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Disappointing dahlias. Is it worth keeping them?

B3B3 Posts: 27,505
in Plants
One of two of my dahlia varieties  were very late flowering and scrawny. 
Should I dig them up and  chuck them as a bad job or might they do better next year? 
One particularly bad one was a deep maroon pompom type. 
In London. Keen but lazy.
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  • PageZPageZ Posts: 87
    I have experience with dahlias not performed well in the first year but bloomed amazingly the second year. I think the tubers might have developed bigger in the second year so they performed better.
    For me, it is colour or shape to decide if it is worth keeping.
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    Depends where you got your tubers from, the quality can vary a good deal. Small tubers will not give you such good plants in the first seasom, but if well grown and fed they can improve year on year.
    That said, some varieties do seem more miffy than others. This year is the first time that I got a decent performance from the Bishop of LLandaff (as the actress said ;)) after several years of trying.

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    It sounds like it's worth saving them. Thanks chaps
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Perhaps weather this year was a factor too B3. I think it affected lots of later flowering plants especially.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    You're probably right @Fairygirl but some of them did fine. Perhaps some varieties are more susceptible to conditions.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Could be B3. Some  will be more able to cope, or will be slightly later/earlier and less affected etc.
    I don't have much experience with dahlias though - it was just a thought. So many plants had a similar issue  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    I would leave them until next year.........somtimes they need to be in the ground a bit longer.  
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Monty says leave them in the ground as long as possible, because it nourishes the tubers, like leaving the leaves on your daffs, just about to post my own dahlias question.
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    @B3 - Is your deep maroon pompom one 'Downham Royal' by any chance?
    I love all my dahlias, but this one is my favourite for the sheer mathematical perfection of its petals, that somehow seems better even than other pompoms :)
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I don't think so. I'll see if I can find the label.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
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