3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias

Linlily....you will get both, tubers and lots of flowers this year...a lot depends of your green thumb and mother nature as far as how many but you will get both....you have the right idea, start the seeds and pot them up, then slowly introduce them out doors....start the process in early April so you can have the new plants ready to go into the ground after the last frost, usually around May 1st., the AA or Dinner plates will produce fewer flowers then your smaller types.... teddahlia is right...depending on the conditions around where the seeds were collected, you could get a wide assortment of different size and types of dahlis...kind of like Easter but once your plants are up they will be just as large as the ones from tubers, flower just as nicely and should have nice tubers

Thank you teddahlia and groall for your input. Growing dahlias from seeds sounds like it could be a lot of fun. I've grown daylilies from seed before, but dislike doing it because it usually takes 2 to 3 years to see any flowers from them. I'm more impatient than that!

Linda

I am sure the VM will be fine, all it needs is an eye, and it will start developing new roots. A method of propagation is actually to let the eye develop a little, then cut it off (along with a small chunk of tuber) and grow it on carefully, so if it still has much of the mother tuber which is stable, then I am sure that it will be fine.

As for the Sir Alf Ramsey, I worry too that something is hiding inside, I would be tempted to slice into it a bit or cut out the hole just to be sure. Again since it has eyed up, otherwise it should be fine.

Thank you

Thanks!

I leave mine in the ground in San Jose. When the tubers begin to rise above ground I know it's time to divide them, with the shovel primarily.

Ginny

I'll try that Poochella. Thanks!

Liverwort.

I wouldn't call it a weed as it isn't going to be any competition for your dahlias.

Here is a link that might be useful: Liverwort info

Bloom unfolding...

swan island too much yesterdays cultivars. Steve S.

I just got 5 tubers from Connell's today. They are to replace the ones that did not grow last year. And they look just as bad as the ones last year. I cannot see an eye on any of them. I would not advise anyone to buy from them this year if they want to grow dahlias.

Thanks for the pics, Plantlady! OK, I see now that what I thought was reflection from flash in your first photo was the pinkish-yellow blend on the top petals of the bloom! They look awesome. I think your sold out for this year already, right? I'll have to put that on my list for next year.

I've said this before but I'll say it again: Thanks for creating beauty in the world! Keep up the good work!

Annabeth

Thanks, Annabeth. The really fun part of hybridizing is never knowing from one day the next what you're going to find out in the seedlings- it's like Christmas day all summer with new seedling babies opening every day!
We usually sell out of Moonlight by Nov. it's been so popular all over the world!

The article below has developed over the past 15yrs as I have worked with propagating dahlia seedlings and cuttings.

Here is a link that might be useful: Plant Lighting for Dahlia Seedlings and Cuttings

Sorry that I have not been checking this forum. There is a good article on using the metal halide and high pressure sodium lights here:

http://www.jasons-indoor-guide-to-organic-and-hydroponics-gardening.com/indoor-grow-lights.html

If you search "metal halide for growing," you should get the information you need. My dahlias just exploded last year with the metal halide light.

Here is a link that might be useful: garden lights