Dahlia Breeding for the Farmer-Florist and the Home Gardener: A Step by Step Guide to Hybridizing New Dahlia Varieties from Seed

by Kristine Albrecht

Kristine Albrecht of Santa Cruz Dahlias is known throughout the world as the creator of some of the most sought-after new dahlia varieties. With 16 years of hybridizing experience Kristine is the rare breeder developing beautiful new dahlia varieties for florists and designers as well as award-winning varieties for show.

In these pages readers will discover step-by-step descriptions and illustrations on breeding new dahlia varieties from seed.

Kristine reveals her secrets on subjects

-Collecting Seed-Germinating Seed-Caring for Young Seedlings-Dominant and Recessive Traits-Pollination Strategies-Dahlia Genetics

Although breeding dahlias involves science and genetics, Kristine makes the subject clear and easy to follow. She is known on Instagram as an important educator of all aspects of dahlia growing. In this volume she brings her warm and casual teaching style to a subject that is little understood and rarely shared. This is a must-read book for any new dahlia grower who wants to take their growing practice to the next level.

"Bravo! Thank you so much for sharing your hard-won knowledge with us all. This fantastic book is a gift to the world." -Erin Benzakein, Floret Farm"As an experienced dahlia grower and amatuer hybridizer I found this book easy to read, informative, and practical with nuggets of information throughout." - Brad Freeman, Senior Judge, American Dahlia Society"Lively and clearly written guide to hybridizing dahlias to generate new varieties. Suitable for the novice and with tips experienced hands will appreciate." -Dr. Virginia Walbot, Stanford University"A pleasure to read a book from the first hand experience of a hybridist who knows what she is talking about." -Dr. Keith Hammett ~ QSM Plant Breeder

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction

100 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 12, 2020

Reviews

[Kate-Lynn Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will be so useful for future dahlia projects. Just packed with information.

[Rosalind · Rating 5 out of 5]

Packed with useful info

As a relative newbie to dahlia hybridising, but not plant hybridising more generally, I found this a very useful book for improving my early techniques and breeding process.

Looking forward to seeing some fun hybrids next year!

[Tamera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very informative! I now understand why dahlia seed creates unique plants and which traits are dominant (everything you don't want in a dahlia, with a few exceptions haha) and recessive (everything you want). I'm also grateful that it explained how her process of planting the seedlings in 4inch pots in the ground works. It's all clear now! I'm going to give hybridizing a go this year and am grateful I read this book first. Dahlia hybridizing seems like it's mostly a crapshoot, but if you follow the info in the book, you'll definitely increase your chances of creating a keeper!

[Ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this one. The writing is clear, the directions seem easy enough to follow. There wasn't much new information to me, as I've been in dahlias for years, but I really appreciated all that was in this (short!) book. Highly recommended to anyone who loves breeding dahlias or who is interested in knowing more what went into the making of them what they are today. Beautiful pictures, too!

[Joanne McKinnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breeding your own

My goal is simply to create open centres for the pollinators who visit my garden. Still, it would be a thrill to create a cross that produced a dazzler.

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. Makes me know I don't need to do this!

[Marcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and EXACTLY what I’m interested in learning. I’ve stuck my big toe into this and I’d like to dive in!

[Rilla Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book. Great info. A bit above where I am at this point. Will be a good reference for the future.