3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
Wish I could be helpful, but usually by this time, most of us already have our tubers planted. There is usually a flurry of trading going on in the Fall and early Spring. Buying/ordering tubers is usually best accomplished in very early spring before they sell out of the ones you most desire. Say, in February or so. They get shipped at the appropriate times by the growers.
Poochella....so sorry for your loss...i am another that has been thru it...several years ago ..hubby found a large roll of concrete wire at a yard sale.....he made cages for his tomatoes with it..he made dahlia cages for me with what was left.....i do stake mine at first...then when they get a bit taller i put the cages around them...better protection than just stakes alone.....but....if he hadnt found this cheap deal.....i would probably use metal stakes..
i did search through this forum and saw the different posts about seeds...and i understand that they won't be true to parents. the seeds that i planted were supposed to be diablo seed from a very reliable source, and it certainly looks like a diablo plant to me. what surprised me was that the germination rate was so low, and i wondered if there is something about hybrid dahlia seeds that makes them harder to get to germinate. anyway, these leaves are just a lovely dark green with black cast. and i thought i'd try propagating a stem cutting under a cheap misting system that i have rigged up. any suggestions on that method?
by the way, had you pulled your planters in over the winter? or did that tuber winter over outdoors?
thank you for your response!
The planter hung on the front railing of the porch, under eaves and thus got no water. The soil was bone dry when I cleaned it out for this year. Even though we have freezing spells in winter, it gets warm air from the nearby dryer vent, so I suppose the dry, non-freezing spot was good enough to keep a tuber.
I would just guess something got to the tuber: either rot or disease or varmint. In zone 9 you should be up if not blooming by now.
If you know where the plant should be, why not carefully dust off the overlying soil and feel for a sprig of green? If you find nothing you can carefully dig where you think the tubers might be and see what's going on underground. Otherwise, you might be waiting all year for and have a big hole in your garden for nothing. I'd say investigate!
Depends on the variety totutoise. Most dahlias take 70-90 days to bloom. If you check the MId Island Dahlia Society website, many of them don't look to plant until late May, into June anyway. You'd only be behind a couple weeks.
Here is a link that might be useful: Mid Island Dahlia Society NY
Finally a pic for you!
I've decided I'm quite happy with the pansies. The colors are refreshing during the long period of green growth. I even like the slightly leggy over the side of the container look this time of year.
I guess I answered my own question.
Also a pic of the sago (I can't resist):
Nice photos, thanks for sharing.
It appears that your dahlias are looking healthy, tubers being produced might get crowded but cross that bridge later. Keep them fertilized with a low nitrogen fertilizer because the soil nutrients may get depleted quickly living in the pots. Keep us updated with your progress.
Did you go ahead and plant them? Most dahlias need to be staked as they get so top heavy with all the beautiful blooms. I would think that the spot you described would have enough sun. Dahlias need well drained soil. Read the FAQ for digging and storage info. And then ask more questions. It isn't hard work, just takes some time and energy.
On the holes in the leaves I would guess slugs, possibly a caterpiller or other wormy thing but they tend to snuggle up in my blooms and dine, not in the foliage. Slugs are big foliage afficionados.
You don't say how far along your buds are, but in my experience black spots can also be pest poop. I've not had black spots on buds, that I recall. It might be worthwhile to let the buds open and see if there is any harm being done before coming up with a treatment plan. Do any of the leaves have black spots? Botrytis is one disease that can affect dahlias.
See if anything at the link below jumps out as a possibile cause.
Here is a link that might be useful: Dahlia diseases
Would it help if I put the Dailhia bulb in the sunlight? Thought this might induce a eye to grow....
You can experiment. What have you got to lose? Most dahlias even when harvested in the fall show eyes on the base of the stem just above most tubers but not all.