3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias

How about container planting...I've planted my dahlias yesterday, then last night it went down to 34. One pot I was able to bring inside but the other I tried to cover as best I could. They looked a little droopy this morning--will they recover? What's the best way to cover? The pot is pretty heavy to move. I had coleus in the same pot, they definitely look gone. I don't know what I was thinking, just too excited for warm weather I guess. I'm in zone 6, NW NJ.

Every year in Quebec i plant mine early mine have been in the ground for about a week now I check them everyday so far so good they even pass the snow we got last week if we get a frost it will be a ground frost and some of mind are just about one inch high so they should be ok
Anna

You aren't going to hurt a thing by giving them a little drink of water. I just watered some thirsty looking soil with rooting/growing dahlias today.

I wonder if the ones on soil in your window are the ones we thought were broken below the neck? It doesn't sound too promising for eyes if there's nothing green, pink or purple budding out. Wait and see though, before you give up on them.

Thanks poochella,

I don't have any hopes for those tubers that were not attached to a neck, but there is one tuber that I have hopes for. It is the one with the neck that had no eyes yet, the one that I did not divide.

I'll definately give it more time. :c(

Yea, I am not really planning on getting them in the ground until the 15th - unless we continue to have a really warm spring (I've already got waist high clematis, blooms on my trolius, the lilacs around here are blooming...).
My question related more to whether or not having them in the fridge was ok if they have sprouts AND exactly how people take the ground temps.

Hey there,

The refrigerator might be a little too cold.

Instead of 60 degrees, you could just plant them when everyone usually plants their tomatoes or melons. Melons are usually a couple of weeks later.

I am not sure about that 60 degree figure and think it might be folklore. Please see other messages on the forum, where other people also discuss, including someone who is experimenting by planting out tubers early in zone 5. If you do want to go with 60 degrees, it refers to the AVERAGE through the day and night, and I think also refers to 6 inches down, where people usually plant their tubers.

If I were you, I would start the plants inside in pots and then bring them out in a few weeks. You could also keep them outside during the day when temperature is high enough. Mine thrive this way.

Thanks Trish. That's exactly what I was looking for! It looks like I'll have to wait until next year before I can follow your recommendation. It has been such a warm start to spring that I'm half way through planting. I'm just trying to rotate my varieties throughout my fields.
Thanks again. Henry

Green manure is wonderful and a lot less expensive than animal manure or compost, if you have to go out and buy it. Home made compost is excellent and free. Animal manure is an excellent soil amendment but should not be used when fresh.
Green manure uses legumes to incorporate nitrogen into the soil and all of the green material holds the other soil nutrients in it's leaves and roots. These nutrients could be washed away by rainfall during the winter. I use green manure, planted in the Fall and cut down in May just before I plant dahlias. Our soil has been getting better and better each year and I find I have to use less fertilizer than in years past.