My favourite dahlias (not necessarily in order of preference) with some advice for exhibition use:

1. Trelyn Kiwi or Kiwi Gloria (small cactus)

Colour: Very Light Pink (Trelyn); Light Pink (Kiwi)

Planting: Late May/Early June

Stopping: (1) Mid-June

Debranching: Mid-July securing 7 stems

Disbudding: Wing buds and all other shoots

Cutting: 24 hours before a show

Tips: Green centres - feed with Chempak 2 before cutting, placing in dark shed

Expertise Level: Ones for the experienced exhibitor to obtain best results

2. Kelsae Carla (unclassified)

Colour: Salmon Pink

Planting: Late May/Early June

Stopping: (1) Late June

Debranching: Mid-July securing 7 stems

Disbudding: Wing buds and next 2 pairs down

Cutting: 24 hours before a show

Tips: Some oversized blooms, do not disbud too heavily, possibly secure 8 stems

Expertise Level: All levels, giving no particular problems, ideal if can't grow 'Kiwi' 

3. Wootton Cupid and 'sports' (miniature ball)

Colour: Pink

Planting: Late May/Early June

Stopping: (1) Late June

Debranching: Mid-July securing 10 stems

Disbudding: Wing buds and next pair down

Cutting: 12 - 24 hours before a show

Tips: No specific requirements, easy growers

Expertise Level: All levels, easy and ideal beginner dahlias for the novice

4. Mary's Jomanda (miniature ball)

Colour: Lilac

Planting: Late May/Early June

Stopping: (2) A week after planting, then when each stem has 3 pairs of leaves

Debranching: Not applicable as need to retain as many stems as possible, 16 plus

Disbudding: Wing buds and next pair down

Cutting: 12 - 24 hours before a show

Tips: Provide good support as is a tall grower, do not disbud until buds are about an inch long as can suffer kinked stems

Expertise Level: All levels 

5. Winholme Diane (small decorative)

Colour: Light Yellow

Planting: Late May/Early June

Stopping: (1) 3rd week June

Debranching: Mid-July securing 7 stems

Disbudding: Wing buds and next 2 pairs down

Cutting: 12 - 24 hours before a show

Tips: If stems are a little rubbery feed at every watering with a diluted rate of feed

Expertise Level: All levels, not particularly easy yet not particularly difficult 

6. Weston Pirate (miniature semi-cactus)

Colour: Dark Red

Planting: Late May/Early June

Stopping: (2) A week after planting, then when each stem has 3 pairs of leaves

Debranching: Not applicable as need to retain as many stems as possible, 18 plus

Disbudding: Wing buds only as blooms can go oversize

Cutting: 24 hours before a show

Tips: Consider leaving the wing buds on the plant, bending them down so they do not touch the main bloom (this will take some of the power out of the required bloom helping with a possible oversize problem)

Expertise Level: All levels, easy grower but do not disbud heavily 

7. Sunshine Paul (medium decorative)

Colour: Creamy Yellow, Pink Tipping

Planting: Late May/Early June

Stopping: (1) 3rd week of June

Debranching: Mid-July securing 5 stems

Disbudding: Wing buds and next 3 pairs down

Cutting: 12 - 24 hours before a show

Tips: Has short footstalks so for exhibition consider growing on a sidebud

Expertise Level: For the relatively experienced  

8. Barbarry Pip (miniature decorative)

Colour: Burgundy

Planting: Late May/Early June

Stopping: (1) Late June

Debranching: Mid-July securing 10 to 12 stems

Disbudding: Wing buds and next pair down

Cutting: 12 - 24 hours before a show

Tips: Naturally produces small sized blooms therefore I consider a single stop is appropriate 

Expertise Level: All levels 

9. Oakwood Goldcrest (small semi-cactus) 

Colour: Yellow

Planting: Late May/Early June

Stopping: (1) 3rd week of June

Debranching: Mid-July securing 5 stems

Disbudding: Wing buds and next 3 pairs down

Cutting: 24 hours before a show

Tips: No particular requirements

Expertise Level: All levels 

10. Scaur Sunset (small decorative)

Colour: Red

Planting: Late May/Early June

Stopping: (1) Mid-June

Debranching: Mid-July securing 6 stems

Disbudding: Wing buds and next 3 pairs down

Cutting: 12 - 24 hours before a show

Tips: Provide good support as can be a tall grower

Expertise Level: All levels 

11. Ruby (small decorative)

Colour: Raspberry Red

Planting: Late May/Early June

Stopping: (1) Third week June

Debranching: Mid-July securing 6 stems

Disbudding: Wing buds and next 3 pairs down

Cutting: 12 - 24 hours before a show

Tips: Provide good support as can be a tall grower

Expertise Level: All levels, easy grower 

To enable me to compete in the multi-vase Championship classes of the main shows in Cornwall I need to grow different classes of dahlias, such as Giants, Large, Mediums, Smalls, Miniatures and so on.  However, from the first moment I became interested in exhibiting dahlias I preferred and am better known in the county as a small cactus dahlia grower, because to me they have some of the most refined dahlias of all the dahlia classes.  I have no hesitation in saying how I feel privileged to be exhibiting at a time when the two 'Kiwis', Trelyn Kiwi and Kiwi Gloria are around.  I have put more time and effort into trialling the two than any other dahlia.  Indeed, I have tried different programs of watering, feeding, time to cut and so on, until a few years ago I hit upon what has proven to be a winning formula.  It will be of no surprise to growers who know me when I say that Trelyn Kiwi is my favourite dahlia and one I base my whole growing ambitions and aspirations around year on year.  However, the 'Kiwis' are not easy to grow to their maximum for the inexperienced exhibitor and in this section I am including a dahlia I have grown that has given me 'Best Vase In Show' out of about 500 vases at The Cornish Dahlia Society main show a couple of times, knocking all the assembled 'Kiwis' off their perches including my own.  I will explain and I give you Kelsae Carla, an easy grower and one I would never be without".