3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
I'd change the soil, too. You don't want to keep the soil from the ones that turned black or it'll just make the next new growth rot as well. Did you use garden soil or sterile potting soil to start them? The reason I ask is because there was a soil blight- I can't remember the name of it off hand- around a couple of years ago & plants that came up & were doing great just all of a sudden rotted off at the soil line. There was quite a few gardeners in the midwest & east that were affected. There was a lively discussion on the dahlia net about it at the time as it was something that few people had had before.
I agree- plant in pots or the wire baskets- but after you cut them down in July don't take them out of the baskets- lift the whole thing & take it w/ you soil & all. They will resprout & you'll have a better chance of getting tubers for next year if you let them grow all summer. When we're culling new seedings we cut them off at the ground & they always drive us crazy by coming back w/ more growth when we don't want them to- they're very determined plants!
1- Yes- pinch it back- take out the growing tip--that's called "topping" & will result in a bushier plant with more laterals. This is a "good thing". They will still reach their full height. When you plant out you can plant deeper than they are in the pot to give them exrta stability (like you can do with tomatoes). Be sure to pound in a stake when you plant so you don't damage the tuber putting it in later.
2- yes there is an advantage especially with the AA & A sized dahlias. One good thick sturdy stem as opposed to 2 not so sturdy stems is the result. You can let the laterals grow from this stem & you'll get bigger blooms & more of them. They're also easier to tie up if there's just one stem & it's laterals instead of 2 to get in each other's way. Go to the Colorado Dahlia Society site & look up the part on topping, debranching & disbudding- It's under Dahlia Care & Culture-- lots of good info & pictures to help you along.
If you want you can make a cutting out of the pinched off stem & get another plant for your money!
Here is a link that might be useful: Colorado Dahlia Society Site
I was given some rather depressing tubers last fall, very shriveled and rubbery!! Still, I managed to prep them for storage and some of them have produced some very healthy cuttings for me... I had about 15 tubers, I had 4 survive, now have 20 rooted cuttings / plants!!
So I know first hand that shriveled does not mean hopeless!
Considering the time of year, I would perhaps treat them with an anti fungal / perhaps put them in a 10% bleach bath for 20 minutes, then pot them up and allow them to start growing!! Even if they are kept indoors on a (south facing preferably) window ledge, they should be fine. Don't plant them out too early though! Even one night of freezing temps will kill them. I learned that this year too the hard way with my store bought tubers!!
Just pot them up and place near a well-lit window - the white shoots will green up in no time, so don't remove them. My over-wintered dahlias in the basement are showing exactly such sprouts, and I will be potting them up soon - this also gives them a head start, and therefore earlier blooms!
I have never divided tubers, but have to do it this weekend. I came across this on the site, it was originally posted on April 3, 05.
I hope it helps. ( I typed dividing tubers into the search box to find it)
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/dahlia/msg041343391520.html
Rinse off that tuber if a cat peed on it! I wish I were kidding. I lost numerous tubers last year due to my cat using the holes as a litter box before I figured out what was making them rot. I think the urine is really high in something bad for tubers...can't remember what though.
This morning the rabbit was out on the lawn again. He had been in the trap as one of the carrots had been pulled out. The trap had also sprung. I am afraid he will not go back in after all the noise. I will try the Liquid Fence Pooch. Wouldn't it be awful to have gone the whole winter waiting for our dahlias and than a rabbit eats them?
If a sprout gets broken off will a new one form? I have some with longish sprouts and it new ones will form and I still have 2 weeks at least before I put them in the ground I was thinking about breaking them off to get new sprouts and a sturdier plant. I have a few plants that are potted up but can't do all of them. The nonpotted up tubers are going crazy.
I cut a sprout off to start a new plant by potting up the sprout. This resulted in four eyes where there had been one.
You can pinch them back, resulting in a shorter plant for now. The plant will concentrate on developing laterals in the next few weeks as opposed to just growing taller. Plus, this will ensure a bushier plant for the season.
If your yard has the maritime breezes off Puget Sound, then you should be able to plant almost anytime. If unsure, plant in paper-lined pots for sunny days out and cool nights in protection, like Jroot's thread, and transfer/plant outside in May. If you're in a cool microclimate, best to pot up now, and wait until mid May to put outdoors. You don't want them in cold, wet soil.
Here is a link that might be useful: Jroot's threads
Typically, tubers can be planted any time in late April or early May depending on how wet your soil is. If it is too wet to till, you are wasting your time trying to plant the dahlia tubers. Soil needs to be dry enough to till. Dahlia plants need to go in a couple of weeks later as they do not like cool rainy weather and the slugs love dahlia plants.
Bummer! Yes, I would pinch them off. Depending on where the damage is, pinch them either at the base of the shoot (1/16 of an inch above the tuber) or just above a healthy leave node. They should recover nicely. I would also keep them a bit shaded for a while to protect the tender new growth.
Good idea Viking !...I've been reading more of the older posts here...so no planting in ground til 60 ground temp? I have some smaller plastic pots saved cos I usualy start my caladiums to get a jump. Should I start my tubers now and when ground warms up transplant? After viewing pic gallery and reading what you guys post, I'm getting really excited about dahlias. In fact I think I'm going to the Jackson & Perkins outlet here this weekend and see what else they have dahlia wize..they sell alot of bulbs there $1 pack, ususaly one per pack, but I think thats a good price cos they seem to have alot of "legs" on them. I got a bunch of different Lilliums there last year same price and they grew beautifully.
I'm a newbie to dahlias too...I've been reading about all the basics of dahlia care. I've got an Omega, Tahita Sunrise, and Sights of Summer that I am going to plant sort of in a triangle at the end of a flower bed that gets the most sun. I hear about people starting them early but if they are anything like caladiums, is it really worth it. I've started caladiums indoors but had the ones that I started outside catch up in no time to the ones I started indoors weeks earlier.
What would be some good companian plants with them? I'm thinking about some melanpodium and zinnia but will be careful to make sure everything is not to close to restrict airflow.
I would got for it and hope for success. If you're really concerned about a great Dahlia show this year, you could purchase a few more just in case. In my area, a couple of the dahlia societies are holding their tuber sales now - decent selection for a good price. The Colorado Dahlia Society holds a link to a listing of sales.