When you first start growing dahlias it is often with a tuber or plant from the local garden center or perhaps from a friend. You soon realise what beautiful plants these are with incredible blooms that flower from the end of July until the first frosts.
This then grows with you buying more varieties the next year and before you know where you are you have built up quite a collection.
Then maybe you visit a local dahlia show and fancy having a good at a class or two.
You will often read that certain varieties are “garden dahlias”, others “suitable for cut flower” and many “suitable for exhibition”. What does it all mean. Exhibition varieties are bred with the main purpose being the best in that classification so correct form, strong stems and great colour. So why would they not look great in the garden or be used for cut flowers. The true is that they do.
However, if you visit local shows with dahlia classes or a specific dahlia show you will notice that in a particular class the exhibitors are all using the same varieties – there is a reason for that. These are the varieties that perform best in that class.
Our Society Chairman, Cyril Watkins, has put together an interesting article on what varieties grow best in the South West, are the best to grow if you are a beginner or novice and perform well on the show bench. Thus ensuring that if you grow them well you stand a good chance of a prize card or two.
Check out his article by clicking here.