3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
I assume the research you mentioned was Jroot's and Poochella's postings and photos repectively about spring and fall dividing. They are excellent.
You know Laura, when your friend sees how many tubers you come up with this fall and how compactly one can store them (I tried saran wrap for the first time with success) she may regret giving up those clumps!
Happy blooming.
They want to be well drained, but at the same time like to be watered.
I have found all kinds of critters like to chew on them. I had a lovely shot of a squirrel eating the lower leaves of my dahlia right on my deck right in front of me. That being said, put it back and let it grow.
I find that the bottom leaves often droop. I actually usually trim off the bottom 4 inches of leaves ( once the plant is big enough) so that I get better air circulation and prevent mold on the lower leaves.
Hi jroot-
Thanks for responding. I read a posting where you told someone you cut the bottom leaves off for better air circulation and to prevent mold---and frankly, after I saw that, I did the same and trimmed.
But the fact that "lower leaves often wilt" is news to me and certainly nothing I noticed last year... If the top 2/3rds of the plant weren't doing so well I would be tempted to pull it up and see whats going on with the tuber itself--The fact that I started it in regular potting soil and had to water fairly frequently, makes me wonder if I have some tuber rot going on---
Anyway, about those squirrels, there may be 8 million people in the naked city, but there's 8 million critters out here...and I am sure out where you are.
Hope you've started planting.
Patricia
Midnightgirl - are you sure May 15 is your last frost date? I'm zone 5 but usually we don't count on frost being out of the picture till the end of May, when we plant non-hardy annuals.
http://www.avant-gardening.com/zone.htm
PS on the lilacs, mine are in full bloom the first week of May now and we are getting night time temps in the low 40's. I think they are early - they also aren't as heavy as previous years. Lots of things look a little odd this year - all those warm weeks during the winter and then the hard freezes and snow in April.
I finially planted them and the last of my summer bulbs and tubers this past Wednesday. I figgure it was finially late enough. I think they are going to look really great with some glads placed between and some cannas planted behind them.
Thanks J!
If only April could have been a little nicer to us? I wasn't able to get my plants out of the basement and into the garage in earl April or out of doors until very late Apr for better lighting and then had to bring them in almost every night because of the unusual freezing cold nights. (We set a record for the Snowiest and Coldest April).
Then we had frost about ever third day during May up until just the other night and cold very nights. (Our last frost date on average is May 9). I hope the season fairs better as we go along.
I'm early to bed as a rule and on the eleven o'clock news they were going to have a segment on "Our Changing Way of Gardening" (in Central - Upstate NY) due to climatic changes. We get enough bad news as it is so I hit the sack early.
Thanks again for the info! I'm glad to know about the 4" and usually follow pot level. You as well as others give such great information when needed.
Jim
All I can say is what works for me:)
Ah yes, indeed, we may be changing our way of gardening. Water is becoming a more costly unless one has access to a natural water source. I live on a river bank, but I am a LONG way UP a steep bank and through the bush from the river. I have been concentrating on brugmansia and dahlias here, as well as the other normal perennials, but the brugs in particular are very thirsty, and food hogs as well. That may have to change. Ah well, we are always up to a new challenge.
Your guess is correct- they won't be happy in constantly saturated soil. Could you plant them in a pot on a rock slab or at least high above that flooded soil, or berm them up a foot or so? The tubers won't grow far down, 8-12 inches maximum, but they would definitely suffer in constantly wet soil.
I wonder if the water company would pay attention to the leak if house foundations were undermined. That's a real shame to be so wasteful of a valuable resource.
Thanks for the advice. I think I'll put them into a single large pot on a slab (and try to remember to water them!)
And yes, Thames Water are absolutely useless. Last year we had very low rainfall and consequently a hosepipe ban from spring through to late winter of this year. Yet it's estimated that around a third of the water supply is lost through leaks before it even reaches customers.
And here's another excellent site with great photos in the "Learning Center."
