Kristine Albrecht of Santa Cruz Dahlias grows different varieties of dahlias and cultivates new varieties. Below, after transferring pollen from one type of dahlia to another to create a hybrid, she covers the plant with a bag to keep bees from pollinating it. At right, she and her sister-in-law Janet Egger explore her field, bursting with color.
them at 43 degrees until it’s time to plant again. She also harvests seeds from crosses she’s made. To get a jump on the season, Albrecht starts taking cuttings as early as December. She has a cutting bed set up in the living room with lights on up to 14 hours a day. “It’s a way to trick the cuttings and seedlings into thinking it’s spring so I get a head start on the season. The cuttings need to stay moist until they develop roots. After a couple of weeks, you have a little plant that is a clone of the tuber,” she says. “I love starting seeds and doing the cuttings because it feels like you’re gardening even though it’s too cold to be outside.” By planting time, typically mid-April, Albrecht is ready to put about 1,000 tubers and about 1,000 seedlings into the ground. The tubers are a mix of potential parent plants for future crosses and varieties she’s evaluating for possible introduction into the trade. As the seedlings bloom, she will decide whether to keep them or toss them. She estimates she destroys 95% to 98% of the seedlings.
“It’s a hobby that’s gone crazy, but I really enjoy it,” she says. “I love to grow things and even though I know what I’m doing, I’m still amazed I get all these dahlias to grow for me.” To share her expertise with others, Albrecht has created more than 150 educational videos on YouTube and has also written a book (see Book Reviews, Page 39). She plans to devote more time in the future to hybridizing efforts. “That’s where my heart is,” she says. Her goal is to develop a dahlia in a soft mocha/brown color. Anyone who knows her is confident she will succeed.
Pat Rubin cbmagazine@californiabountiful.com
MORE ONLINE Kristine Albrecht does not sell dahlias at her farm, nor does she have visitors. Read the online version of this story at californiabountiful.com to find out where to buy her dahlias.
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