3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
There is a lot of information on the web about Dahlias. What comes to mind immediately is, good soil, stake well, water correctly, does best in almost all day sun, deadhead often, pinch back when very young............and lots more. You do need to do a bit of reading I would suggest. Here is a link to get you started.
Ginny
Here is a link that might be useful: Colorado Dahlia Society
If you didn't separate in the fall, then you most likely have the old tuber which has rotted. This is normal. We plant only the new ones. Poochella has a good idea though about a bleach solution, although I would be tempted to dip and run. Also, if the new tubers are firm, plant them up and see what happens. Nothing ventured....nothing gained.
Did as suggested & planted yesterday. Frankly, these are probably my best looking tubers after I divided them up. I hope I didn't divid too much, I wanted to be sure to get all the bad tubers out. I had never divided before & I think this was on its 4th year, huge. I'm sure I will never miss the 3 or 4 bad ones.
I think it is going to depend on what kind of winter we have. I have also had dahlias overwinter outside, but like yours, they weren't happy. Covering with leaves would certainly help, but if you really don't want to lose them, I don't think I would risk it.
I don't know of one website that has all dahlia varieties- that's a tall order. Here is a good place to start.
But it is just a start. You can also go to dahlias.net and start going thru the list of suppliers.
Here is a link that might be useful: Dahlia photos- various links here
The roots will come from where the leaf node is, so yes, that must be put in the bedding mixture. I will put mine about 3/4 to an inch or so below the surface, thus preventing the drying out process. If I get a day off work soon, I will try to show some photos on stem cuttings.
Meanwhile add some rooting hormone, and stick it in. Keep it moist but not wet. I would also keep it out of the direct light at this point, preferring heavy a shaded area outdoors or a light system indoors. Don't let it get too hot either.
No, you probably did not kill them. This is an essential step. Plant them with the eye facing upward, and you will soon have more plants. If you can't see the eye, then plant it horizontally until the eye appears and you see a small shoot, then replant properly. Check out some of the other posts here in the forum for some good advice on planting and/or setting in trays to wait for the eyes to develop.
Be aware, that many tubers don't develop eyes, and thus won't grow plants. I have at least 4 trays full of tubers that I am waiting to have develop shoots. These tubers are mainly a storage house for food for the plant.
Good luck.
I was planing on selling them in cut flower shops with coolers and boquets or puting a sign along the road with something along the lines of cut flowers for sale or cut your own fresh flowers. There are a large number of tourists in my area and i figured that might be a rather large market. :o) i have 3 summers until i would be in college and that is plenty of time to see what works and
what people buy. My main plant is going to be dahlias but i have some zinnias and others too. This should be fun!
Carrie
You don't NEED to do the splitting if you don't want more plants. What you can do is pinch off the smaller shoots that come up, saving the strongest.
For example, I would keep the tallest here, and pinch off the smaller ones.
However, if you wanted MORE plants, then they could be split as indicated in the other posting.
I hope that helps.
I recently waslike you and bought some tubers froma seed store. I had them for about a week and they started to sprout in the warm weather so i split them up. I started with 7 plants(or bunches or whatever they are called) and came out with 16. If you want more split them up when you see sprouts...if you dont want more dont. :o)
Hi aspringer,
I imagine you'll have to wait a while in your zone before it's warm enough to plant outside safely. You can go the link below and read "pre-season" and "growing season" tips, or even submit your question giving your specific location and temps.
Lots of good info there for the NE USA.
Here is a link that might be useful: Mid Island Dahlia Society in Long Island NY
We tie all the seedlings - thousands of them-- up in rows with stakes -- (don't try steaks or you will attract all the dogs in the neighborhood >;) ) & Christmas tree twine. The twine is available at your local feed store - it works better than sisal because it doesn't stretch in the wet & regular string for beans or sweetpeas isn't heavy enough. See pictures in our "Seedlings" album- page 5. If the plant gets heavy & wants to fall over you just have to tie to the twine on either side of the plant
Here is a link that might be useful: Wynne's albums
Nice photos, Poochella. I use a similar method with the wooden stakes. You certainly have a LOT of dahlia plants. I tend to give a lot away to friends, or the local garden club. You'll be setting up a busines soon, ( if you haven't already)
Oh, BTW, nice pooch, too.
Look for Black Night at this ip address http://dahlias.net/dahwebpg/Gallery/GalleryHtms/BlackNight.htm
I don't know about Andy D. Hope this helps.
You will get one large bloom at the top of the plant & then later the side branches will put out blooms as well. We hardly ever top our AA sized dahlias as the first bloom is the biggest & best for gathering seed & gets longer to dry on the plant in our wet NW weather.
The garden 20'x35' hmmmmmmmm The DH is standing guard with a shotgun! Then there is this problem, what do I do with these?
I have a solution! Send them to ME!!
(just kidding)
Your greenhouse makes such nice healthy starts -
my scraggly sunroom babies would sure look scrawny
next to those. But all starts are being transferred outside today for hardening off, and potting on, then transplanting in the next 4 weeks.
2 weeks of over 60 degree days have begun, so they'll really start to take off. Good thing I work home office so I can watch watering, and haul stuff back in if weather takes a turn. We've had heavy rains, that switch to hail about weekly, the past 5-6 weeks! That's supposed to be over, however, with just a few more nights in the 40's.
I joined a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture - buying group) so Organic Veggies and Eggs will be delivered weekly this year,
and I don't have to feel bad if I don't have time/space to get all the seed/starts in the ground this year that I'd planned. Already, I'm sure I'll be sharing lots of garden goodies - and hosting simple, but varied organic dinners.
For the first time, thanx to Poochella's generosity with Tubers - I can add lavish bouquets to the dinner party table. Life is good!