Final Attentions to Dahlias

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22961, 12 February 1938, Page 10 (Supplement)

Final Attentions to Dahlias

/"GROWERS of dahlias know only too well that unremitting care is absolutely essential to the production of blooms of exhibition quality. Just the slightest neglect in the final stages is quite sufficient to set at naught months of effort.

Even those growers who have no intention of exhibiting, invariably take a pride in growing the giant varieties as large as possible and they, too, must realise that it is the final attentions which make the greatest difference to the size and quality of the blooms. It is not possible to obtain first-class specimens from weakly or overgrown plants that have been left untended throughout the greater pjirt of the season. Nothing which csn bo done now will make up for the earlier neglect, but judicious feeding and timely attention to thinning will undoubtedly have a noticeable effect on the development of the buds.

It is fairly generally recognised that it is not a wise procedure to plant dahlias in a soil satiated with rich manure. This can only have one effect, that of encouraging over-luxuriant growth of foliage. It should bo understood, however, that plants are capablo of absorbing a great deal of nutriment when engaged in flower-bearing. A mulch of well-rotted manure should certainly bo laid down around tho plants. Not only does this conserve moisture, but also provides a great deal of the necessary nutriment. Moat plants will benefit by application of fertiliser,, before tho mulch is laid down. This should be watered in. A good compound fertiliser will work wonders, if care is taken in selection. While dah* lias at this stage can absorb more food than most plants, ill-balanced mixtures may have far from the desired effect. Mixtures specially compounded for dahlias can be obtained. •- It will not be overdoing things, with strong-growing plants, to repeat such dosings once a week. Where it is obvious from growth that the plants art* suffering from lack of nutriment, the ration may be increased to two dressings a week.

Feed "When in Growth

Where tho plants have been staked out and thinned in the approved manner, the stopping of the side shoots will have been attended to regularly. Even now vigilance must not bo Relaxed, for it is while tho blooms are actually developing that all the root energy of the plants should be concentrated on their production. Just one or two unwanted sido shoots allowed to grow unchecked for a week or two, can make a definite difference to the finish of the blooms. In tho same way with disbudding, there

is only one time to. see to this task, and that is just as soon as tho buds aro large enough for the grower to discriminate between them.

Wherever possible, it is the central or crown bud wliicli should be retained. Timing buds is an art which can only bo acquired by experience, and even then the weather is liable to upset all tho calculntiohs of the expert. As a .rough guide, however, it cf.n be taken that a bud of a giant decorative or cactus variety will require approximatolv throe weeks to develop properly from the time the first petals unfold.