Ahem, back to the topic at hand, FRAGRANCE. Have I ever considered a rose that wasn't fragrant? Actually I have a couple of times. PEACE for example, has always been tempting. The most beautiful climbing rose that I've ever seen was a healthy CLIMBING PEACE that I saw at the botanical gardens in Norfolk, Virginia. I love the combination of pink and yellow; so soft and fresh looking, like a lovely Easter morning. Add in the interesting history and it has been sorely tempting. But no fragrance. I've been searching for years for a fragrant Peace with no luck. I've heard good things about Bella'roma but I'm waiting for it to be offered own root from a source that I trust. Another is CAREFREE DELIGHT. Absolutely bulletproof foliage that lushly covers the plant. It actually looks like a real shrub. Singles have always been a favorite of mine and the symmetry of the five petals is perfection. The ruffled petals are alabaster white tipped delicate pink. To my mind the small flowers look like they were crafted from the thinnest slices of translucent porcelain deftly painted pink on the edges by an Italian artist. Yes the flowers are small but they literally shower the plant, blooming non-stop in clusters like a wild rose on steroids. But no fragrance. Sigh, sooooo frustrating! Both of these roses have captured my imagination ever since I first saw them. B-U-T I have never purchased either rose because I know how fickle my heart is. I've tried growing beautiful non-scented roses before, and each and every one ended up in the compost pile. No fragrance = death Happy Spring, Patrick

Up, up and not away!

juju, it's best not to use manure in pots, even composted one. and certainly not raw! begonias are very prone to all kinds of fungal issues and you are taking a big chance. use seaweed/fish emulsion instaed, if you want organic fertilizer. and it is best to start them in small pots and then uppot a couple of times until you reach a 12" pot. you started yours outdoors way too early. when tubers do not have enough roots they rot easily when temps are below 55f. temperatures ARE of issue. both low and high. they hold foliage well and even bloom in the 50s, but they need a well developed root system to do that. and also need to be kept on the dry side. but... when plants are young and tender, roots need higher temps to grow faster - 60s at least. your plastic covers are a good idea! the big one looks good - but you need to stake it, or it can break off very easily at the base. the link below is the most detailed guide to cultivation i've ever found. they are grown for cut-flower competition, so you won't necessarily do the same, but there is a lot of detail that is very useful. Here is a link that might be useful: british grower diary

Mel-grower, Thanks for rephrasing the question, as it is a good one. While potatoes have eyes sporadically all over the potatoe, dahlias have eyes only on the collar. I have split the tuber as you suggest with a piece of the tuber, and a bit of the collar containing an eye. The problem that often occurs is that rot sets in, hence I try to minimize the cut on the tuber. That being said, I have had some success doing it the way you describe. Sometimes, I have found the tubers to be too huge, and have cut off the bottom part. When I cut, I always add some bulb dust/fungicide to help cure the cut, and prevent rot. I usually start them in the medium first, so that I can clearly see where the eyes are, and then make the cut. We all learn through experimentation. Try some, and let us know how it works for you. John