3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
If they are not dry husks, or piles of mush - then they are probably good to go!
They need warmth and a little moisture to eye up and start to sprout. I put my tubers in domed trays, lightly covered with moist potting mix, and put them on top of the fluorescent lights that I start seedlings under - Once they start sprouting I put them in pots under lights.
I can't plant out until the beginning of June here and I like to get a bit of a head start. Your growing season is probably even shorter than mine.
Hi Matt ,
I live in the midlands of South Carolina.
I didn't dig up my Dahlias for the winter.
I just cover them with pine straw.Now that it is spring I am taking some up to check or divide them .
Yesterday I already plant some of my Dahlias .
I plan to cover my dahlias with clear plastic containers this week as our forecast is for a low one night is near 39 as well.
The Dahlias I left in the ground over the winter are now coming up , here is photo .
I know i should have divided this plant but I don't really like this kind.
Larisa.
can't help with the temperature thing
but Dahlias stay sturdy if they get full sun, and little additional watering if the soil is good enough.
I water mine only if their leaves droop and still hang in the evening
flower size:
if you want giant flower heads, don't top the plants. fewer stems produce larger flowers. Disbudding would help to give larger flowers.
But then you should probably stake each stem individually.
Another part of sturdiness is genetics, cut flower types produce long stems, so the plants are rather leggy than compact.
If you have several plants of the same cultivar, you could experiment and try topping and not topping them.
bye, Lin
This year I am sprouting them earlier - I got them all to eye up already and have them in pots, only two have poked up though the soil yet (planted about 3"deep)
Last year I don't think I even unwrapped them until mid April, so I am about 3 weeks earlier this year - I am hoping it won't be to early. The bigger they get the trickier it is to keep them happy and healthy inside. Last year, starting mid April, my plants were between 6" & 18" when I put them in the ground.
I also bought this bag which includes karma Chocolate and Glorie Van something. Of the 5 bulbs included for KC, only one has produced eyes so far. The Glorie ones are more vigorous. All of them have eyes. I am starting to understand that dahlias have different degrees of vigor. Last year, I bought some dahlias from Swan Island and some did very well and some did very poorly. I might have wrongly blamed Swan Island for sending me bad bulbs when it was the varieties/genes of the bulbs that was the problem.
This post was edited by kousa on Sat, Mar 29, 14 at 16:09
I think that growing dahlias (or any other plant) in containers will be counterproductive with regards to water conservation. A plant in the ground has a much larger root system and will fend for itself much better than a plant in a pot. Pots dry out rapidly and need constant watering.
Mulching is also very helpful for water conservation. Plastic mulch (Polyethylene sheeting) will conserve moisture the best. Use white plastic rather than black or clear if you are in a very hot climate. If you can put drip irrigation under the plastic that is the best. If you can expect some rain it would be good to contour your soil so that the water pools at the base of the plant especially if you are using plastic otherwise that precious rain will run off and not get absorbed into the ground.
I am in the Sierra Nevadas, so hot days are not an issue. Pine needles here provide natural mulch. I should have wrote that originally. I realize that when people read California and drought they think of the desert areas with high temperatures.
My main benefit to containers would to avoid carrying waste water down a pretty steep hill. I've been looking into it some more. Grey water systems are more affordable than I thought, and would hook up easily to the laundry outlet.
I grow some little dahlias from seed too, but I haven't tried the Figaro. This year I noticed a few of them with yellowing leaves. I don't know if it is a nutrient issue, or watering issue. I know some heat loving plants can't take up nutrients easily if it is colder than optimum, especially if it is cold and wet. I moved mine to my top light shelf which is my warmest spot, and am not watering until they are quite dry. They seem much happier. I fertilize with 1/4 strength fertilizer every time I water.
Looks like you have them in the same tray as broccoli ? Broccoli and dahlias have very different needs.
Kousa, sorry to hear about your freeze! I tried emailing but couldn't find an address for you, if you'd like, just click on my member info and you can drop me a line. So far my dahlias tubers look ok, if a little bit dried, they seem to make it ok though so I should have something to share. The only problem is I'll need to divide clumps... it shouldn't be a big deal, but I usually just replant, so this will be something new for me!
Frank
Which Corralitos dahlias are you looking for? I know the feeling...I lost my Summer Rain and was planning to replace it!
I did have a lot of Corralitos dahlias last year and have dug all my tubers. And if anyone has a Summer Rain tuber extra please let me know!
I just put an order in with swan island dahlias.Wow! I spoke with jennifer told her i wasnt sure if my order online was completed and also if there was any substitutions that sissaroo would be my first pick she said everythingwas in but that she was Goung TO SEND IT FREE ANYWAY!!!!!! And since i spent 50$ there was anothr free tuber to choose what a great experiance thanx jennifer at swan island dahlias!
There's two sites that I was told about that still have it available...
Red Hawk Dahlias $5
Old House Dahlias $6.95
Hope this helps...
Try checking other vendors on the Big List, as they might have it but didn't update the variety list...
Here is a link that might be useful: Big List
Start them 6 weeks before planting time in gallon pots filled with garden soil. They should be placed in a greenhouse or similar growing conditions. They will wilt for a few days after planting in the ground but will grow just fine. Plant in ground the same date you plant tomato plants in the ground.
Creekside Volcano grows six feet or taller and has the brightest flame colored flowers of just about any dahlia. A bit hard to find these days.
Elks Huckleberry Pie is a cute variegated flower that is easy to grow.
Grysons Yellow Spider is a Dutch dahlia sold in tubers packs at various garden centers.
Lavender Chiffon is a very old variety still being grown as a cut flower. Most people no longer grow it.
Well I would have planted it already in its permanent spot, if you know it already, but since you have confirmed it's a good a root then I think you can move it now while it is still fairly infant.
I would not take a cutting of this shoot specifically. Wait until it has grown a bit, then take a cutting off its stems or even the top of the growth if you want to promote side branches.
By letting it grow and produce food for the plant, you will get many more branches and possibly even additional shoots without stressing out the one tuber that is trying to regrow based on its own stored energy.
thank you both, soil is at 9ðc in someplaces and around 13ðc in others, I planted (wilkos (local basic home diy store) ones that are basic colours for cacti one's for a pound, and they have not sprouted yet they was planted about month and half ago.)
I will let them grow more before taking cuttings.
the spot is going to be along that fence that gets Sun all day everyday even in winter (but I'll dig up for winter)
thabk you Leo