|
| Since we had a good frost last night, I am planning on cutting down the dahlias today. Normally I would be following the route of leaving the stalks in the ground a few more days but the temps are supposed to be diving down to the low 20's over the next couple nights. Will that turn the tubers to mush? Should I chop down AND dig today? |
Follow-Up Postings:
|
- Posted by sturgeonguy 5a ON (My Page) on Thu, Oct 9, 08 at 13:42
| Triple_b, I know my suggestion will sound silly to some, but quite honestly I wouldn't cut a Dahlia down. I'd let it fall down due to it being killed by the frost. Until the ground has frozen your tubers will be fine, providing they don't get too much water inside the cut stalk. If you're concerned, pile some leaves around the base of each plant until the frost brings it down. Even then, take your candy thermometer out (assuming it goes to zero) and put it in the ground, you'll be surprised how warm the soil likely is compared to the air temperature. Ground freezes after continued exposure to sub-zero temperatures...a lot later than air frost kills your growing plants. Now even if you think my suggestion too risky, do experiment with one plant in your garden. I'll replace your tubers (of the one plant) if they freeze while you're following my plan. If you do, you'll have blooms longer in the season and still have great tubers. The only negative variable is if you have your tubers in raised beds/containers and get protracted winds from the north. Then your bed soil will likely freeze faster. Cheers, |
|
- Posted by misslucinda 6a (My Page) on Thu, Oct 9, 08 at 15:43
| Hi Trible_b. If you choose to chop, then you can protect the tubers from rain by putting a little cap of aluminum foil over the stalks. |
|
| we have rain coming so I think I will dig them up today (chopped on Thursday I believe). I am looking forward to seeing how many tubers I got this year. It's almost like fishing, pulling the fish up to see how big it is. |
|
| By "falling down", do you mean let it get hit by frost several times? Usually the first one makes the leaves and buds go black and mushy, but the stalks are still standing. Once all the soft parts are frosted, though, I don’t see how it will bloom more. |
|
- Posted by sturgeonguy 5a ON (My Page) on Mon, Oct 13, 08 at 15:18
| What I meant is to allow the frost to knock the plant to the ground. This has a couple of beneficial effects. Firstly, you don't have to worry about rain getting into the cut stem, secondly once the stem has "died" sufficiently the tubers will start to eye up. IOWs, they should start to eye up even before the main plant is cut off. Obviously you won't get any blooms once the soft parts are "sufficiently" frosted, but I've seen buds bloom on plants with black leaves. Cheers, |
|
- Posted by anna_in_quebec z4 QC (My Page) on Tue, Oct 14, 08 at 0:07
| I cannot bear to chop down dahlias when buds are still waiting to open - so I wait as long as possible. Last year, here in zone 4, I dug them up in late October when the "killing frost" had done its worst (cooked spinach for sure). Indeed, snow was in the air when the job was being done, and that is the only down side to waiting so long (brrrr!)- but I did get all the blooms I possibly could until the bitter end. |
|
- Posted by vikingcraftsman 6/7LINY (My Page) on Tue, Oct 14, 08 at 18:58
| anna_in_quebec Goor for you, love your attitude. Where are the pictures of your Dahlias? |
|
- Posted by anna_in_quebec z4 QC (My Page) on Wed, Oct 15, 08 at 9:47
vikingcraftsman - pictures are coming! I take lots because I need to remind myself why I go through all the bother every year: the cold fingers, the digging, the processing, the labelling and storing. Having these beauties to grace the table from mid-July until mid-October is well worth it. Alas, our forecast calls for severe frost this weekend, so I think the curtain will finally fall. But there are so many big fat buds! :( Here are a couple of pictures from the beginning of the dahlia season, the first I edited too small:    |
|
- Posted by sturgeonguy 5a ON (My Page) on Wed, Oct 15, 08 at 12:12
| Beautiful, isn't that yellow/white/pink one stunning! Thanks, |
|
| Today I'm digging some of mine and putting them in pots as I need to plant Lily bulbs. One that didn't bloom yet, I dug up last week and it looks fine. This way I can haul them inside if it is close to freezing. |
|
- Posted by anna_in_quebec z4 QC (My Page) on Wed, Oct 15, 08 at 13:35
| Russ, it is lovely, isn't it - called Caribbean Fantasy. What is more, each bloom seems to be different, as in a different proportion of pink and yellow. The maroon with "solid" centres are called "Blue Bayou" - it is especially prolific, both in blooms and tuber production - lasts fairly long in a vase as well. It is not offered every year around here, so I am happy to have it. |
|
| I am noticing that the colors of the flowers are changing. My Peaches and Dreams is now turning out mostly yellow flower. It is too bad that there is only one place to get that tuber. It is beautiful and the bush produces so many flowers. |
|
- Posted by vikingcraftsman 6/7LINY (My Page) on Wed, Oct 15, 08 at 17:47
| Thanks anna_in_quebec Love that Lavendar and white one would look good in my garden. I can see it in a vase with Touch of Class and Bold Accent. |
|
- Posted by sturgeonguy 5a ON (My Page) on Wed, Oct 15, 08 at 19:45
| Anna, Thanks for the name. Sayonara has been very similar to your "Blue Bayou" for me, also very prolific. PDShop, I had terrible success with Peaches and Dreams last year and its tubers didn't survive so it got dropped. I loved it...but. The temperature definitely has an affect on blooms, lots of things look nicer in the cold. Cheers, |
|
| Russ, I have had it for three years and it makes a huge plant. Swan is the only place I have found it. This Spring I got my tuber and it rotted so they sent me a plant. It was by far the most prolific. I will see the tubers of these soon when I dig. You are welcome to one if you tell me how to wrap and send it. |
|
- Posted by sturgeonguy 5a ON (My Page) on Sun, Oct 19, 08 at 16:24
| I can't remember, are you in Ontario PDShop? If you are, I'd send it in a bag of peat. I'd doubt much could happen to it in the short transit within the province. Not sure what the Post Office will make of it...;-] Drop me a note at russ.cooper@rc.on.ca Cheers, |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Dahlia Forum
Information about Posting
- You must be logged in to post a message. Once you are logged in, a posting window will appear at the bottom of the messages. If you are not a member, please register for an account.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review your post, make changes and upload photos.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- Before posting copyrighted material, please read about Copyright and Fair Use.
- We have a strict no-advertising policy!
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.
Learn more about in-text links on this page here
