3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
I posted updated pictures on June 29 in the thread titled New Pictures, New Beds
I'm taking pictures every two weeks. Since the 29th, there haven't been any new blooms. I have a Sayonara that's just starting to open, but that's about it for now.
Here is a link that might be useful: New Pictures, New Beds
Thanks Russ, I have Hulin's Carnival, Maarn, Rebecca Lynn, Cornell, Chilson's Pride, Kathy G, and four others that I lost the names of...I didn't label them unfortunately...I won't know which is which till they bloom :) I do know that there are no dinnerplates. As a newbie, I had no idea how many varieties there were...I've learned a lot on this forum, and the dahlias will definitely be planned out a little better next year. After seeing posts and pics from Poochella, Plantlady, Sturgeonguy, VikingCraftsmen, you, and many others, I have a better idea of what to do.
I'll keep patiently watching for buds...
To post a photo you need to put it up on some other site. Many people use http://photobucket.com/, I personally use http://www.flickr.com/
Once you've got the picture up, you can then put a link to it in a message here.
As far as the marks on your foilage, it certainly does sound like spider mites. Especially if the leaves are shriveling up as well.
Cheers,
Russ
I definitely recommend that you plant it. It quite possibly won't have flowers, ( but it might in September/October ). However, it will need nourishment during the summer in order to reward you with flowers next year. Go for it :)
Vikingcraftsman, I am about ready to move to NY after seeing your fully grown plants in bloom already. I have topped off several budded plants, but only one is ready to even think about going on to bloom, and that will be 2-3 weeks away at least.
Congratulations on your lovely blooms. The pastel pinks are my favorites in your collection so far.
Boy for a moment I was going to ask where in New York you were moving to. My wife picks the dahlias, I do the growing . So this year we have mostly purple and lavender. We did get gitts perfection in the dinner plate collection. It is a delicate pink which blends to white in the center. We also got kasuga which is a light apple blossom pink.
Liza, I think you'll love China Doll, particularly because of how many blooms it puts on...prolific doesn't do it justice.
Poochella, in fact I did hope that the granite mulch might prolong the season a little due to the heat, and/or promote better growth. I have my fingers crossed that it won't get too hot. I also didn't want stuff that would grow weeds, as has been my experience with organic mulches.
FYI, it is supposed to get black after a few rains.
Penerosa, there are certainly similarities, but...I don't really think it looks like a waterlily. I could be wrong, but I think yours is a Formal Decorative. China Doll is 4" diameter on a 18-24" bush, what size is yours?
Cheers,
Russ
Oh heck, how does one know the difference? :-) Must take some studying. Here's one that looks like mine...I have a feeling it's a wild goose chase though...
Here is a link that might be useful: Baron Jerry
At this point in the summer, it is very late to be planting dahlia tubers. I would find a nursery that has them in bloom already and plant them in your bed. Dahlias love the sun, so I am not sure about afternoon sun. I would see how they do, and if they do well, plan on getting dahlia tubers in the ground around mid April next Spring
Dahlias probably can't be over-wintered in your area. If you get frost in the ground, you shouldn't leave them in over the winter.
Of the 43 varieties I grew this year, they took between 8 and 84 days to grow enough to get above ground. The average was 31 days. You wouldn't want them to be above ground while there was still frost in the air (this gives you and idea of when they can be planted in the spring.)
They should start blooming between 90 and 120 days after they're planted.
Each variety should describe whether its an early or late bloomer (or neither.)
They'll then bloom until frost kills the stem. Then can then be lifted, stored over winter, and the tubers planted out next spring. Alternatively, you can take cuttings in the spring...see my propagating dahlias photo set:
Cheers,
Russ
I started some Unwin's from seed this year. I hope I have good luck with them. They are about 6-8 inches tall right now and will probably get planted out in the next week while I am on break from work. I have a spot that gets good AM sun and light shade in the afternoon and evening.
One disappointing discovery: the blooms don't last very long. The first two may have lasted a week or close to it, but the more recent seemed to be blown apart by wind yesterday after a few days. Will decide about keeping after the rest nine bloom to see coloring and durability.
Hi Carolina,
Torrential rains don't sound ideal. If you keep them in a pot, it seems like it would be ideal to move them under shelter during the rains, then back out for sun. A lot of work, but possible.
A lot depends on the expected size/height of the dahlia too. Your pot sounds a bit too small unless it is a smaller container dahlia (18-24 inches or so tall.) I've grown 4 ft dahlias in pots, but they were larger shrub pots each with a stake. (see the link below) They provided enough flowers and tubers, and got full height, but I think the garden dahlias of the same variety grew better overall. Could be the soil in the garden was better. Maybe your garden soil is more fertile as well or rose fertilizer is helping the dahlias along?
I would think the sun needed for roses would be good for dahlias too, but I'd hope for at least 45 cm/ 18" all around and more space would be better for a larger dahlia. It can't hurt to try one there.
Those are my thoughts without knowing much about Costa Rica, but it sure sounds nice! I wish you well in whatever you decide to do. They are tough enough to have grown this far, so you are on your way!
Here is a link that might be useful: Growing dahlias in pots link
Thanx a lot,
I tried a forum in Spanish and so far this is the best and clear advised someone ever gave me. I will take everything you told me into consideration and hopefully in a couple of months I will be able to post some lovely Dahlias
Thanx once again