Here is a link that might be useful: Mid Island Dahlia Society Site
I find that sometimes dahlias are like petulant children. They will come up when they are good and ready. Often the ones that come up later, come on gangbusters when the sun gets warmer, and the light suits their needs, and they often become the stronger plants. Not always though, but often.
I agree with Grannymarsh. All the basics seem to be in good condition, so wait and see.
Joanie I grew them in San Antonio for a number of years and we have a member in the Georgia Dahlia Society that grew them in central Florida. They grow dahlias in Australia in 110 degree heat so it can be done.
The issues are, do you have the time and devotion to give them the extra care that will be required? Another issue is selection of dahlias that are heat tolerant. A list of these tubers is found on the DS of Georgia website but that page is currently down. It should be back up tomorrow or the next day.
The secret to growing dahlias in the heat is to take steps, constant watering, mulching, and attention, to make sure they live through the heat until the cool fall temperatures arrive in your area. Then you will be rewarded with beautiful blooms just like in the cooler regions of the country.
Here is a link that might be useful: Dahlia Society of Georgia
It is certainly worthy of a try. My neighbour has one, and it works well. I don't think he had it running for an hour, but we are in a much more moderate growing zone, here in southern Ontario.
To avoid the mildew problem, be sure to pinch off the lower 4 inches of leaves ( when the plant gets mature enough), so there is an air flow. Other than that, watch it carefully, and if you see mold developing, change the situations somehow, by either reducing the water flow, or pinching the leaves higher.
To be honest, I have seriously thought about doing something similar.
Keep us posted.
Dear Jroot - THANK YOU! I had almost despaired of anyone answering my question. I have already planted the tub with white, lavender-pink, and carmine Cosmos in the middle and dark blue Crystal Palace lobelia around the edges ALONG WITH: several adorable plants selling at the nursery under the name "Dahliaettes". The miniature or dwarf dahlias are beautiful, with flowers in a wonderful shade of warm pink. I went to the nursery in a neighboring town and fell in love with these little plants. I've been tinkering with the amount of water that comes out of the sprinklers and have fine-tuned it so that the plants don't get battered. Your advice about the lower leaves is EXACTLY what I needed to know - the dahlias are so compact and sort of dense that I am concerned about mold, etc. We generally have a dry climate here throughout the summer, but I'm sure the mold could still happen - I just didn't know what to do about it. I will post an update on the situation - whether the sprinklers work out or not. I really hope they do - aside from the practical aspects, they are wonderful to watch. (Of course, I am seldom up at four a.m., but I see them when I'm adjusting them in the daytime). Thank you again! Laura
Oh Nick, I had my first cicada experience some years ago in Silver City, N.M. When I first heard the "noise" I thought I was having an out of world experience, then my neighbor explained the cicada cycle and from then on it was a rather pleasant, learning experience. At that time I had a wonderful collection of Mums, Iris and veggies. Nothing was touched by these critters, once in a lifetime experience, enjoy!
thanks calpat!
I'm in complete agreement, once I get past the paranoia about the safety of my dahlias, personally I think cicadas are COOL!
In my case I'm old enough that 51 years ago was the year before I was born, I remember them when I was 16, don't remember them 17 years ago but this time around (my third time) I am actually looking forward to it :)
That is the exact position mine are in every year,and they do wonderfully there.The very first Dahlia(dinnerplate) that I ever grew was planted there and I was told it wasn't enough sun.Well it grew over 4 feet tall and bloomed like crazy,it is the perfect spot.
The stem should root if it had a couple of small roots on it. If they don't have any roots I like to put them in potting soil in bright shade until they lift their heads again which indicates they have rooted. Then into filtered sunlight just like hardening off seedlings or cuttings. Once they have a strong enough root system you can put them back into the garden or grow as a pot root.
Plant the tuber also as two or four more eyes will form and grow from the original eye.
I had a 4 ft stalk of a dahlia break at the tuber last 2 years in a row. In both years, I jammed the whole stalk down into a container and let it go - and they bloomed nicely both years. When I dug them up they had made small tubers off the stem. I think you have to keep the soil moist because it has a lot of green plant growth to transfer water to, so you wouldn't want to stress the plant by drying it out.