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Dahlia recommendations

Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,684
in Plants
I am thinking of purchasing/planting some new dahlia tubers this Spring - can you recommend some reputable and not too pricey mail order companies that supply them to the Channel Islands?  I am particularly looking for the single flower variety to attract bees etc. not the cactus type.  Not too tall because of the windy area we are in.

Posts

  • BobFlannigonBobFlannigon Posts: 619
    I've had good success growing single varieties straight from seed, which may save you postage.
    For what it's worth, I get my Dahlias here: http://gilbertsnursery.co.uk. They do claim to do mail order (no idea if that includes the channel isles) but there's no online shop (although the catalogue is available online), you'd need to phone or possible email.  I expect there are easier routes to go through, this is a family run nursery and stuff is grown on-site, if that's your thing!  It does usually mean lower prices and good quality.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 7,179
    edited January 2019
    I have used these people
    https://nationaldahliacollection.co.uk
    They have a good selection of tubers and young plants and l have had good service, healthy young  plants and good quality tubers.
    l've had a look at their p+p pages and they have delivery charges to the UK & also Europe.  :)
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 14,828
    If you only want singles to attract bees, try growing the collarette or Bishops Children(dark leaved)(T&M) sort from seed. They flower in the first year, then you can pick your favourites to overwinter as tubers for the following year.  Disco dancer mix from Thompson and Morgan  or  Mr Fothergills, "Sunny Reggae" look interesting.
    You don't stop doing new things because you get old, you get old because you stop doing new things. <3
  • MarlorenaMarlorena East AngliaPosts: 4,051
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/47506/Dahlia-Moonfire-(Sin)/Details 

    When I went to the RHS Dahlia trials some years ago this one caught my eye, and I see it won the AGM, also good for pollinators... I grew it later and very nice it was too.. bronze foliage which stands out...
  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,684
    That is a nice dahlia Marlorena, just the type I am looking for, thanks for the link. In the past we have found that the red/green foliage stands up to aphid attack far better than the pure green does.
  • Mary370Mary370 Limerick, Ireland Posts: 1,846
    Guernsey Donkey, I too grow them from seed, they are really easy.......they flower the same year.  I then keep my favourite colours and compost the others.  
  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,684
    Yes, I have also grown them from seed too, Bishops Children I think they were called, they germinated easily enough, but were quite weak too. Perhaps I will try some again.
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