Understanding the Maturity of Pollen  Pictures taken over approx. Seven Days

	Day 1		Day Four		Day 7

One must understand that not all the pollen is ripe at the same time. This is why the hand pollinators have to visit the bloom several times per day. The advantage of leaving this to the bees is that they can continue to pollinate all day long.

THIS IS WHAT I DO.

My planting plan is my breeding plan. I am very aware of the desirable characteristics of cultivars which determine the placement of the POTENTIAL parents planted in the patch. One MUST take into account that Virus can be transferred by seed, do not take seed from affected plants. Refer to:- Seed Transmission of Dahlia mosaic virus in Dahlia piñata. http://plantpath.wsu.edu/pdf/Pappu%20PD-91-0088.pdf

I plant in rows and I always have the desired cultivars planted adjacent. This is best achieved by having at least two rows. If the desired result is achieved the recipe can be repeated by repeating the planting the following seasons. The other good thing is that seed can be collected from both cultivars. In the case of hand pollinating one cultivar is sacrificed for use as the pollen parent.
 

SELECTION OF PARENTS

This is the most important part of the whole operation. If the wrong parents are selected the whole exercise could be a complete waste of time. I am very critical of replicating the bad habits of cultivars such as, poor keeping qualities, lack of vigour, poor stems and most importantly bad form. It is also a good idea to note the cultivars that are more resistant to disease than others. At all times I like to see like forms/styles be crossed with common like forms/styles with the aim of improving on what is presently in circulation. Only cultivars that are disease resistant along with good keeping qualities, good stems and good forms should be selected or considered to be parents.

PUT COMPATIBLE LIKE TYPES WITH COMPATIBLE LIKE TYPES AND YOU ARE LIKELY TO GET A TYPE YOU WILL LIKE

One is encouraged to ask questions of the breeders who appear to be producing top cultivars. Visit their gardens where possible, observe what they are doing and then ask more questions.
They are very close with the assistance of our electronic communication.
 

 BEE LANES

My patch is covered by shade cloth and I can isolate one type from the next by hanging a curtain which channels the bees along that particular lane resulting in the desired cultivars being pollinated without the risk of contamination from other types. This principle can be applied to the patch without a cover, putting up a curtain between types will also channel the bees. This curtain (Barrier) only has to be about four feet higher than the plants. Remember the Bee ALWAYS goes from one pollen source to the next nearest pollen source resulting in the desired cross.

	Cactus		Decorative                                                    /         Cactus Type Divided

ISOLATED PLANTINGS

If area permits isolated planting is a good reliable way to go. Isolated plantings work well for Keith Hammett (NZ) and Steve Boley (Birch Bay Dahlias – WA) and it also worked for Gordon Leroux (Kenora Dahlias). "Gordie" had special signs up for his bees showing them where to go. There is a lot to be said for isolated plantings a good distance away because it reduces any other dahlia influence. These combinations can be repeated time and time again especially if one can raise a couple of good ones.   

MOBILE PLANTINGS

These are plantings in large pots or containers that are transportable and various cultivar combinations can be completed in the back yard without too much trouble. If they do not work you at least have some good extra stock of that cultivar. The mobiles can also be introduced into the main plantings at the right time making this method very flexible, especially for the small grower. Vases of a desired cultivar can be placed in plants which can also produce good results.

Consider attaching a bloom from a desired “Pollen Parent” to a prospective seed parent using a clothes peg or clip to assist the bees. Developing a cultivar, and being able to say “I Bred That One” or “That’s another one of Mine” Is just as, if not more rewarding than wining a ribbon. Let’s remember that “ALL CULTIVARS” were once a seed.
 

Enquiries and comments to John Menzel Winkie South Australia  menzelj@baonline.com.au

Now John won't thank me for this comment, but what the hell he's an Ausie, and if they can face the English Cricket team at home I'm sure they can face a bit of well deserved flannel.

This article is the best I've seen on how to produce quality dahlias, and you can tell the person who wrote it had thought out every aspect of breeding this magnificent species, some of the ideas are pure genius. For anyone who hasn't the time or inclination to adopted the hand pollination technique this is the way forward. As he says you only have to look at what the bees have decided to create to see the parents they used. Of course you get the odd forms when the little buggers have gone astray, and dodged under the safety net, but even these can prove excellent fodder for the florists and ordinary gardener. Thanks John Menzel you should be Knighted, I can see it now "Sir John Menzel of Winkie" imagine how he'd revolutionize the House of Lords?

Ken Stock Little Wisley. 

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