3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
Sorry I didn't get a chance to see these beautiful pics of Fire and Ice sooner. I didn't have access to my computer for awhile. What a surprise I got when I saw your post. Just what I've been looking for. For me the flowers are delightful and the height of the plant is just right. Thanks for remembering me. Looking forward to the tuber. I'll get back to you with my address and other details soon. Thanks again.
I havent been on the forun for a long time, and ive just reread all the responses which i had been reading all along, mind you, but ive really enjoyed reading them again. The White dahlia that was the favorite amongst every living noxious insect, slug etc is named "Snow Country". it has thrown some tremendous, large, pristine white blooms. I will grow it again just because of that, but will be more vigilant as it starts to bloom..thanks again!
Linda, I got everything started late this year due to focusing on my expanded vegetable garden, so everything is blooming later than I usually get.
I dont have blooms yet from either of the ones you mentioned. And I have found it that at least 4 of the tubers I got in the trade last year were mis-labled, (I know I got some mixed up myself so I am not worried about it). I hope I get blooms from everything so that I can at least make sure the ID's are correct, and can send you an amended list. We are dipping down to a low of 39 tonight, but then the lows go back to the 50's for a while, so hopefully everything will have a chance to bloom.
I dont have a green house either, but I do start them in pots inside. I pull them out of storage mid April, and if they havnt developed any sprouts, I put them in baggies with a little damp peatmoss. Some take a few weeks to develop anything, After potting them into 6" pots (I chop down the tuber if it is to big) they take at least two weeks to develop anything above the soil, sometimes longer. They then get moved to a window , or outside and then back in if it gets to cold. I never plant them in the ground until June 1st here in WI, but getting a little jump on the weather helps. This year they stayed in pots to long, because I got behind, so my blooms are later than last year. I usually expect the early bloom mid-July, and late blooms by the end of August. This year I still have a few that havent bloomed yet.
If you leave the dahlias in the ground you always risk loosing them, but For me, after 20 years of raising them, it comes down to two things....do you have good drainage? Do you cover them at least 6" with mulch or soil? I loose a few but probably not as many as when I tried digging and storing.
It is predicted to be as bad a winter as last year or worse. I did loose a few dahlias but not as many as I thought. Some sprouted late, probably a tuber on the bottom of the pile that was protected by the ones above it. Some of those probably won't bloom this year and they are still only about 1-2' tall...but I hope to save them and have them bloom next year.
I wish you good luck with how ever you decide to preserve yours this year!
Thank you lizalily.
If I remove the tubers, how would I store them? Do you place them in a paper bag and store in them in a dark place for the winter? should they be dried out before storing? and when would I plant them again? Please forgive all my questions as this is the first time I've ever planted dahlias? Your help is really appreciated.
Yes I use a trellis system on my small plot of dahlias because they are in front of my house I don't like the look of a stake garden in MAY and early June. It has worked good for me in the past but huricane irene snapped the wire trellis and i had to improvise some fishing line. I probally got alittle greedy this year with how many i planted in such a small area too. #2 I got allie white from steve Thomas a friend of mine and the dahlia guru at our society. #3 kenora wildfire was easy to grow for me although did not make the same huge flowers I have seen at dahlia shows still and awesome red. I also like drummerboy same red but more decorative.
Hee hee! Thanks, Angela! Today I sprayed mine with neem and tied them up again, before leaving on a 3 week vacation.
I will miss my beauties :-(. Sure hope my pal leaves enough on the plants to blow me away when I come home! She will be cutting and selling them while I am gone.
Carol - A lot of people have trouble with the white Dahias, This is the first year my whites have looked so good. I havent used any poisons, but the pic I posted at this link (at the bottom of the thread) may explain why mine seem bug free this year.
Here is a link that might be useful: White Dahlia Protection
I absolutely love Swan Island's Boogie Nites. Deep dark truest purple with beautiful form. Also, Newaukum Grape, a very nice bb sized true purple that bloom constantly (Lobaugh's Dahlias). I lost Lady Liberty who was my favorite white, but Bowen, a white pom,is real pretty and just starting for me. And I liked Joel Louisa as a white water lily but lost it also last year. I generally avoid whites because of ear wig damage.
I've had that too with some of mine. Especially Taratahi Glo. It starts blood red, with a bit of yellow; then washes to more of an orange. This year, it started late; and started with the orange flowers.
I believe it is weather related. I think some dahlias thrive on warmer temps and more sunlight. When mid August, september roll around, my neighbors giant Maple starts to shade my yard for most of the day. That seems to dampen the color on some dahlias.
Just my theory anyway...