Dahlia Bishops Children

http://www.mr-fothergills.co.uk/Dahlia-Bishops-Children_2.html

I think I'm going to sow mine on a windowsill this weekend, anyone else got theres going yet? I know a few people have bought them this year.

I only realised today they grow 90cm tall! I'll have to find somewhere else for them now, I planned on sowing them around the bird bath but I think the birds will struggle a bit!

Any tips for Dahlias?

 

Buy tubers!

I won't buy any of the Bishops even as tubers because there's always a premium on them which I think is unfair as they are no different from other dahlias, just fashionable.

I found them easy to raise from seed but the results are a bit unpredictable.

 

Yup, grew a LOAD of Bishops children last year from seed with much success.

I also bought a few Bishop of Llandaff as tubers from a local garden centre which also were awesome. I love the striking red on black and Llandaff is just down the road from my house -

 

Good to hear Sam, looking forward to it. Did they suffer from any pests or disease?

 

I'm going to grow Dahlia 'Happy Days' from saved seed this year....haven't grown Dahlias for a few years but i do remember them suffering from black fly....

 

Thought Bishops weren't allowed to have children?

 

...said the UN to the Bishop.

 

No, not at all from what I remember!

I completely agree with you FC! I LOVE Dahlias, what other varieties are you going for this year?

 

They strike easily from cuttings in water.

 

Do you just take off a 3/4" shoot from the neck of the tuber? Cut it off or tear it off with a heel of skin?

 

I'll be starting mine at the end of the month , when the light levels are up a bit . I have some saved tubers from cactus Dahlias and I hope to buy a few more this year . Was very impressed with the cactus type last year.