Camborne (28th) and Beacon (29th) - I hand weeded each plot so that the dahlias are not competing for nutrients with the voracious weeds, and then lightly hoed each plot within a couple inches each dahlia, being to aeriate the soil.  I then replenished the  moth balls and slug pellets.

Today I planted out the dahlias, removing the lowest pair of leaves on the bigger plants, and in each case planting up to a depth of the lowest pair of remaining leaves on each dahlia, and into each hole I added:

Camborne and Beacon - a heaped trowel of GrowOrganic; a heaped trowel of Erin Multipurpose compost.  Each dahlia was watered in with 2 pints water.  The water containing the following per gallon - Phostrogen Lawn Feed (high nitrogen content) 1 scoop; Epsom Salts 1 scoop; Maxicrop Bio-Stimulant 10ml.  The dahlias will not be watered again for 12 - 14 days weather dependant so that they seek out the water and create a firm anchorage.  Moth balls were placed around each dahlia (to ward off butterflies) and slug pellets were randomly scattered around.  

Today I added per square yard the following to the plots: 

Camborne - (after hand weeding plots) spent tubers compost from the propagation benches; Vitax Q4 4oz, lightly raked in.

Beacon - (after hand weeding plts) vitaz Q4 4oz,lightly raked in.

Propagation (concise) - 11th February - removed dahlia tubers from the multi-pupose compost used for storing them over the winter in my greenhouse, and placed them to one side for later trimming.  The spent compost was recycled by spreading over the Beacon plots.  The greenhouse was brushed up and the fishboxes were sterilised with Jeyes Fluid at standard rate.  When dry each fishbox was filled with a 4 inch depth layer of Westlands Multi-Purpose Compost (with added Jon Innes), this was watered in using Maxicrop Growth Stimulant.  The three lit paraffin heaters were placed under the boxes and underneath the staging.  This was then left for 24 hours.              12th February - all tubers were trimmed by removing any loose/rotted pieces and 'rats tails'.  The labels were kept with the tubers.  The tubers were placed into the boxes and 'nestled' into the moist compost.  More compost was then added around the tubers ensuring there was compost under each tuber.  These were covered about half way up each tuber, but not buried. These were then watered in around, but not over the crowns, with more Maxicrop Growth Stimulant. 

Today I added the following per square yard to the plots: 

Camborne - GrowOrganic 6oz; Maxicrop Seaweed Meal 6oz (excepting the 'mini cactus' plot where the seaweed meal added was Elixir).  Dug over to a spades depth. 

Beacon - GrowOrganic 6oz; B&Q Chicken Manure Pellets 8.80oz; Elixer Seaweed Meal 6oz.  Dug over to a spades depth.

The covers have now been erected over the 'framed' dahlias with Camborne done 24/07/2010 and Beacon done 25/07/2010.  Under all covers a series of yellow targets have been fitted.

Today I changed the feed for one with a higher potash content, on 2/3 of the dahlias as follows:

Camborne: Mary's Jomanda/Weston Pirate/Ryecroft Ruby -  Tomorite Tomato Feed @ 10ml/gallon water.  The rest of the dahlias have no change of feeding content.

Beacon: all dahlias: Vitax Tomato Feed @ 1ml/gallon water.

Today I mulched all the Camborne plots and the Beacon 'mini dec' plots using a 4" straw layer.  There was no requirement to water the soil beforehand as there has been heavy showers in Cornwall this week.

Dolcoath plots - today I debranched the 'smalls' dahlias, as follows -

Deborah's Kiwi (7up); Ruskin Helen (2 plants each 7up and 8up);                 Kelsae Carla (7up); Yellow Wooton Olympiad (1 plant 6up, 2 plants 8up);     Trelyn Kiwi(7up); Ruby (8up).  Debranching is not required on the Weston Pirate and Mary's Jomanda as being 'miniatures' these were double stopped to increase stems and not reduce them. 

I lightly hoed all plots to aeriate the soil

Camborne and Beacon (all plots): today I changed the feed to one of a balanced content being Maxicrop Complete Garden Feed (NPK 5:5:5) and applied it at 10ml/gallon water 3 pints per plant.

5/06/2010 Today I commenced the weekly feeding regime as follows:

  (Beacon) all plots with Seasol liquid seaweed extract at 10ml/gallon water, giving each dahlia 2 pints water/feed.  

(Camborne)   plot 1. planted up with   Deborah's Kiwi (sc); Yellow Wootton Olympiad (ssc); Ruskin Helen (ssc); Kelsae Carla (u/c), using Bod Ayre liquid seaweed extract at 10ml/gallon water, giving each dahlia 2 pints water/feed.     Plots 2 to 5. planted up with Trelyn Kiwi (sc); Mary's Jomanda (min b); Weston Pirate (min sc), using Seasol liquid seaweed extract   at 10ml/gallon water, giving each dahlia 2 pints water/feed.    

Also I have commenced the weekly hand weeding regime as thou small any weeds are in competition with my dahlias for nutrients and the weeds will always be the victors.   I hand weed rather than use a hoe because of the shallow rooting nature of dahlias.

6/06/2010 Today I hand weeded all plots   (Beacon).

Today I sprayed all dahlias using Roseclear 3 (combined insecticide and fungicide).  This will be done on a weekly basis as a precautionary measure.

