3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias

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

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.

Thanks Molly! I feel better now. Now I am just worried about the Fushias I planted in part sun. After I planted a ton of them, Ciscoe said to never plant them in direct sun.. Just my luck!

What is "Myke" ?

Red Pigmy :http://www.shilohdahlias.com/tubers5.htm

Star's Favorite: http://www.dahliasuppliers.com/accent/gallery/images/Stars%20Favorite_270_jpg.jpg

Firebird : http://www.highdesertdahlias.com/Firebird.htm

Ebony & Ivory is not listed.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Big List

smj0730,

Topping is not necessary. In nature, the plant wouild grow without being pinched back. If you wish to show in a garden competition, then you would want nice tall straight stems, so you wouldn't "top" at all.

However, if you are not showing, and wish more flowers, albeit a little later, then you can pinch back the stem to force it to produce more shoots out the side. This will create a bushier plant. I do this here, as I do not show, but prefer more flowers. So when it gets taller, I pinch back to above several true leaves. We are in a completely different growing zone than you, so I feel confident in doing this here early in the season as the plant is growing. In your zone and if your plant is about 2.5 feet tall, you may have hollow stems already in the lower part of the plant. I don't pinch back that low as I don't want water getting into the hollow stems and rotting the stem / plant.

Pinching back takes place early in the growing season. As I see it, it really is a means of shaping the plant in its early stages to a shape more to your preference. I hope that helps. Other growers may have differing opinions as well.

florafauna,

I would plant them in potting soil in pots ( because we still expect frost here for another few weeks). Then I would take them outside into the garden area, but because they are in pots I can bring them into the garage for protection in case of frost. If you do not expect any more frost, then you could plant directly into the ground.

I would plant them with just the tip of the shoots above the ground. They will form nice roots down below, and the plant will start to open its leaves above ground level for you. When it gets taller, the lowest leaves should be pinched off so that the lowest leaves are at least 4 inches off the ground.

I don't think that I would add too much manure now, until the leaves start to open. Then they would appreciate it. At this point, it is important to establish roots. Later, you will want to establish the upper plant, and then the FLOWERS, which is what it is all about.

Thanks so much jroot! I read so many posts that I became confused with all the information. The reason I was going to add the manure is because the bed I'm putting them in doesn't have the best dirt (silty) so I usually just add manure when I add a new plant since I can't amend the whole bed. I'll try it without adding the manure.

Thanks again!

Sounds bad, sorry. Perhaps some info at the link will be able to help you. Keep up the slug bait for sure, but perhaps an additional treatment or approach is in order. Slugs usually work from the margins of the leaves here (if they don't get the whole sprout.) I can't imagine them leaving a lacy pattern.

Please report back what you find. Maybe a county extension office can help you if you take in a sample leaf?

Here is a link that might be useful: pests

okie. i recently had something happen... ive got dahlias growing in pots sitting on my balcony ledge... the largest one WAS about 2 1/4 feet tall, and i dont know how but it fell off... 1 story and broke the stalk, cracked right in the middle and i decided i was going to keep it, [mourning because it was my first, and about to bloom] and new growth has started where the stalk broke, mind you i didnt detatch the broken part, ive just been removing the dead vegitation when it appears. SO it is hopeful... :D GL!!!