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Watering shooting dahlias outside?

FireFire Posts: 19,096
in Problem solving
I have dahlias in large pots outside that are covered and fleeced. I suspect they are starting to shoot, as we have had such a mild winter. If they are shooting, would it be ok to remove the rain cover and keep on the fleece (as we still often have frost in this part of north London).  If little shoots got deluged with rain, would the tubers still be ok? I imagine they are not going to rot now if they are growing again....   Thanks.

Posts

  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    Sorry @Fire I know nothing about flowers but when I saw the thread title I felt sure it was about pandas, such disappointment 
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    My dahlias are shooting but they are in the greenhouse. They will need some water, but not a deluge, but you will have to be VERY careful because it has turned so cold. The young shoots will not like these easterly winds any more than they like frost. It's really frustrating to get such a mild winter and then this late cold.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I think you'd need to be careful about watering if they're not undercover. 
    I expect you could water, but keep the fleece on at night. Be careful to fleece before it gets cold - insulation works at keeping cold in as well as heat. 
    It's why we have to do everything later here. We often get snow in March and even April, as well as sleet/hail/wind and low temps,  so nothing in a pot stays out unless it's a hardy plant. Even then, they can get battered. 
    We haven't had a normal winter either, but I'll still be keep anything that's vulnerable protected, although that's mainly seeds just sown, new cuttings, and sweet peas from autumn etc. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Update: all have survived the winter fleecing and the late spring rain and are sprouting nicely. Thanks for the advice. All were unfleeced at the same point in April - it's interesting to see the difference in vigour and get-go in the various plants. Their tubers are the same age and they have all been fed to the same degree and live in the same place in the garden.


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