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Now I can't stand it. What do you use for soil and fertizer? My leaves look so awful and I had a horrible time pinching this year. I never had before. I just couldn't tell until it was too late whether to pinch or not. The centers all seemed to be buds?

Gorgeous - I sadly lost my tall purple/mauve dahlia over the winter, and I had it for years - it was very prolific. What variety is this one? And do tell, what is your soil and fertilizer?

Ok the ones up front are Emory Paul. They get to about 13 inches across. The ones behind in the first photo is whacky woo. The only fertilizer that was used is in the potting soil. I buy it at Sam's club.

That's Emory Paul?? OMG! I have EP - but it didn't bloom last year - fingers crossed for this one. I had no idea it took a long time to get going.

I have been growing Dahlias for over twenty years now. So I hope that qulifies me to give a little advice. Try starting the big dahlias a little early. If you can cover them out side about a month before you would ordinarly.{{gwi:647740}}

I have been growing dahlias for only 5 years, but I always start them inside late April throughout May, where they are outside but in a protected screened-in porch.