3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
I think you have time. I planted a clearance bulb last summer (late June or so). It bloomed vigorously until October. I was hooked from there on out. So, if you can find them at a discount, go ahead and plant directly in the ground. Here is a pic of one of last year's blooms.
Thank you for the feedback!
The damage seems to be on about 25% of the leaves, or less. It does not move up the plant quickly, but there are a few of the middle leaves that are affected.
Based on CCvacation's feedback, it does sound like I'm underwatering. The bed they're planted in gets about 8 hours of sun and is right up against the side of a house which radiates the heat. I've seen the leaves look a little limpy during the peak hours of a hot day, but they perk back up with a bit of supplemental water. But I guess I need to rig up a second soaker hose for them.
Many thanks!
Hi Katrosa
Assuming you mean Oakland CA - my experience may help you.
As you can see, I live in San Francisco (I guess people could think I meant Santa Fe or something!) and this spring/summer has been very sunny - especially for me in the Sunset. I have sandy soil and I know it drains well but I am watering (not heavily but certainly giving each plant a good soaking) at least every other day unless it is foggy. Then I back off to every 3rd day unless the dahlia leaves and buds are drooping.
If I went to twice a week, most of mine would fall over. And I know Oakland is much sunnier than western S.F. So I cast my vote with the underwatering analysis also. Underwatering stresses any plant, which then leaves it vulnerable to any virus in the area. Which is what I think you are getting.
But if your buds are not drooping (which is the first indication of lack of water) then perhaps you aren't underwatering. But I sure know I could NEVER water mine once a week. Even last weekend when it rained I had to water mine on Wed and it actually RAINED Tues night! But again, my soil is amended sand and it drains REAL FAST so it needs more moisture than most gardens I guess.
The Harlequins are a bedding dahlia, getting about a foot tall (or less).
I've grown single plants in 2-gallon pots, where they did reasonably well. So if you want to plant three of them in one pot, I'd go with a 7- or 10-gallon pot.
One-gallon pots are too small in my experience - the roots get too hot.
I like the Harlequins, and I save my favorites. They make tubers just like real dahlias!
I saw little six packs of bedding dahlias at one of the small nursery set ups around here for the first time this year.
I grew some from seed last year and again this year, and was wondering why they were not popular with the growers. I didnt grow Harlequins, and I grew them in the ground, but the two types I have tried ended up being 12-18" tall and wide. They bloomed well all summer.
This subject has been discussed on dahlia sites for very many years. Part of the problem that is never mentioned is that computer monitors need to be calibrated also. The deep purple color does not appear on a computer screen easily. We have two digital machines, the digital camera and the computer and monitor that must be in total sync.
I have taken some better purple flower pictures with the sunlight coming from behind the bloom and shining through some of the outer florets. Carefully focus on the center of the bloom and set the camera to show the center clearly and even though the light coming through the florets may be
over exposed, the center of the bloom will have accurate color. Easier said than done. I suppose one step further would be to reflect some light onto the center of the bloom also.
The mother tuber grows larger and uses the same eyes next year to grow again. It is certainly is not too late for some other tubers to form and be large enough to divide. Here in Oregon, during a really wet season, one grower was not able to plant until July 1st. She had enough tubers from most varieties to have a good season the next year and the great majority of her plants bloomed before frost. .
Where are you taking your cuttings from? Are they just the tops of dahlias that you snipped off to encourage lateral growth, or are you taking side cuttings, where a side leaf, it's stem, and a little part of the main stem are removed?
Even though I didn't need more plants, I decided to try and see if I could root some tops. I made the mistake of putting my pinched tops indoors in the a/c to avoid the excessive heat and sun. I thought they would die in the heat and sunlight outside. Well, it took a while but most of them just never rooted and died.
This year I've just pinched them and stuck them in different places outside in different soils to see what works.
Wow, Steve, your cuttings yield awesome results and plants. I have good results too eventhough I do not give them the ideal growing conditions as you did. I found that some dahlias are better at rooting than others. In fact, some of the cuttings that I started in April now have flower buds.
Ah, yes. That's how it starts.
