3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
I like the excitement of suprise - so I'm collecting seed-heads from my first-year Dahlias, and hopefully, I'll get around to starting them. The floor of my sunroom absorbs sun - enough to provide free Bottom-heat for seed-flats, I think.
I can't wait to have too many, so I can do more sharing of Tubers. I gave half of my first box to a neighbor already!
I always dead-head, so I don't get seeds. I dead-head so that the plant puts its energy into the creation of good strong tubers. As well, I can be sure of the colour and shape of the flowers.
.... different stroke for different folks.
Well, I should have read this last night! Happy Belated Birthday Anna. Your plant gave you a wonderful gift. I am really loving the reds this year, including your Babylon.
I haven't grown dahlias in any size pot, so I can't answer your question.
We had a tremendous wind yesterday that sent everything flying and felled a huge old tree. Happily DH forsaw to reinforce the support for my Babylon and so it was still intact when I returned home. But that tree - oh boy - what a sight!
Anna (Thanks again Sharon for the virtual bouquet at WS, and to Poochella for the virtual cake!! No calories in that!)
Cheers
Anna
I always have tubers to trade in the Spring; I usually put a notice up in March or April once I've seen how the tubers do over the winter. I have sent tubers out in the early Spring to a trader in California, but at that time I'm not sure about each tuber having an eye...
Christine
Storing way up north here lol. Well, my first year I stored them in paper bags (as I was told to do) and I had great success. Last year I kinda got lazy and tossed them in plastic grocery bags (when I dug them up) and had ALL intentions on putting them in paper (so all the Moms around here told me to do ) but I never made it that far. This year....I'm doing alot more (call it safety) After heaps of reading I had better do it properly!! :-)
I'm going to take my tubers down and wash them up tomorrow and see how things go. I'll see if I can take a pic of my mass of mess. For some reason I think unless I'm cutting right thru (like cutting a potato down the middle) I'm going to have to leave them alone.
I have 1 that has 2 stems that are twisted around each other (seems very delecate) and another that has 2 stems but all joined to the same "ball".
Am I the only one that has really super deformed looking tubers???
Just Peachy fully opened- really a nice cutting flower.
Can't remember if I posted this one- Painted Lady- or not, but I like it enough to repost.
Look at the delicate edging in palest purple.
Ditto for this one, but I really like it too LOL!
Scarborough Brilliant and it is hot dark pinky red and white.
Plant Dahlias in February/March, Begonia's in spring,and geraniums in March/April.
Here are some links from the University of Florida about planting seasons in Florida.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_MG029
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG018
By the way, there is a frost in Bradenton, FL. I used to live in Tampa, Florida when I was a child. I remember the frost killing oranges and the fires people used to prevent the damage.
Hope this helps,
Leann
Hope this helps,
Leann
Yes there are, but there seem to be a dearth of growers in the far north NE.
Check the list of suppliers at the link or search for dahlia farms in new Hampshire, but I couldn't turn up much. Maybe try VT too. Lovely part of the country, by the way.
Perhaps another route would be to contact the local/state dahlia society and get some leads from them.
Here is a link that might be useful: Dahlia Suppliers
Stan your request is too broad. You'll just have to make your own choices based on the types and colors you mentioned.
Along Plantlady's line of advice- here is another link to the Colorado Dahlia Society's website. This one shows you the top winners from 2004 of all sizes and colors and shapes.
As you go though the list watch for C- cactus, SC- semicactus and LC laciniated. There are plenty of photos to help you whittle down your list.
Look for R or DR for red/dark red, DP for dark pink, BI for bi-colors. For example, BIy/r would be bicolor yellow and red.
Here is a link that might be useful: Top 50
I usually wait until the first "LIGHT" frost gets them, and then I very carefully dig them up. If you are expecting a heavy frost, then I'd cover them with old sheets or you could dig them up the day before. I usually plant mine in a place where there is an opportunity to throw a sheet over them, like under a railing from a porch. However where there is a stake to support them, a sheet over the individual plant will help.
Once the leaves start to turn black from being frost bitten, it is definitely time to bring them in.
Good luck. Keep Ottawa in bloom as long as you can. LOL
Oh my goodness, I'm froze in time with a towel on my lap to catch the drool! My check book would catch on fire too, Granny...
What a sight!
I, personally, am ready to call in the "Geek Squad" to enlarge the photo and zoom in with clarity on those labels! LOL! I can't read them and it infuriates me to no end.