When did you plant them outdoors? If it was recently, they might be recovering from the shock of being transplanted. If it's been awhile, and your soil has been consistently wet for awhile, and they are droopy, I would probably gently dig a tuber up to check it for rot.

I started a couple of dahlias inside in January. Then in march I put them into the polyhouse. Then into big pots out side. They are doing better for this time of year than any dihlias I have ever grown in the last twenty years plus. So planting early is likly not your problem. The rain could be.

I don't usually start until the end of March or early April under lights. Otherwise they get too lanky. Then they have to be acclimatized to the sun. Maybe this will help you for next year. I don't know if I would cut them back though That might be just too much.

Others may disagree. It is just my hunch.

I put out 68 cuttings that were taken between February and April a few weeks ago. For the first two weeks, I saw very little progress...they didn't seem to grow much. However, they're fine now and all seem to be putting on new growth. Two have bloomed.

Just be patient.

Cheers,
Russ

I started mine in the garage mid April. Planted them outside May 11th and now a few are getting ready to bloom.

Thank you so much everyone for your helpful answers. Here in WI we've had so much rain I think maybe they were just water logged. We've had about five days of sun and I can see new growth so they are coming around.

Thank you!