3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
what do the experts think about digging dahlia tubers in Jan ( on a mild day) and storing clumps in styrofom ice chests wash and dry clumps and cover with peat moss or wood shavings/ then divide in April after first frost divide, plant and or give away excess bulbs. We don't have really bad freezing weather and I see no reason why the dahlia tubers could not be dug in January. What do you think guys.
Why not leave them right where they are and dig up in April for division, if you want? Much less work. This is such a mild winter, if you want to dig now, there's no reason not to though. It's milder these January days than when I was digging in Nov/Dec.
â«It never rains in California...â« I'd leave them if I could, believe me. You also might try contacting the nearest dahlia society or association and get their advice based on your climate. Ours is going to be foul, wet, and windy this week and I am completely zone envious.
Here is a link that might be useful: California Dahlia Societies
This thrills me more than you can imagine.
I grow only heirlooms in my vegetable garden-and since I am also a "heirloom", most are from my childhood. To find out the Dahlia that I love is one also...
Hope it still survives-it's 5 degrees this morning-last of the week it's going to get to 10 below-unusual for us.
Sorry no one has answered botanicat. A good place to get answers for your region is the Dahlia Society of Georgia website below. Their newsletters are informative whether living in the SE US or not.
Here is a link that might be useful: Dahlia Society of Georgia Newsletters
Hi Dahli22,
Pam Howden and Wildwood Marie are waterlily forms, both about 5-6" across, but WWMarie is very much pinker than Pam Howden's orange with purple undersides. Both lovely!
You can see the lavender underpetals of Pam Howden here, as it was closing up for the summer evening.
Annabeth,I highly recommend Tempest. At least for me, I have found it trouble free, vigorous, hardy, and a real good tuber producer. The blooms pictured were from a tuber that actually overwintered in my Brooklyn garden (granted it was a mild winter and it was in a sheltered spot.). This year, I wasn't so lazy, I dug them up!
I hope to post more photos this summer - hopefully,larger than this one!!!
No they do not....you could get just about anything if you leave it up to the bees....if you are good, you could cross them and then you would know the parents, some better for seed production...there are several Dahlia sights which will tell you know to do it, along with pictures to explain it....Colorado Dahlia has a very good sight...