3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
Well Corgi (I used to have one ), I want to thank you first but I have been taking the extra shoots that two eyes have caused and just put them in the garden and they are growing with no roots or tubers! We have had two days of sun this month!! I am worried.
FWIW, I am not pinching this year. I'm curious to see the difference it makes. So far Sayonara, Mary Jo and China Doll have all had at least one bloom. Mary Jo has ~15 on one plant, so clearly not pinching doesn't prevent them from blooming a lot.
What is interesting is that many of my large varieties (both tall and AA) have blooms starting, which I feel is soon all things considered.
Cheers,
Russ
ceh2101, how much area does the metal halide cover? I've ordered before from a place that sells compact flourescent retro kits for fish tanks. One bulb gives (using their accompanying reflector) 25,000 lux, which isn't sunshine, but it's brighter than the brightest midday shade. I'm sure the metal halide is better, but I'm not sure I could afford it. A kit with bulbs for a 4'x2' area would run a little over $100. I might give it a try.
Sorry about no responses, dahliadad. What should you do? Let them grow would have been my input.
About keeping sale tubers over til the next season, I don't know. I think it's best to plunk them in the ground, even if late or crowded. You always have a chance at progeny to grow the next season then, even if you don't get blooms.
That "worm" is a ladybug larva, a good guy...the holes you see are probably from a cabbage white or other larva. I suggest you go get some natural pest control, since the ladybug larva is there. Contact your local nurseryman, and ask for a non toxic form of pest management, good luck
Mine are tall. I started them inside in February-March and planted many outside when they were already 1'-3' tall and very well established. My Ace Summer Sunset is 5' tall, a little higher than required. Given our variable NE weather, this seems to be the way to go if we want strong dahlias year after year.
Sorry you are having trouble.
I grew Curly Que a few years back. It was pretty enough the first year, scraggly the second, and I didn't try it again. The flowers aren't that great after the first flush, and, if I recall correcly, the stems are only average if you like to cut flowers.
If you have to have that swirling petal of an incurved cactus I have no recommendations, but if you want a wonderful, prolific, and reliable pale pink cutflower go for Miss Rose Fletcher.
I'd just like to add a word of encouragement to anybody planning to hybridise dahlias (or just to grow them from collected seed, hybridised by the bees!) You might end up with some duds, but you are also likely to get some garden-worthy plants. It's really exciting waiting for the first flowers to open. Rewarding too, because they will flower in their first year and will continue to improve in successive ones. I have a bed of dahlia grown from saved seed and will post pictures once they start flowering.
The bees do a much better job of pollinating dahlias than people. As with any subject there is the short answer and long answer. Short answer: Let the bees do it and limit the dahlia pollen they can use by cutting off flowers and planting the ones you want crossed close to each other. Long answer: Hand cross two flowers that have been covered by an old nylon stocking. Since bees pollinate several times per day over the course of a week or more, you must pollinate numerous times. Lot more to it, but if you do this and get some seeds that sprout from covered flowers, you know both the parents of your seedlings.
Could be a rabbit, they have found mine this year. Can't eat from a nice lettuce patch, have to eat dahlias, must be dessert for them. Also all my cucumbers and beets. My pellet gun is loaded and waiting by the back door. A couple of years ago, I shot 13, and I live in town.
Well well! Here is South GA I was happy to start some lovely dahlias. and the plants grew sturdy and all had two or more huge buds. When they should have opened, the dogs (Irish Setter and Golden Recliner) and I had been away for a week. Instead of flowers the plants had been eaten off from the top down, just stalks and a few leaves at the bottom. Today before writing I looked again and found deer tracks! First time they have come this close to the house. Maybe that is also where my beans went. Drought must have brought them.
More plant when you plant the whole clump. But I got single tubers from Cory this year and it is as big and prolific as the clump of another dahlia I planted side by side. My clumps put out more stems than my single tubers. I hope I answered your question and not confused you.
Pdshop, this is my first time also with Bodacious. Did yours come up yet? Mine came up 3 days ago. I planted the tuber in the beginning of June. I got the tuber from Royaldutch. Oh yes, I am excited to see it come up. I hope yours will soon come up, too.
I only pinch when the plant is small, and the stems are not hollow. Once they get larger, I do not pinch. I do dead head though. Mine are blooming well now.
I am trying something new this year, that I've read as a recommendation many times before. I didn't pinch this year, but I am dis-budding.
Typically, when you see one bud on a branch, if you look real close you'll see 3 of them. Remove all but the center one. This is supposed to make for larger flowers. I also believe they'll be healthier flowers.
You'll find references to it on the sites mentioned, I beleive.
Cheers,
Russ