3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
The tagalong side buds in a bouquet help sell the flowers at market. Customers love that. Is that what you were asking Pooch? We don't necessarily want huge blossoms that may be desirable in your garden. And, we get more blossoms per plant. One that comes to mind that we do pinch is Almand Joy. Otherwise, it will get a short but huge blossom right there down in the middle of the plant. Drives me crazy.
Gosh something is curling up my wild ginger leaves, tight as a cigar. I unfurled one victim and sure enough there was a gross little whitish caterpillar inside. Ick.
Dahlias got a huge welcome dose of 80 degrees and pure sun, more in store for tomorrow. Believe me after 50-60 (barely) degrees and tons of rain, this is a most welcome change.
Laura are you going to be influenced by the Nor'easter I've heard predicted for the NE? Stay afloat and protect your dahlias.
Pooch
Hi Poochella,
By the time I read this the Nor easter was gone, but thanks! My Dahlias did just fine through it since they were in their pots on the front porch. I just planted them outside yesterday. Everyone wish me good luck since things are getting eaten in my other garden!
I borrowed a book from my library called, Bugs, Slugs and other Thugs and I think it might be cutworms damaging my other plants. I hope they don't find my Dahlias! I might make some collars to fit around them later today.
Happy Gardening,
Laura
KLK If they are two inches Below the mulch and you have at least a couple inches of mulch you should be just fine: i.e. tuber is 4 inches below somekind of garden soil/mulch.
That describes many of mine and they are coming up just fine and have fared well in the past planted this way.
I usually end up top dressing each plant with more compost material as the season wears on anyway, so that gives more protection and moisture retention.
Full sun is perfect. 90 days to bloom time, but often earlier by 10-20 days- depends on variety, weather etc.
Fertilizer is your choice. I have used Osmocote flower and veggie extended release for years, but this year I'm going with 10-10-10 to see if I get more blooms. It lasts for 60 days. I am too busy to use a fertilizer more often.
Sounds like you're off to a good start this year.
Well although it's not consistently warm or sunny yet, it has warmed up and my dahlias are coming along in their pots. The one I was worried about has recovered nicely. I can't wait to see what happens when we get some proper heat (whoosh! growth!), and to see them bloom! Thanks for the reassurance earlier.
cnid
In my experience some are very slow to show eyes, some will sprout roots but never develop an eye (blind tuber,) and 3 out of 4 of Ron's that didn't have eyes, really DID have eyes that went on to grow.
Some are really hard to tell, you mark a spot that you think is an eye and nothing happens there, but one emerges in a place you wouldn't have suspected.
I still have a bunch in shallow potting soil waiting to show me an eye. Some are growing roots but I'm about ready to proclaim them compost.
I ordered from Corralitos Gardens earlier this spring. The plants are beautiful and are beginning to show buds.
It's my first time with Dahlias as well. I envy you your space..you can just get "one of everything". I agonized for a week over my choices as I was limited by space to only 6 plants.
Good Luck
If the plant is young I don't see why you can't just leave it as is, although the brown stems might not be attractive in the spring. Of course as fast as dahlias multiply you might want to divid after 1st year. Leaving stms on might be good though to know where it is so you wouldn't dig there. I have read somewhere in our zones where we have to dig each year that you cut back the foliage but don't leave it in the ground too long because water can seep thru the stems & rot the tuber. That would make it seem better to leave stems on.
Sorry about that..I read my post again. I meant to say that I was going to slash off the part labelled 'toast' (which I did) and not the unlabelled brown blob which is still intact. I will be putting it into a pot in the evening.. Will keep you all posted.
What kind of dahlias are they? If they're large plants intending on going on to be 3-5' tall then you'd be better off putting them in a large multigallon pot or in the garden with some support.
If they are short bedding dahlias, a slightly larger pot or container with other plants should work.