Whenever dahlia people discuss open-centered type dahlias, especially during the judging process, we often hear reference to so many rows of stamens, not enough or too many stamens, etc. The Original Judging Manual stated…”in the open-centered types the disc in perfect show condition should present no more than two rows of pollen bearing stamens…” That wording has been carried through … See entire post.
Did you know that the dahlia is the national flower of Mexico? It should not come as a surprise since the mountains of Mexico and Guatemala are considered the home of origin for today’s dahlia ancestors. 16th century Spanish conquistadors, while busy conquering the vast Aztec Indian nation, also made some interesting explorations-one of which was the collection of New … See entire post.
The Organic Corner: June Bulletin 2009
Some thoughts on Actively Aerated Compost Tea
Excerpts from an article by Jeff Lowenfels; Jeff has given his permission to this for use of parts of this discussion.
When I write about compost tea and promote its use to return biology to soils, I am speaking only of “Actively Aerated Compost Tea” (AACT); a … See entire post.
One of the most important components of a green program for your garden is aerated compost tea. This tea when produced properly will reintroduce necessary biology back into your garden. With repeated applications your soil will be alive again. Your garden will require less water and almost no fertilizer. Your plants will thrive and your blooms will have stronger color. … See entire post.
When farming began in the United States over 200 years ago the available land was vast and untapped. When a farmer depleted his farm’s soil nutrient level, he simply cleared land and started a new one. Most had 3 farms in their lifetime. Of course that option has long passed, and we need to be conscious of our garden’s soil … See entire post.
Wha-at! I think I have been reborn again! I can only hope this next life is better than my last. I cannot recall how many lives I have had, but it seems more than most, possibly by luck and good caregivers. Many other tubers are not so fortunate. Some tubers are merely dug up and thrown into a large can. … See entire post.
After a few years growing dahlias, many gardeners invariably have questions concerning fungus. This usually starts with them simply asking, “how can I prevent my tubers from rotting”, realizing in most cases the reason for the decay is caused by some form of root rot. Often they see less innocuous forms of fungus on the surface of the tubers in … See entire post.
Text and Photos © 1995-2000 by Barbara Jenke (Do not use for any commercial use without the permission of the author) Hot Springs, South Dakota
When I first started to grow dahlias in containers, I was frustrated because I could not find anything written in the general gardening magazines or books on this subject. The first years I grew only … See entire post.
Good, mature roots from healthy plants generally keep well, and any of several methods of storing tubers should yield 90 to 95 percent success. However, tubers from some dahlia varieties tend not to keep well, and some cultivars tend to give very sparse tubers. For these varieties, one should consider planting extras and growing pot roots.
Care of tubers starts … See entire post.
Dahlia imperialis, also called the “tree dahlia,” bloomed recently at the Smithsonian. This dahlia is a separate species from those with which most people are familiar. Historically, in the Washington DC area, tree dahlias are killed by freezing before blooming. However, the horticulturists at the Smithsonian Gardens have successfully achieved blooms during two of the last three years. According to … See entire post.