3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
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
I am answering this question generically as it has not had an answer. Dahlias like to be grown in raised beds and the soil that is used can be just about anything that is available. Raised beds drain better in wet weather and are slightly warmer than the soil level. Tall dahlias may be a bit more difficult to stake up as they are above you a bit as you work.
Yes you can put your tubers 6 inches down, but you might want to just add more soil as it grows so it doesn't have to struggle so much to break through.
Yes, one per pot. Most of the taller dahlias are bushy. I fully expect them to take up the entire pot or whiskey barrel if they grow as in the ground. The only one you might try extras of in a whiskey barrel would be the 2.5-3 footer "Blue Bell." (I'm assuming that's plant height, not stem length. The description is a little misleading.)
I was pleasantly surprised about the deer leaving the dahlias alone too! They sure ravaged many other things for the first time in 15 years though. Guess I should start discouraging them early this year.
Good luck with your planting.
Hi Ya�ll!
We have enough people to do a round robin (and hopefully will get more!)
Here are the details:
Please send me your list of tubers and the qty you are trading by March 1st.
It is really important that you do not drop out after I have the lists, fellow members will be counting on your wonderful offers!
I will compile a list of what is available and send it back out to all of you. Please let me know your top 4 tubers you would like the MOST and I will try MY BEST to accommodate those requests. You can add more than 4, like colors and types you prefer but I cannot promise anything.
I will ask you send me your tubers by March 15th so I can divvy them up and get them sent back out to you by the 20th. (If you send me 10, you will get at least 10 back!) If the weather is wicked cold during that time, I will push back this date and keep you all in the loop.
You will need to send enough postage to send your original box back to you (I am thinking the USPS small flat rate postage box is the best way to send these to me and back to you). You can enclose either cash, a postage meter strip or stamps for the trip back home to you.
If you have any questions please PM me or post me (thread specified below), I want this to be fun and exciting. This is an awesome way to grow our collections and meet fellow dahlia lovers.
Think Spring!
Keriann~
PS: please follow the thread on the �Plant Exchange� titled �Dahlias for Dahlias�
Lovely pictures Allan! They look so good to us who are looking out the window at a bit of leftover snow and ice that is trying to melt in the partly cloudy day.
I really like the picture of your dahlia bed. What do you use to attach the dahlia plants to the wooden stakes? I'm making a promise to my plants that I will stake them this year so they don't sprawl. I used a light weight plastic covered wire holder that wasn't heavy enough to keep the plant off the ground last summer. I need suggestions on staking this year, so I appreciate your info.
Linda
Thank you Steve & Linda for your comments. Am having problems with my browser at present, ie unable to log in using stored data????
Linda, I use what ever is available for tying plants to stakes, though flexible fibrous string is preferred.
This year am dis-budding flower stems, meaning severe cutting back once flowers are removed is necessary, hence tying the new growth using more twine is necessary on a regular basis.
Here is a link that might be useful: explanation for Disbudding dahlias
The real experts on this subject are Walt & Cory Wynne of Wyn's dahlias. They have been selling and breeding giant dahlias for some time. Perhaps one of them will respond to this question. I will send them an email to see if they will post an answer.
I don't know where in NY you live, but check and see if there is a local dahlia society there. If there is, they may sell tubers in the early spring as a fund raiser for their club. You will find many different varieties and a bunch of helpful, knowledgeable peopl as well!!
Christine
Poochella- We had a really big frost again last night that got all the rest of the ones in the "Sheep Pen" garden. Walt started cutting down the '08 seedlings today & will begin digging them on Friday-- provided he's not fishing. The only good thing about not having dahlias so early is that this year the weather has been nice since the frost so he won't have to dig in the freezing rain-- yet!
It's just past midsummer here.
I've had a fine showing of dahlias, replanted late last year, some of them growing well over six feet tall with plenty of blossoms. However, I've noticed just recently that some have patches of leaves that have turned yellow and dry, almost like paper in texture. We have had some very hot days, but they are watered regularly. Is there something I can do to correct the problem?
Hi all Thank you for the compliments, will add some more images today though have been busy & not able to play on the web for a while?? allan
check out the link below for today's flowers?
Here is a link that might be useful: Dahlias out today
Many tubers without eyes will grow roots. Tubers without eyes will never grow into a plant. If you cannot see an eye or a sprout, put the tuber into a plastic bag with some damp potting mix and place the bag in a warm area,75-80 degrees. Check after a week or two. If there are eyes, they will sprout and the tuber will grow. If only the white roots are there you have a dud.
It should be okay. In fact, you may find it replaced with a few sprouts.
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.