3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
Hello Lezard
Just a thought.
Depending on how long your blooming season lasts, I would not be as focused on which are 'the best' (which is a relative term to each person anyway) but I would make sure I had a variety of early, mid and late bloomers.
I made the 'mistake' of going for attractive dahlias without realizing they all tended to bloom at once. This year, my order from Swan Is. was centered on early and late bloomers to fill in the 'gaps' of blooming cycles. (As well as focusing on plant heights since you cannot plant a 5 footer in front of a 3 1/2 footer and expect to reasonably see the smaller plants blooms.)
I had only 2 out of maybe 25 that bloomed into October and every day I kicked myself for not thinking about that when I ordered originally. My yard may look like Butchart Gardens in June and July but then looks like a neglected weed patch in Sept.
If your supplier does not indicate the bloom cycle, I am sure the knowledgeable folks here can help you out. I have deduced that most of the giant dahlias (over 10" -like Bodacious) tend to be late bloomers. I suspect they need more sun?
Of the ones you listed; i've only grown BODACIOUS. I would second the other poster that suggested Nick Sr. It is very similar to BODACIOUS; but much "better." Better form. I had only one really large bodacious bloom and the others were quite diappointing. Here is the one that turned out better.
please don't stop posting! You've brightened up this dying forum. I had kind of written it off until I noticed this new guy posting from Australia. What a treat!! Keep them coming. I've still got 4 foot piles of snow on my dahlia beds. It's driving me crazy. Finally, we are starting to get some warm weather now. Still 11 weeks from planting time for me.
I just love Poochella(she used to have a profile which mentioned that she, indeed, was one of those people who cracked herself in the face by stepping on the wrong side of a gravel rake..bless her funny soul!)And, if you are reading this, you are right Poochella, they ARE more than homely.
Anywho, Jxa, I really got a reaming when I posted my earwig issue with the soil/organic/composting or whatever forum on the "imbalanced garden" issue. And, in point of fact, I had less earwigs after I followed their advice. So you just might want to do a little research there...they might tell you to get a pet frog or some such thing we wouldn't think of in this forum.
BTW, I keep hearing more and more against woodchip mulch. Along with the issue that it oftentimes is highly acidic, if you nonetheless use it, it should be swept up and away in the fall to keep from providing shelter for even more insidious and ugly creatures that the tiny earwig!
G'luck.
Lucinda
I'm getting ready to start my dahlias in pots inside for Spring planting outside for a head start. So, I'm thinking now about how to avoid the disgusting Earwig problem I had last year ... If they don't destroy the bloom, they stain it with their disgusting droppings ... I need help.
Any ideas on how to avoid this for this year?
Hi Steve & all, Thank you all for the compliments on past images, Steve your correct, the ones I grow were suggested by this grower as being beautiful flowers even suitable for showing. The reason for posting these images was just to add a bit of color to some of you who are still in winter. Our season will soon finish in May then it will be your season.
Am not into competition showing of flowers, though just love the variations in form & color. The more plants one has, it appears the more problems one gets ie some of these images show powder mildew on the foliage (extreme humidity, heat & overcrowding is possibly the reason for this fungus?).
I just enjoy learning how to grow plants & putting images on the web is also a learning curve interns of web site linking?
Have added 13 more images from my visit yesterday to this garden, to this same gallery
the following image is another seedling again not show quality, though the start of the new images in this gallery; 
From Mar 12, 2011 growers images
Here is a link that might be useful: more images added to same gallery
I planted mine right after easter last year and had no problems wait for the ground to dry out first. You want to keep them dry and above freezing. Usually take a couple weeks to come out of the ground so late frosts shouldnt be a problem. You could go with may 1st if you want to play it safe.
I have grown both. They are both really cute. As I recall, Wannabee is rather on the short side. Asahi Choji is one I really like. It is quite striking...a not too big flower but a very floriferous plant with the striking red/white color. I prefer other types for cutting but it did add a sparkle to mixed bouquets.
If you are going to store these small tubers clumps until they can be planted, put them into a PLASTIC bag to preserve what moisture they have. You could add a bit of water but they should be OK in the plastic bag even at room temperature. Dahlias do not re-hydrate real well so best not to dry them out in the first place.
Its true they dont like to be dried out. I was assuming that they came in plastic bags (any I have seen at the big box stores were packaged that way). I have however had some luck with rehydrating dried out tubers. Soaking them in water for a few hours before planting them up helped, and most of them sprouted.
Dave - Once the tubers come up through the soil, (which will take a while if you plant them 6 inches deep), the more sun they get the better, However, last year mine did not get a lot of sun in the only window I had available, and they all did fine. Once it warms up, if you can move them outside (light shade at first) during the day, it will help.
Each dahlia eye is actually three eyes if you look really close. If the middle eye sprouts and then is broken off the other two eyes will take over and sprout. If those sprouts are both broken off, they too have three sprouts per eye and will sprout. Each successive sprout gets smaller and smaller, until they are too small to grow. On a large healthy tuber, it should throw up at least 5 or 6 sprouts that will grow a nice plant. Small tubers may only have one sprout that is big enough. Those little bags of tuber clumps have very small tubers. Treat them carefully. Buy full sized tubers from USA sources if you worry about these things.
On the Big List both Giraffe and Pink Giraffe are listed as being sold by three vendors. Of course, they may be sold out but you may be able to reserve some for next year. It appears that Tahoma Giraffe is not being sold by anybody. I grow it and may make sure it is available from a commercial source next year. It is just about as nice as the Giraffes and quite a bit easier to grow. Here is a link to a picture of Tahoma Giraffe:
http://www.aroundbeantown.com/hollyhilldahlias/files/Tahoma_GiraffeBiggs.jpg
And we've seen packaged tubers here in the Jewel grocery store. A bit early for zone 5 don't ya think? Unless you are going to plant them in your basement like we do. We've probably got 50 planted and will have several hundred plants from those. Watch our progress at www.ohwhata.com
Here is a link that might be useful: The Dahlia Garden in February
Hi livsauntieshel & all, Thank you for the tips livsauntieshel, very much appreciated. will use this post to apply what you have told me;
From Feb 26, 2011
will in future will use this embedding images. regards allan
You should plant now. Good luck as dahlias cannot take a lot of heat. I would only allow them morning sun if possible. Keep the pots well watered.