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Sun, Apr 19, 09 at 17:35
| I started my tubers inside to make sure I got a good eye on each one (used the gallon-size plastic bags by a sunny window). This worked great, and 80% of the tubers have sprouted stalks - most are 2-3" tall right now. Now that I see which ones are good to go, should I cut off the green stalks before planting them outside? Or just dig the 6" hole and cover up the green stalk-sprout with the soil?
Thanks for the help! |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Good work Captain. Don't cut off the stalk- that is your ticket to a plant and flowers. Just plant, place your stake or support and gently cover the shoot. Or if you leave some leaves exposed, protect it from slugs. As it grows, you can fill in the hole all the way. I would work the soil deeper than 6" though. I like a nice soft, well-worked place for tubers to form below the 6" tuber depth of the original. Sounds like you're on your way. Congratulations. |
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| This is common question and many people have tubers that have long sprouts on them. According to Phil Mingus(only 60 years experience growing dahlias), if the sprout is longer than an inch or so and there is another smaller sprout, remove the long sprout and let the smaller one grow the new stalk. Long sprouts are skinny and do not thrive. However if it is the only one, you may have to plant it with the long sprout. I have planted tubers with 12 inch long sprouts and the resulting plants were not very good. I was trying to get more tuber production but even though there were a few more tubers, it was not worth it. |
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- Posted by nhdahlialover 5 Southwest NH (My Page) on Wed, Apr 22, 09 at 17:26
| If a sprout gets broken off will a new one form? I have some with longish sprouts and it new ones will form and I still have 2 weeks at least before I put them in the ground I was thinking about breaking them off to get new sprouts and a sturdier plant. I have a few plants that are potted up but can't do all of them. The nonpotted up tubers are going crazy. |
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| I cut a sprout off to start a new plant by potting up the sprout. This resulted in four eyes where there had been one. You can pinch them back, resulting in a shorter plant for now. The plant will concentrate on developing laterals in the next few weeks as opposed to just growing taller. Plus, this will ensure a bushier plant for the season. |
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