3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
Hi,
I don't know but, I hope so, a storm yesterday split one of mine straight down the middle. I had to cut it down and am hoping for more shoots to come up in place of the old ones.
I have blooms on a few plants and the leaves are turning yellow and looking scraggley looks like were in the same boat.
Good Luck with Yours!
I hope they keep blooming nicely.
Laura
I should try that newspaper covered with mulch thing. I have tons of grass and persistent weeds that creep into my garden pathways.
Glad you found a place you're happy with for your dahlias Jamlover. I used to grow potatoes- those little suckers are persistent, like the weeds! I think it took about 5 years to get them out of the garden.
Calpat, there is nothing like learning from experience, even written instructions can't save you from failures, but the trial and error method yields many lessons. You have a good attitude to go forth and try to succeed.
I hope you have a banner year for dahlias in your future.
Poochella-
I agree with the "soaker hose" idea, and then the dahlia can still be over watered, believe it or not! I've lost tubers from overhead watering, but noticed if you don't stay on them, they can be really soaked! And what if you get rain that you didn't plan on? Yikes!
tc
Hi Jeanette,
Here is a pretty thorough discussion of earwigs, tips and tricks to control them. It would apply to a dahlia garden as well as any other type of plants.
I tried the soy/oil/molasses in a can last year and caught nothing but the stray tongues of visiting neighbor dogs!
Here is a link that might be useful: Earwig FAQ
Bill McClaren is a dahlia expert of the highest echelon. His book is a product of decades of research and practical work into dahlia breeding, growing, and marketing. His introductions are grown world-wide. Bill and Lois started Alpen Gardens, creating hundreds of new dahlia varieties with the prefix Alpen. He was the Chairman of the Research Committee of the American Dahlia Society for many years and continues to write and speak about dahlias on a regular basis. His recent book "The Encyclopedia of Dahlias" is just that, a current, complete reference to all there is known about dahlias.
Kevin Larkin, Chairman
American Dahlia Society Research Committee
Maybe you could try sucessive planting. Start some in pots early and then plant them in the ground. Then stagger your other plantings say a week or two apart and you are bound to catch some in bloom at the right time.
I started some in pots and they were about a foot tall when I put them in the ground and then I planted some at the same time as sprouted tubers and some that just the eyes were started. Maybe this would work for you to stretch out your bloom times. Just a thought
Mine just started to bloom now as well. They usually start about now, and keep on blooming until frost.
ENJOY them for the beauty that they bring. By all means deadhead them as well. Take some inside to enjoy as well, and they will create more blooms for you. If you are feeding them occasionally, the blooming will not harm the tuber at all. You should have seen the blooms on some of mine last year. Amazing! I even had one tuber that was over a foot long. It was the first to bloom here several weeks ago.
I don't think it makes any difference. The first dahlia I had blooming was in a pot; the very next day one in the ground opened. I have more open in pots and more in the ground. "Even Stephen" as they say.
However, your point about the size of the pot is vital. I do use the large pots - at least 20 gallon size. This year, I used the styrofoam pots as well so as to keep the pots from over heating. I think that paid off for me as well.
I started squishing the aphids by using Plantlady2's method a few years ago. Just running your thumb and finger up and down the stock. Last year I had 2 plants that had a few. This year I have found none as of yet. I also feed tons of birds and I see the birds sitting on the dahlia plants sometimes. I think they do a good job of keeping the aphid population down. I also have lots of little green tree frogs in the dahlias. We have a well and I don't use cemicals.
Hi Rick, I live north of you in snohomish county. You do want to get rid of them quick before they spread to your other dahlia plants. I don't like using insecticides so I get a bucket of warm sudsy water (dishwashinging liquid works just great), and wash it up and down the stems and them leave some of the suds on, doesn't seem to hurt the dahlias but leaves the stems sticky and the aphids don't like it -- be sure and check under the leaves too, they don't just hang out on the stems. Happy hunting!