don’t listen to anybody else.
In summing up you will see that my efforts in the miniature
arena were not totally successful although my entry at Grangemouth
consisting of Jomanda; Abridge Taffy and Barbarry Ideal, which
won the Stirlingshire Championship and Best Exhibit of Dahlias
with Taffy taking the Best Vase in Show Award gave me some hope
and encouragement for the future.
I am sure that I will get it right before too long and when I
do you had all better look out.
So go on and grow some miniatures. I am sure that they will not disappoint you.