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Planting out dahlias

B3B3 Posts: 27,505
in Plants
I usually plant dahlias in containers but I have a bit of a glut this year and want to plant some out.
Would there be any advantage in sinking those in plastic pots into the soil?
My clay is rock hard at the moment and I thought that maybe the container would keep water in contact with the plant.
I can improve the soil a bit if I have to plant them direct.
In London. Keen but lazy.

Posts

  • BobFlannigonBobFlannigon Posts: 619
    The only advantage would be that you can lift them out at the end of the season.
    Any improvement for watering would be marginal I would expect.

    The disadvantage is that it stays pot bound, but if the pot is big enough that won't matter.  (Which begs the question why not just leave the pot on top of the soil?)
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    BobFlannigon 

    (Which begs the question why not just leave the pot on top of the soil?)
    Because pots aren't usually pretty and stability issues if they are in a windy area
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Yes  you're  right.  I was thinking that with the weather we're having we might  get hosepipe bans  and marginal might make a difference. 
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    edited June 2018
    Plus improved stability for the plant itself and hopefully larger tubers for next year. And they can stay there until first frost without risking those tubers getting damaged.
    I've just put mine in the ground, similar hard clay and given them a mulch of well rotted sheep muck for food and soil improvement, if the worms ever come up from where they are hiding deep down!
    Usually they have places in the borders, but my olympic high jumping sheep have eaten everything edible there, so I have set up a refugee camp in the veg garden which has higher fences. They are a bit cramped, but still better than being eaten! The Penstemons and Salvias will be joining them shortly and there's an eclectic selection of other rescued perennials in another section.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited June 2018
    Two for and one against ;)
    I like your reasoning Bcd and Bob
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    edited June 2018
    Why not plant them in the ground.......fill hole with manure/compost.....that way the tubers can increase, and you could always lift them if you want to in the Autumn.  I grew dahlias from seed last year, I wasn't very happy with them as the were very leggy, I didn't realise i had to inch them out.  This year they are fine and bushy...........they were left in the ground.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I'd never see them next year,Mary. They'd be slug delight :(
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    That's why I use the blue pellets........sparingly
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