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Dahlias

sazzle-sazzle- Posts: 21
in The potting shed
Hi, on Fridays episode of GW Monty Don was potting up his Dahlias prior to planting them in a month’s time to help bring them on. Did he say to keep them in the dark? 
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  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    I can't remember if he did, but I did,tip from Sarah raven, frost free place, cover the top of the pot, completely exclude light for 10 days,brings them on a treat
  • BiljeBilje Posts: 811
    No not in the dark, they need to be somewhere warm if you can, certainly frost 
    free. Mine are in a cold greenhouse and inside an open plastic one. Keep them moist but not wet. Monty left much longer dead stems on his than I leave on mine. They re shoot from the " shoulder" where the old stem joins the tuber, I leave just about an inch. 
  • FlowersFlowersEverywhereFlowersFlowersEverywhere Posts: 48
    I saw Monty's loger stems and wondered too.

    Last year was the first year I plantred and grew Dahlias - I lifted mine out of the ground and cut the dead stem all the way back. just a little higher than the tubers. Hoping this hasn't 'damaged' them?
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I dug up all my dahlias last year as I'm planning a new and bigger bed for them.  I left the tubers upside down on the soil in our polytunnel and covered with just a net to keep off the chooks.  Didn't entirely work but they seem to have survived.  

    I potted them all up in just enough compost to cover the tubers to the shoulder and watered them.  The pots are in the PT and we've had unusually cold nights and days since but this last day or so it's warmed up and now I have shoots on half a dozen or so pots.   More to come I hope and I'll be taking some cuttings to increase my stock and sowing some more Bishop's Children as I like the single flower forms for their pollinator  accessibility.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
    Cool and dark for storage, mild and bright for planting is what I do.
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    I started doing the excluding light 3 years ago, found they grew much better and faster
  • SophieKSophieK Posts: 244
    Oh I must have missed that info. Too late for mine that are already out in the warmth and light. They seem to be doing fine.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I've just potted up my new ones and they are sitting on the kitchen window sill.
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    There is a world of difference between warm and frost free,I don't personally know anyone who heats their green house,we have a tubular heater in the one with the citrus which just lifts the temp to be cold,as opposed y to frost free
  • Kitty52Kitty52 Posts: 186
     I'm new to growing dahlias.  I bought some tubers and have planted them in pots in unheated greenhouse probably about 3 weeks ago - wish I'd put a date on. I planted them in pots just leaving top showing. Am keeping them moist but how long should it take before I see some form of life appearing? I also had one last year which was in a pot and just cut it down and put in the greenhouse over the winter. Hoping that will survive too. 
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