I remember looking online wanting to see what other colors dahlias came in, other then pink, purple and yellow.... and I got lost in the sea of shapes, textures and blends possible with this amazing species. Over two hundred varieties later, my wish list is still a mile long.
Here's a simple shading system that sure beats using umbrellas for each plant!
Here is a link that might be useful: 60% shade cloth on cables with grommets
Thanks for the response,CC. I've planted some as you have described but wasn't sure how to plant this one since the leaves extended down to almost touch the sprout end of the tuber. I'll only have a half inch of soil covering that end until it gets taller. I've had to build "mini-dams" around the shallower planted ones since our recent inches-per-hour rains have created miniature swimming pools. A few tubers have rotted, naturally my favorite ones. I have had to dig up some and replant after the soil dried a little. I don't think the tubers like being disturbed. lol
Better disturbed then rotted and gone! I've reactivated my grow lights, and am resuscitating some... stubborn... tubers that have started to rot or just aren't doing anything. I am amazed to see Woodland Meranda recuperating from surgery up to the neck! Three sprouts, with two destined for cuttings in a week... This is why I like to plant in pairs, but sometimes you only get one...
I'm impatient... I've got reserves for those holes, if those silly tubers given the chance don't shape up! (At least that's what I whisper to them when hubby can't overhear me! My addiction has to show restraint around the 'but its just a flower' crowd!)
Yes, I thought this one was cute and visitors always noticed it in the garden but the leaves had horrid yellow speckles on them all season. I would like a couple of clean tubers!
Still out trying to find spots in the Red and White Rose garden for dahlia plants today! I have lovely plants of Barberpole and Comet waiting to go in, as well as a Kori Kobi and some others I dug up to divide.
I'm still trying to find spots for dahlias, too. I'm almost finished. Hissy Fitz is a problem for me...that color yellow is difficult for me to place. This year I'll try it amidst some hot colors and see if that works. Lizalily, email your address to me at vvinetteathotmaildotcom
I collected tubers last fall from great plants, but planted late (end of May). We've had a LOT of rain and so far I see no sprouts (except one that got left in the ground). Should I replant at this late date or plant in pots. I hate to have the tubers go to waste--I'd plant just to have them bloom next year if that would work. I'll never dig them again! Thanks.
Where are you at, bethesue? There are so many different climates where people are trying to grow dahlias! I would suggest you gently dig up a few of your tubers and inspect them. Are they rotting in the ground? Or are they making nice roots down there and just starting to grow upwards below the surface?
When you say you "collected tubers" last year, I wonder whether they were cut properly with growth eye still on the tuber? If not they will never grow. So many reasons why they may not be doing as expected...do you want to give more information?
I am actually NE of Seattle near Woodinville. Need to make it to Vashon soon.
Now that my back is better. I am back to a more normal watering schedule. Every 2-3 days depending on our sun around here.
They drain quite well. I put a layer of rocks and drilled about 5 holes per pot. The pots I have them in are probably about 25 gallon pots. They are quite heavy :) 18 inch wide square and about 20 inches tall. They should have plenty of room to not get root bound.
It is my first year with Dahlias. I was not sure if it had a virus or not. :( It is looking much better now that I watered it. The molted colors are still there though.
I would consider growing them in the ground, but don't have a good space in the yard. Also, lots of deer in the yard and I am sure they would love for me to give them more snacks. ;)
On a side note... I am a little bummed. I had a nice little small dahlia and I went to top the plant and accidentally cut off one of the side buds too... so it will not produce as many as I like.
Can I top the side bud and get two more from the side bud and fix my issue?
"Can I top the side bud and get two more from the side bud and fix my issue?"
Without seeing the plant, its hard to speak about what one would do, but it sounds like you have the fundamentals down already. This is early enough in the season that I wouldn't worry about 'getting it right,' and just go with your hunch. Dahlias are amazingly resilient and determined growers once they get out of the gate. Even if you 'do it wrong,' it won't take the plant long to recover and go to town doing what dahlias do best- bloom!
Cheers!
CC
Is it 2 HEADS on one stem or 2 FACES off of one bud/head?
I had a single stem tulip sprout with 5 blooming tulips this spring but that is not uncommon for tulips.
It's 2 heads on one stem. They are connected together on one stem.