3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias

I am already dreaming of spring...Got my first seed catalog in the mail yesterday! And winter hasn't even really begun here. Still waiting for the big snow storm.

I have been eyeing Gitt's Crazy...that one is really stunning and Snoho Storm too. Think I will have to wait for the price on Gitt's Crazy to go down a bit before I buy that one.

It is fun to look at all the different websites and dream of the dahlias I will have next summer. I have already ordered 10 new ones and received a bunch in a trade but I might still order some more. ;)

Linda

I bought my first tuber (only bought nursery plants before) this winter. www.jungseed.com/dp.asp?pID=40192&c=735&p=Star+Wars+Pot+Dahlia

Had to try it, since I'm in love with the smaller, dark foliage dahlias and Star Wars!

Has anyone grown it?

If anyone has grown it does it look like the photo on the Old House Gardens website?

Hi guys

I got my trade list together. If anyone of you have extra white or dark purple dahlias (any size) I would love to trade with you! I am doing my won flowers for my wedding and the colors are olive, plum and white. I have a few white and purple dahlias, but need a few more, especially the pom pom varieties. If any of you have extras or have a suggestion for a crazy bloomer please let me know! Please e-mail me for a list of my dahlias

Thanks so much!!!

Keriann~

Anybody out there have any extras? I will trade you two of mine for one of yours! Please let me know and I will get a list of what I have over to you!!

Thanks!

Keriann~

Dahlia "Uwakigokoro" in this link resembles the dahlia in your link.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dahlia

I didn't buy it last year, but I'm thinking about ordering it this year. Has anyone grown it? I've seen it in a few catalogs.

Wow. Maybe we should trade plants - I'd LOVE an 8 foot dahlia. The workhorse dahlia in my yard was store bought, gets the MOST sun in my yard and grows about 5 1/2 ft of foliage. (I can be eye to eye with a few of the blooms and I am 6'2). The vast majority of mine seem to be 3-4 feet. I have never even SEEN a dahlia that was 6-8 feet high and I go to the SF Dahlia Garden every year as well.

It may be whatever fertilizer you are using. I once closely inspected the many fert. choices at Home Depot and was surprised to learn that the "0-10-10" numbers not only applied to the ingredient percentages but that the first number was meaningful to plant growth, the 2nd was bloom size and the 3rd was applicable to whatever. (Don't hold me to which is which however - I'm paraphrasing.) All I remember is ferts. with a certain specific number said 'promotes bloom quality/quantity'. I thought they ALL promoted plant growth AND bloom production but apparently you can have one over another by choosing the right fert.

I think Ted's your man when it comes to fertilizers. He knows more about that than I'll ever learn.

David

Dahlias grow taller in part shade. People who grow them under shade cloth report that a variety that may reach 5 feet in full sun will grow to about 8 or 9 feet tall under shade cloth. Many people have dahlias reach to 10 feet under shade cloth.

So, I am assuming that you have a bit of shade in your garden and dahlias are reaching for the sun.

Fertilizer in so far as what the ratios of N-P-K are used has little to do with plant height. Dahlias need fertilizer that is balanced, meaning that some of each number is present. Since phosphorus, the middle number is being banned in some states, it may be difficult to find a balanced fertilizer. However, most gardens accumulate phosphorus and if you fertilized in past years, there will be enough in the soil.

I use fertilizer that is high in both Nitrogen and Potassium. The ratio is 4-1-4 and the actual numbers are 20-5-21. I mix my own fertilizer and buy three fertilizers to achieve that number. This is very concentrated fertilizer and a little goes a long way.

Whatever fertilizer you use, apply in small amounts very frequently and the plants will do better. People tend to over fertilize and that is not good for the environment.

For those of you that start them only half buried in the soil............How tall do they get before you plant them out? Last year I started mine early enough that they were between 8 and 14 inches by the time they were moved outside. I cant imagine that half buried tubers would stand up. Whats the trick?

I would love not to have to search for large pots and use so much soil.

I want to try the plastic baggie method. I will put one tuber and a handful of soil in each bag. Then I will put the bags in a foil lasagna pan from the dollar store. The pan will go in front of a glass block wall on a shelf in a bathroom.
I think this way I will be able to throw out the duds?
when do I take them from the baggie and plant them in the ground?

We too have a problem with clay based soil throughout our entire region. I just dug up ALL the clay from the holes I was going to plant any and all of my plants into, including my vegetables, flowers, etc. I threw almost all of the native clay that I dug from the holes elsewhere. Then I made a mixture of soil using bagged topsoil of good quality, plus some peat moss, some Southeastern Pa. mushroom compost and some tree leaf compost. I ended up with a mixture that was about 80% organic and 20% topsoil. That worked well for me.

I made sure that the soil I made wasn't too fine in consistency, and the bagged soil that I used was somewhat coarse, and so was the mushroom compost. That way it drains pretty well, but with the 30% or so of peat moss, it held some moisture.

Then I had to fertilize too later on.

That sounds like whaat I have to do and it is very hard digging into that soil.

Thank you Cindy!

Keriann~

I have been also trying to check out the Badger State Dahlia Society website, but it is to out of date, from 2008. Does anyone know when the sale is and the location? I want to attend but I can't find any update information. Thanks.

Dana

Forgot to mention Bodacious. Bodacious, Annette C and Wynns Sensation were all coming out singles. All being composted in the local compostery.

Kenora Wildfire and Islander? Both old favorites? I'm getting rid of my stock and seeking better. I know that both of these varieties are gorgeous, but they are blooming undersized, and with Wildfire, worse, they wilt way too soon. So those Wildfire tubers won't be showing up in the dahlia club sales either.

I've been reading a book written by a Northwest vegetable grower discussing some common soil problems in the maritime northwest ("Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades" by Steve Solomon.) The problem I'm having with bloom size may have a lot to do with soil deficiencies. I've always just fertilized, not paying enough attention to what my soil needs. This year, I'm working to build some better soil. Even though the author is a veggie guy, he's got interesting things to say, and a very successful nearby dahlia grower recommended reading the chapter on building soil. We'll see if what I learn renders any improvements to my AA's that often bloom like B's.

each years harvest of tubers are clones. Like copying machine
copies they tend to fade out over the years and some disappear. You have to look around and try and buy a replacement tuber from a reputable grower who will replace
it if it doesn't grow.

Suitzus Julie is an excellent lower growing waterlily, See later post and google a picture.

Thanks a lot for your advice,
Ted, thanks for the information and recommendation. I read your post about seeds, well, didn`t know, that you can expect only so little good results. I thougt it could be fun to do some experimental raising, like with a litter of barn cats. But then I don`t really have the space for so many surplus plants.
And Carolyn, I looked those short ones up. I think they are gorgeous but not showy enough for my neighbor.

But I browsed some Dahlia grower websites and found some showy short ones like the Gallery series.
Thanks a lot, bye, Lin