Today I planted out all 102 dahlias.  I dug a hole deeper than the rootball, added a handful of Erin compost to each hole and mixed this in. For taller dahlias I removed the bottom leaves and for rootier ones I teased out some root with my thumb.  I placed the dahlias into each hole up to the bottom pair  leaves and backfilled with soil.  I made a recess around each dahlia allowing water applied to run into the dahlias rootball.  I water in all dahlias with a pint of water plus Epsom Salts and either Maxicrop Original at 10ml/gallon water (Camborne) or Seasol Seaweed Feed at 20ml/gallon water (Beacon).  Around each dahila I placed mothballs and ample slug pellets.  All dahlias will not be watered again for around 12 days allowing them to start forming a sound root anchorage.

Base Dressing: added the following per square yard, lightly raking into the soil surface.

8/05/2010 Camborne Plots: Vitax Q4 4oz

9/05/2010 Beacon Plots: Vitax Q4 4oz

Soil Conditioning - added the following per square yard, digging in same to a spades depth:

16/01/10 Beacon Plots: Superdug 1x5" flowerpot; B&Q Chicken Manure Pellets 10oz; Proctors Calcified     Seaweed 4oz.

17/01/10 Camborne Plots: As Beacon excepting Deborah's Kiwi with Superdug/B&Q Chicken Manure Pellets; Bod Ayre Seaweed Meal/Granules 4oz.    

Laid a weed supressing membrane on one side of the greenhouse floor, added a 4" layer of Bullrush Multi-Purpose peat based compost over this, placed around 50 tubers on top of the compost, and backfilled over with more of the same medium (the remainder of the tubers are for selling thus supplementing my costs).  Lit a paraffin fuelled heater and this will be kep lit until mid-February.  Prepared loads of labels using my Brother p-touch labeller (I consider this makes for a more 'professional' looking label as well as the labels being superbly weather resistant).

Dug up all tubers and left on the soil surface for 24 hours allowing some of the loose soil to break away before commiting the tubers to the greenhouse storage.

Cut down all dahlia stems to about 6" - 8" from ground level and put the stems/foliage in a heap to allow to break down (these can later be dug into the plots of desired).

Cleared out and sterilised the greenhouse using Jeye's liquid at the standard recommended rate of 35ml/5litres water, via my Hozelock sprayer.  The greenhouse will be left now for one week to allow time for the Jeye's to 'do its stuff'.

I have now come full circle in that like Pengegon this is a 'village' show with all the diversifaction of entry this can bring.   The dahlias are not of a particularly high standard in terms of county level, however the pleasure gained for the general grower in obtaining a place card is truly rewarding and plain to see.  I did'nt win any cups at this show, hower I did win all three dahlia classes on offer with a mixed vase of Blyton Lady In Red/Barbarry Pip; Mary's Jomanda; Weston Pirate.  The beauty of these village shows is that they are a good starting point for anyone 'dipping a toe in the water' and entering the show arena.  So in conclusion an excellent year in start contrast to 2008 but that's just the way it goes, with my enjoyment and enthusiasm unwavering.  I am truly bitten by the bug that is dahlia growing and exhibiting. 

The standard at this show given the fact it's now mid-September is usually very good and this year was no exeption.  I collected 'Best Exhibit In Show' with a mixed set made up of singles blooms comprising Scausr Sunset/Barbarry Pip/Mary's Jomanda/Weston Pirate/Trelyn Kiwi/Amber Festival.  Once more very pleased with my rewards for a lot of endeavour, effort and application.

This is the main show of the year for me in terms of being the biggest dahlia show in Cornwall and standard of entry with exhibitors coming down from over the border.  Collected the 'Best Vase In Show' and 'Best Small Decs' with a set of Scaur Sunset, 'Best Small Cactus In Show' with a set of Trelyn Kiwi, The 'Karsalan Trophy' with 3 blooms each of the aformentioned Scausr Sunset and Trelyn Kiwi, together with Weston Pirate.  TheKarsalan entry also collecting '2nd Best Exhibit In Show'.  Thoroughly delighted with the results of my efforts.

Timing of dahlias was excellent for this weekend gone.  I entered 14 vases and won 'Best Exhibit In Show' with a vase of 3 Trelyn Kiwis.  One of the judges Peter Greenway, a National Dahlia Society exhibitor, paid me a huge compliment by telling me it was considered my Trelyns were in a different class to all the other dahlias there.  Must admit I have now been showing long enough now to know they would take some beating as all blooms were very even with tight centres, and it's a great feeling walking into the event in the morning at staging time with this air of confidence in the blooms - delighted.   Also at yesterdays show just missed out on '2nd Best Exhibit In Show' with a vase of Scaur Sunset. 

"Now it's serious" being a dedicated dahlia grower/exhibitor my main shows in terms of importance are The West Cornwall Dahlia Club two Shows and the same for The Cornish Dahlia Society.   I entered a few exhibits today and pleased to say that my 5 x Trelyn Kiwi collected 'Best Dahlia Exhibit In Show' and my Mary's Jomanda collected 'Best Miniature Balls In Show'.   So all in all a pleasing start and more so I think verification of my growing methods - The Author

First show of the year for me, this one is my local show being at the end of the road I live in.  Entered 7 classes and came away with 7 first places, plus 'Best Dahlias In Show' with Weston Pirate (min sc) and 'Most Points In Dahlias'.  Promising start but tomorrow for me as I always say "Now It's Serious" - The Author