Dahlia Forum

I was about to say the same thing! There's a big lateral on one side of 1 of the 2 shoots. The other laterals are pretty small though. Here's the biggest lateral so far:

Since there's only 1 big lateral, I'm still not sure if I should top it or not when the time comes. The longest shoot has 4 pairs of leaves so far.

The plant is growing pretty fast as well and the leaves are VERY greenish. Haven't seen such a deep color tone on a plant before. Here's one of the growing tips of the 2 shoots:

There's no bud on it just yet as far as I can tell.

By rubbing the sprout off, do you mean I should just cut it off??

Knife or fingers, no matter. Just with a knife you might unintentionally nick other things you didn't intent on touching. Rubbing off is safer.

I don't worry about little tuber sprouts when there is a main stalk growing already, but some like to micromanage, and that's fine. I did that more in the beginning, and it's fun.

I found it interesting that you had assumed dahlias needed to keep their dead stalks like spring bulbs... Never occurred to me, but in a more temperate region that has a slow die-off of the plants (instead of a sudden 'BAM' frost of death that my dahlias experience), that assumption makes more sense.

I strongly doubt the tubers are continuing to store energy or keep growing as the foliage fades, as that is a sign of impending dormancy. And as you have multiple years of tubers in each clump, the maturity of the tubers doesn't matter as much, either. I have been taught that cuttings started in spring need three months to develop well-matured tubers that will store out of the soil... They actually can start developing tubers within a month, and be stored as a dormant pot root in their soil for the best shot at overwintering a valuable variety.

I've heard of several old timers (all long-passed now, grandparents to my contemporaries) who successfully layered tubers in sand within lined apple crates and coal buckets here in the East. I bet vermiculite wasn't as readily available then. ;-) Nowadays, folks I have talked to report a lower success rate when testing sand against others as a storage medium, but that is after severing the feeder roots when dividing. Sounds like your undisturbed clumps do just fine.

I live in Southern California, zone 9b (Mediterranean climate type) where everything grows well (thankfully) and just bought Happy Single dahlias that I adore. Planted them in a huge pot (similar to a barrel pot). New to dahlias so could use advice. Do I need to remove them in December before the rain (if we get any) or can I leave them? Lowest temps are in January. Normal lowest temp winter nights is 39. Rare, but possible could be 32. Mostly 45 at night in winter. IF I am safest by pulling and putting in vermiculite, can they store in the refrigerator vegetable bin, or better off in the garage? Sorry in advance for stupid questions I am asking. I have a pretty green thumb but am totally ignorant of dahlias. Planted some in the ground last year but we had a "Hundred-year snow) of 2 feet that has never occurred here before so only one of 10 is trying to come up. I love these yellow "Happy Single" dahlias and want to see them every year. Thanks for your time.

i feel like EVERY Dahlia I've ever head has had 2 sprouts? I've accidentally broken sprouts on Dahlia, Lillies, and Gladiolus) during planting, the required digging around to find out how the bulb is doing and when I will see the actually sprout (see cicivatation's post about digging around!), and once it's actually sprouted. Most of them have forgiven me and gone on to do just fine.

I have seen some of those tubers in a bag, late in the selling season. They actually had several stalks coming up out of the tubers. I just planted it like normal and they grew into healthy stems for the plant even though they had been growing in the bag without water or fertilizer.

By the way, Dan, I hold you fully responsible for me splurging on a very nice Nick Sr. plant at the last dahlia auction I attended. ;-)

This thread reminded me how much I've enjoyed this cultivar, so I bid more then I usually do on the plant. I was able to make three plants out of the one, as it was someone's potroot from last year with only one cutting having been made off it.

Good luck with the Nick Sr. plants and post a couple pictures when they bloom. I hope my single plant will do well.

Nice! Evidence of a lot of long hours working...

Are you growing sweet pea up the middle archway, too? Do gardeners plant hyacinth beans in your country?

Here's the mulch I spread on my beds a week ago... You can see two of my beds in the background. Not very much ambiance, unlike your English garden.

I am trying to grow sweet peas Cici but without a huge amount of success. I am trying climbing roses now and will just sit back and see which ones put up the best fight! That is some quality looking soil and mulch you have there. Nice open space as well. I tend to plant tings where there is a chance of sunlight sneaking between the trees :)

I did do a Google search for poms. I am in love with Sunny Boy and Dot Com. I kept thinking when she was opening that she will go to the cotton ball look but that has never happened.

All of my purchases this year have been BBS ones. I have a huge list of varieties that I would like to add in the future. I am hopeful that the other two plants that I have from this package will bloom. I am hopeful that my Tropical will bloom as well as my Semi cactus.

Next year will be bigger and better! In the meantime, I am quite proud to have a beauty like this to grace my house: (There are two more getting ready to open as I speak)

check out this site to see what dahlias you like http://dahliadivas.com/they have wonderful plants

Next thing you will want to do is figure out how you want to support the plants. I'd put in the support in the next couple weeks, as it might flop as it grows higher then the stems can hold it.

Thanks!!! That helps.. What's the right time to feed them and with what?the way they grow makes me think that they must be fed!!!and yes, I will support them in the next 2 weeks before they r unable to take own weight.

LOL!
I can see where that would be a pet peeve. All of the sources on "how to grow dahlias" said to leave the tip uncovered.

Hmm... No source that I've read... Some folks keep it uncovered to make it easier to take cuttings, but moisture in the soil helps the tuber break dormancy and encourages sprouting, so there's not much reason to leave it exposed otherwise. It breaks though the soil quick enough when it's ready.

Honestly, I don't think it makes much difference, but this gentleman has thirty years of experience on me, so I am inclined to listen and make it a habit if I have the choice of covering or uncovering the head. I don't feel as if I need to test this grain of wisdom he's shared, as I'd rather play it safe and be patient then lose a much-coveted variety I'm looking forward to seeing bloom.

2-3 leaf sets? Sounds like bedding dahlias, or that there are hidden leaf sets under the soil.

The benefit is just as you described. The plant focuses on the structure instead of the propagation. Typically, this gives you more branches sooner, and a larger flush of blooms at one time instead of scattered.

Oh. I meant on the lateral there are at least two leaf junctures before the central bloom at the top. The sets are quite stretched out so I am getting very long lateral on the one that is blooming. The blooming plant itself is about 3' tall.

Very nice Terry! What type of dahlia is your first bud? Congatuslations!

Hi, Mary! My first bloom is part of a pom pom mix. :)