I often buy bulbs and tubers from Wilkinsons at a bargain price so I choose from the selection on offer there. This year it was Procyon and I have to say that it's put on a great show.
Another bargain purchase was Dahlia Blue Bell, I bought it very late in the season but as it was being sold off at just 50p, it was worth a gamble. The foliage has grown but so far it hasn't bloomed. I'm not too concerned, I shall save the tuber and replant it next year when hopefully, it will give me some flowers.
One variety I decided to search out this year was Bishop of Llandaff. I bought it from a garden centre and it was in a sealed package. A stunning dahlia having vibrant scarlet flowers set against almost black foliage, I don't think this is anything of the sort.
Definitely a case of mistaken identity. The dahlia I've ended up with is nice enough but I'm very disappointed that it isn't what I expected.
I shall try again next year for a Bishop of Llandaff, I hope I'll be more successful next time.
Dahlia's are lovely but am I right - they can be susceptible to black fly ... ?
ReplyDeleteThese look lovely blooms
All the best Jan
I've never encountered blackfly on my dahlias but they do attract earwigs. You have to be careful if you cut any for the house as you may be bringing unwelcome visitors in with them, urghh.
DeleteI hope you complained bitterly! My one and only Dahlia is a Bishop of Llandaff, and it is indeed a beautiful variety.
ReplyDeleteI haven't complained yet but I have half a mind to do so. I was so disappointed when I realised it wasn't Bishop of Llandaff.
DeleteAs is the case with seeds, sometimes you end up with something completely different than what's supposed to be in the packet. I guess you will be dahlia shopping once again next year - or even better, maybe you can take a picture and go back to that garden centre (or even call them); these days customer satisfaction is very important so they may give you a credit that you can use next time you are there.
ReplyDeleteI think taking a picture back in to the garden centre of what I've ended up with is a good idea. I will definitely be dahlia shopping again next year, I really want my Bishop of Llandaff.
DeleteOh well that's not the Bishop Jo but still it's a most attractive dahlia. Hope that you can manage to track him down next year.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely not, but I have to admit that it's put on a wonderful show. I'm hoping I have better luck next year.
DeleteI do like Dahlias unfortunately so do the earwigs, that is defiantly the wrong one in the packet, its a cactus dahlia, still very pretty :-)
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately they do, that's one reason why I never cut them for the house. You're right, it's still a pretty dahlia, but I'm miffed that I didn't get my Bishop.
DeleteLovely lovely blooms
ReplyDeleteThey are. They're such beautiful flowers and put on such a good show.
DeleteWhat a shame re it being the wrong bulb, it is still very pretty though....a wild card!xxx
ReplyDeleteIt's a bit of a disappointment that I didn't get the variety I wanted but it's still a lovely flower. Not quite the same though.
DeleteI love your dahlias, Jo. I am tempted to grow them, but overwintering the tubers seems a lot of trouble. Maybe I should give it a try. Sorry you were disappointed, but the dahlia you ended up with is quite lovely. P. x
ReplyDeleteI don't usually overwinter my dahlia tubers as the ones I buy are cheap enough to replace. I will keep Blue Bell as it didn't flower this year, hopefully I'll get some blooms next year though.
DeleteSeems like you have had mixed results, all good flowers though and as you say, you can try again next year! xx
ReplyDeleteVery mixed results, a good doer, a non flowerer and one which was the wrong variety. Fingers crossed for next year.
DeleteWow... your dahlias are so beautiful! I don't know when I will start to grow my own dahlia in my garden
ReplyDeleteThey're very showy flowers, they usually put on a good display. There's so many different types of dahlia that there's usually something for everyone.
DeleteHey Jo,
ReplyDeleteI have started to buy most of my seeds and bulbs from Wilkinson. Great value and good . I love yours. My Dahlias have been a poor show this year. In fact they are only just beginning to flower.
Leanne xx
You can't beat Wilkinsons for value, the only downside is their limited selection. There hasn't been much summer this year so the dahlias probably haven't liked that. I tend to plant mine early and keep them in the greenhouse until they start to put out some foliage, it must have given them a bit of a head start.
DeleteI had another go at buying some dahlias (already in flower) knowing that they've been eaten up by slugs on past attempts at growing them. One from last year I kept in a pot and it has done well. I've got rather protective of the latest which have been planted in a flower bed.They've survived well so far. It's a shame your dahlia wasn't the right one although it's pretty. I would love to grow the bigger varieties.
ReplyDeleteI've heard that slugs are quite partial to dahlias but so far, touch wood, mine have been fine in that respect. The unknown one is pretty but I'm a bit miffed that it wasn't what I expected.
DeleteI can understand your disappointment but you've still got a lovely dahlia. I really love dahlias and I'm pleased to say ours did very well this year in spite of the awful weather.
ReplyDeleteIt has put on a good show despite the fact that it wasn't what I really wanted. Glad to hear that your dahlias have done well this year, especially since the weather hasn't been all that good.
DeleteI'm always in two minds about dahlias. This year mine have done nothing sadly. How annoying to get the wrong variety. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteI think it's been a diffucult year for lots of things with the weather being as it has. It's really annoying that I didn't get my Bishop of Llandaff but I'll try again next year.
DeleteDahlias are so pretty and such variety. I grow some at the allotment to cut xxx
ReplyDeleteI'm always worried about earwigs crawling out of cut dahlias so I don't bother with them for the house. There's such a big variety that there's something to suit everyone's taste.
DeleteMaybe it is the Bishop after a night on the town. I agree with Mark get complaining
ReplyDeleteLooking a little spikey. I may take a photo in and show them what grew.
DeleteI love dahlias & you have a lovely selection. I bought some gladioli corms from the pound shop & the packet showed them to be a lovely shade of purple. They are on the verge of flowering & I'm sure they will be a bright shade of red xx
ReplyDeleteIt's so annoying when you don't get what you think you're getting. I'm sure your gladioli will still look lovely, but it isn't really the point.
DeleteI've had a few experiences of getting a plant that wasn't the one stated on the package - and once planted and perhaps a year later before noticing, I don't think I've ever returned the plant.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see dahlias becoming popular too as they can be lovely looking plants. Unfortunately mine were devoured by pests over the summer.
I've complained in the past about getting bulbs which were a different variety to those they were supposed to be, it's really annoying when you think you're buying one variety and they turn out to be something completely different. That's a shame about your dahlias, mine have never seemed to be bothered by pests.
Delete