The Gladiolus and Dahlia trials

Dahlias

Fifty new varieties of dahlia, two plants of each, are trialled in a range of colours across decorative, pompom and cactus flower shapes. One of each pair is grown freely to produce sprays of smaller flowers and the other is ‘disbudded’ to render a single, spectacular bloom. The former production method will be used going forward, since smaller blooms engage better with other vase flowers. Dahlia cultivation is intensive; after planting out in June, they are given a high-nitrogen feed or seaweed extract that helps ‘establish the green framework’. Plants grow through a cat’s-cradle of support string stretched between stout chestnut poles. As August flowering begins, plants are given a highpotash, liquid tomato-type feed to sustain the flowers. Favourites include the dahlias David Howard, Charlie Dimmock and Black Jack.

Gladioli

Gladioli bulbs are planted en masse, in more than 80 varieties, 100 bulbs of each packed into a single square yard. The long, 10ft-wide beds are planted in blocks, by colour and by type; tall to dwarf, back to front. Grown as cut-flower annuals, all bulbs are removed after flowering has finished. Trial varieties of similar colour are grown simultaneously in order to compare, but, once selections are made, bulbs are sown in succession to produce a flow of flowers from July through to the first frosts. New bi-colour dwarf varieties, which don’t require staking, have performed well and harmonise well with other flowers. Bimbo and Velvet Eyes have the antique quality Mr Brown is looking for and Invitatie, Peach Melba and Traderhorn bring new, rich and saturated colours.