Apologies if already asked previously on the forum.
We have two pots of Dahlia in the garden. I was wondering if I can overwinter them in the greenhouse or if I need to dig them up and store in the garage?
I guess it depends where you are Mark. I have 2 pots of Arabian Night dahlias for about 3-4 years. I leave them under my pergola over winter and so far they've been fine. I grow Bishops Children most years from seed too and those I leave in the ground mostly return as well.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Fingers x'ed Mine don't get too wet over winter being under a pergola, so somewhere with a bit of shelter from the rain and the worst of the weather and hopefully they'll be ok
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I'd think your greenhouse would be fine @MarkE1984. They just need to be frost free, and not too wet, so probably best undercover where you are. I have a friend who keeps hers in her porch, which is about the same, or maybe a bit warmer than a greenhouse, but we're probably colder here. It's wet cold that isn't good.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
This is a very useful thread for me as I'm a novice in growing Dahlias. I've grown Bishops' Children in the garden for the 1st time - and I'm resigned to lifting the ones I especially like given how consistently wet it is in Lancashire over the winter (not particularly cold but very damp). However, I've also got 2 Bishop of Llandaff in earthenware pots and was wondering if there was any benefit in lifting them. I was thinking of just putting the pots in the shed, wrapping them up a bit, and then re-potting in the spring. Do people think this would work?
I would definitely try it, I leave mine out all year, our neighbour at the allotment has a double row of about 20 which he always leaves in (and has done for over 25 years). He lost 1due to the Beast from the East!
I am wondering what to do with mine, too. I started off with three in pots two years ago. They survived winter in bubble wrap lined jackets with drawstring tops, and indeed one grew to be 5ft high and had spectacular blooms. But it was a mild winter. I have grown to love them so there is a bit more at stake this year regarding their survival This year my collection has grown to about 7. (Should be more. Some never came up... I assume they rotted in the pots.) I don't have enough jackets for all of them (and all the other things that need a bit of protection) but have bought a big roll of bubble wrap. I take it I should put a little over the tops to cover the soil surface too? I might be able to put them in the shed... I also have a clear plastic cube/cold frame. Meanwhile I have decided to experiment with taking at least one or two out of pots, starting with this one. It's now hanging out to dry in a string bag in the enclosed, glass-roofed, unheated passageway down the side of the house. What's the best thing to store them in? (Regarding the best place, I have a shed, or it could go in a cupboard in aforementioned passageway, but might be too warm?) Will it need dividing before potting up in the spring? I am sure there are at least four times as many 'fingers' than there were in spring!
I wouldn't divide it. It looks to be a good size. One of two of the 'fingers' will probably go soft so you can pick them off. I don't check on them until the spring but if you're worried you can check sooner. I leave mine in their pots and when I report them in the spring, some fall off anyway.
Posts
I have 2 pots of Arabian Night dahlias for about 3-4 years. I leave them under my pergola over winter and so far they've been fine.
I grow Bishops Children most years from seed too and those I leave in the ground mostly return as well.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Mine don't get too wet over winter being under a pergola, so somewhere with a bit of shelter from the rain and the worst of the weather and hopefully they'll be ok
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I have a friend who keeps hers in her porch, which is about the same, or maybe a bit warmer than a greenhouse, but we're probably colder here. It's wet cold that isn't good.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
However, I've also got 2 Bishop of Llandaff in earthenware pots and was wondering if there was any benefit in lifting them. I was thinking of just putting the pots in the shed, wrapping them up a bit, and then re-potting in the spring. Do people think this would work?
This year my collection has grown to about 7. (Should be more. Some never came up... I assume they rotted in the pots.)
I don't have enough jackets for all of them (and all the other things that need a bit of protection) but have bought a big roll of bubble wrap. I take it I should put a little over the tops to cover the soil surface too? I might be able to put them in the shed... I also have a clear plastic cube/cold frame.
Meanwhile I have decided to experiment with taking at least one or two out of pots, starting with this one. It's now hanging out to dry in a string bag in the enclosed, glass-roofed, unheated passageway down the side of the house.
What's the best thing to store them in? (Regarding the best place, I have a shed, or it could go in a cupboard in aforementioned passageway, but might be too warm?) Will it need dividing before potting up in the spring? I am sure there are at least four times as many 'fingers' than there were in spring!
I leave mine in their pots and when I report them in the spring, some fall off anyway.