3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
Been in your spot before I started using the saran wrap method.
My present concern is my so-called cold room___which it will be in another month is probably around 55 to 60, far to warm for winter storage. Always fear leaving them in the unheated garage for fear I will forget to move them later.
Nope, didn't get to see it. The bud did open a bit more, but tht's it. Poochella's photos are pretty doggone good, so I'll live vicariously thru hers. There is always next year, there is always next year, there is always next year...
I agree with plantlady2 about the necessity of dividing in the spring if the tubers are not already divided. Actually, I find it easier to see the eyes in the spring. One can readily see which ones will sprout for you, and can discard those that probably won't do anything at all.
That being said, I still try to divide in the fall as best as I can ( my old eyes have trouble seeing eyes in the fall), but those in double get bundled together in the recycled grocery store bags.
(((((Jo))))))
Imagine finding you over here:)
Oh I don't know how to tend my Dahlias, so I thought I would pop over here & see if I can get help,
They are huge & drying out, I need to know what to do with them, how long have you had yours? How do you take care of them for the winter? I have read saran wrap, moist peat moss, I have no clue, but I better get a clue QUICK!!!!!!!
Hug's:)Anita
Redhawk woman: let's say I was going to get berries in Carnation coming from the Fall City bridge. Would I see your dahlias on the river side of the highway not too far East from my berry turnoff? Because if that is your garden, I want you to know how insanely jealous I was driving by in early July and seeing many blooms this year.
Poochella in Preston
Although the tubers that develop can be left in the ground where winters are milder, for me they have to be treated as an annual since freezing temps of the soil will destroy any tubers left in the ground. Small tubers do develop on the seed grown types which like any other in colder climates will require digging before winter.
I try to dig only as many dahlias as I can handle in one day. I dig, divide, add a fungicide, wrap and store within a few hours all in that day. You can let them dry overnight if you wish but I wouldn't advocate it and don't see any advantage to do so.
... and Bernie is one of our resident experts.
If I can do it in one day, I'll do so. If I have to wait until the next morning, after a night of drying, the next morning I will add the fungicide, wrap and store.
I had a friend who "did me a favour" and gave me a dahlia tuber ( like coals to Newcastle LOL), and let it dry for a week, cut off the neck ( and the eyes) and presented me with a nicely withered tuber not wrapped or anything. It is on the compost pile now. In return, I gave her a tuber with an eye, quickly dried, fungicided, and saran wrapped, along with a nice friendly smile. Of course, many questions persued. LOL That is how we learn.
Wait! I was so smitten with Honka photos I forgot your questions LOL, sorry. Mine is ~3.5 ft tall and when did it begin blooming? Well, I would guess early August. This year, I was not able to plant many tubers until mid or even late May or June in some cases, so about 80 days.
And here is an early single version of Honka. I love it, except for that loathesome bug in the 10 o'clock petal!
Aaah!! That last closeup captures the orange centre nicely. Okay so mine made it to full height but didn't get enough time to develop more buds. The tubers were in a small pot until July when I finally put them in the ground.
Sharon
I feel the less air that gets to the tubers, the better. Some of those packing peanuts are rather large and would allow a lot of air in the box.
Guess I prefer the saran wrap method.
This am it was 38 degrees as I dug and washed tubers. Then it was into the garage to divide and lay out to dry. They probably would have dried outside but drying would be slow at those temps.
Jamlover, it's the end of the hard part; now you can while away a few weeks at the link below. One of the fun parts.
Here is a link that might be useful: How to Spend Your Winter Vacation
Is there anywhere in Oregon and Washington that isn't covered with fields of dahlias!!! So many places in those states selling tubers.
I bought a number last year just from descriptions and pretty faces. Didn't even realize there were garden dahlias and then cutting or show dahlias.
I am interested in knowing the names of some of the earlier to bloom garden dahlias so I can choose more wisely this year.