No matter how central I place the tubers, there's always one which decides to grow right at the edge of the pot.
I've never grown Bishop Of Llandaff before but I love the bright vermillion-red flowers against the dark foliage so this was the first variety I decided on. The other is another bargain purchase from Wilko's for just £1. Procyon is a decorative variety with red/orange and yellow petals, it should add lots of colour to the garden.
Both of these dahlias are good for cut flowers but I don't think I could bear to remove the blooms from the plant, I do like to enjoy them where they've been planted.
Looking good. Like you I prefer to leave the flowers on the plant. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteI was pleased to see the foliage appear, it seemed to take quite a while for them to start growing. I don't mind cutting flowers if they're at the allotment but I don't really cut flowers which are growing in the garden.
DeleteThey are beautiful looking varieties, I hope they do really well for you! I have realised though reading your blog that I need to find a Wilko - there doesn't seem to be one near us! - because they obviously have great plant buys!! xx
ReplyDeleteI've found dahlias to be quite reliable. Wilko's is great for all manner for things, but especially gardening supplies and cheap bulbs and plants. They don't always stock varieties I'm looking for but I always manage to pick up some bargains.
DeleteI like Dahlias in the garden but they seem to attract earwigs so I never cut them. I do have cut flowers sometimes, £2 a go from Lidl, but would rather see them outside.
ReplyDeleteEarwigs do have to be taken in to consideration if you're going to cut dahlias as they tend to hide inside and drop out once you get them indoors, urgh. I like to see the garden filled with flowers so I don't cut them.
DeleteThey both look beautiful, our is going over early, which is a shame, but they did so well last year.
ReplyDeleteDahlias going over so early? I think it'll be a while before either of these flower.
DeleteBishop of Llandaff is my favourite dahlia. I grow several plants amongst my vegetables. The bees and hoverflies like it as it is a single so they can get to the nectar and pollen and the colour is spectacular.
ReplyDeleteI know so many people grow Bishop of Llandaff. I love single flowers myself, the simplicity of them hold an attraction for both myself and the bees.
DeleteDahlias are so beautiful - I doubt you can go wrong no matter what variety you choose. I know of one blogger that grows an entire garden of them and presents them at shows - she grows some amazing varieties - http://4hillsofsquash.blogspot.ca/2014/12/dahlia-year-in-review.html.
ReplyDeleteI agree, there's so many wonderful varieties that there's something to suit everyone. I've had a quick look at the link you've posted, there's some beautiful specimens there, I shall have to go back to have a further look.
DeleteGreat to see them growing well. Dahlia's are a great 'showy' flower and yes many people do like to cut their blooms, but somehow it can seem a shame ...
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
They should certainly brighten up the garden, especially Procyon with its zingy colour. It would be a shame to cut them.
DeleteOh...good to hear you are growing dahlias again....I'm growing Bishop Of Llandaff too, we must compare notes!xxx
ReplyDeleteI really missed them last year when I didn't grow them. I think Bishop Of Llandaff must be the one which most people grow, I can certainly see its attraction.
DeleteI am on a blog catch up so have been reading your back posts. The allotment looks like it is coming along nicely and your garden is flowering beautifully. I love this time of year when everything starts having a growth spurt. I just wish the weather would warm up a bit more.
ReplyDeleteI think many plants got caught out with the warm weather we had in April and then turning cooler again in May but everything seems to be coming on well now, as you say, we just need a bit more warmer weather.
DeleteI only have one Dahlia, and it is Bishop of Llandaff. A real beauty. Wish I had a whole allotment full of Dahlias!
ReplyDeleteThey're such wonderful plants. Some are very different from others so there's usually something for everyone's taste.
DeleteI love dahlias I've got a few in the garden. The only time I cut them we had earwigs in the house so I don't now! I bought some gladioli from Wilkos for a £ so fingers crossed x
ReplyDeleteI don't tend to save my dahlias, the ones I've bought in the past have also been cheapies from Wilkos so I haven't bothered. My Bishop Of Llandaff was a bit more expensive though so I'll probably try and keep that one. Hope your gladioli do will for you.
DeleteWe have the Bishop and are really into single varieties at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI tend to like the single varieties of most flowers, I think simple and understated has a lot going for it.
DeleteSingle flowers are much better for bees. Bishop of Landaff is a great choice. I'm not sure ours is coming up, though. I'll have to see if there are any left in the garden centre.
ReplyDeleteI do try to plant with wildlife in mind so lots of the flowers I have in the garden are singles. I'm sure some garden centres will still have dahlias in, I picked up a bargain yesterday, I visited a garden centre which was selling their dahlia tubers off for 50p so I've got another to add to the collection now.
DeleteMy Mum always rows her dahlias fro seed and they always do well. We stick to the dwarf varieties as it gets so windy around here the flowers don't get battered like the standard varieties.
ReplyDeleteI've grown dahlias from seed in the past and they've done very well, more economical than buying tubers.
DeleteAnother bargain from Wilkos Jo! Dahlias are such great plants for late summer/autumn colour. I'm especially fond of the varieties with dark foliage like your new purchase 'Bishop of Lllandaff'. I have a white flowering form called 'Tywning's After Eight' which has dark leaves. I must confess to cutting the odd flower or two to bring home with me from the lottie :)
ReplyDeleteI like the dark foliage too and Twyning's After Eight is a fabulous one, the white shows up beautifully against the dark leaves. I would probably cut the flowers too if they were growing on the allotment.
DeleteI love B of L, it is such a bee friendly dahlia.
ReplyDeleteWhilst the doubles are stunning.....give me a single bloom any day :)
Know what you mean about the edge of the pot !!
I love the simple single flowers best of all. I suppose plants will grow exactly how they want no matter where I place them in the pot, I'm sure it will still look lovely once it blooms.
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