ADS goodies

I think I'll try more border types this next year ie: Suitzus Julie, Matthew Juul and White Lilliput-- all mignon-size. ADS Bullitin has some good ideas. Thanks, ADS!

News Flash! Cutting Tool Sterilizing Tip

The ADS recommends that sterilizing tools in 20% solution of non-fat dry milk mixed with water (U of California) when cutting blooms, dividing roots, or taking cuttings will reduce the spread of viruses. Dip the tool for 5 seconds and wipe it clean.

2012 spring planting

Finished planting over 60 tubers on May 24th 2012. Need to inspect and wet down tubers in mid winter, since I skipped that step this year and lost more than a few that just dried out. All of Tapestry just tapped out (not viable or just got dried out). I also gave away all Colorado Classic--it just couldn't hold its own (head up). Added more from Dan's Dahlias. He was very sweet and not only replaced Verone's Marmalade, but added a few free bees. Thanks Dan! Irrigation's set up, so now I have my commercial stock in. Still had 46 tubers left. So, I've plantd 6 Top Yellow mix, 6 Pooh, 6 Kallista's Angel out in a real ife (as in deer food available) test plot in a garden near the house. I'm wondering if they can fend for themselves. I'll add more to that garden then take the rest down to farmer's market.

Don't pooh-pooh Pooh!

Pooh was a star--bright orange, good for cutting and bouquets and prolific-with a good tuber harvest.

2011 Harvest

From November 14th to the 21st--in 8 days I harvested all my 45 of my plants (48 were planted 2 0f mine died off early on-reasons unknown-1 new tuber a specialty Orchid never came up which makes me extremely grouchy). 3 Clifton Lela plants yielded 14 tubers. 4 Allie White plants yielded 10 tubers. 4 Tioga Dawn plants yielded 20 tubers. 3 Ruby Viola plants yielded 12 tubers. 3 Aitara Diadem plants yielded 5 tubers. 3 Colorado Classic plants yielded 23 tubers. 4 Korb Impeccable Dream plants yielded 13 tubers. 4 Kalista Angel plants yielded 12 tubers. 1 Sorbet plant yielded 4 tubers. 1 Pink Splendor plant yielded 4 tubers. 1 Granny Naman plant yielded 7 tubers. 1 Normandy Wild Willie yielded 6 tubers. 2 Alpen Pearl plants yielded 3 tubers. 1 Tapestry plant yielded 5 tubers. 3 Pooh plants yielded 17 tubers. 2 Stella J plants yielded 8 tubers. 1 Verona's Marmalade yielded 0 tubers. 1 Marie Schnugg plant yielded 8 tubers. 5 Topmix Yellow plants yielded 12 tubers. 1 Clifton Zack plant yielded 5 tubers. Total tubers for 2012 Season will be 184 plus some new arrivals to be delivered in the Spring. I'll make some comments and observations about this year's harvest in the next blogg.

Thumbs Down

Colorado classic is large (6-8") and looks like a loosely, pinkish, feathered pompom ball-sounds good. But, these heavy blooms are attached to the plant by thin, longish stems that eventually can't support them. Probably, 90% of the blooms will break over. One plus is that, though they make a poor bouquet flower, when they are heads down their petticoats show!

Also, Marie Schnugg is exotically attractive, but is a poor team player in a bouquet, because within 24 hours it will start bailing petals in protest.

Second year with Sorbet and again stingy with flower production and plant growth. One more year to shape up or ship out.

That's it until the late bloomers show their faces!