I only have one site where I would be tempted to leave a dahlia outside. There really isn't room though - not to plant out and lift. It would be too easy to damage other plants. I had more sites in the garden round the corner, but even so, I preferred to err on the cautious side, especially as I had so little money to spend on the garden. C'est la vie. I've thought of doing that with the tulips in a pot etc @Buttercupdays, but I never quite get round to it, and the garden isn't very large. Maybe I should make a concerted effort this year....
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I decided not to grow dahlias again this year because of last year's heat and drought. However, reading the keen responses here, I'm tempted to start browsing and planning! It's like going into a sweet shop and coming out empty handed!
Mine loved it ! Even the new plants needed very little watering, with the soil in good nick and the plants packed together and they just lapped up the sunshine. Very little effort needed overall.
You're not that far from me. From the top of our hill we can see the Dee estuary when the tide is in. Very different soil here though, water retentive and gets all the run off from the higher ground, plus plenty of sheepmuck
You must be in Lancashire then @Buttercupdays to be able to see the estuary - excellent soil up there! I can see the Pennines from my local walks on a clear day!
No, I'm in Cheshire, just inside the Peak District. There's one point on the road down where you can just catch the light on the water if you know where to look. Another step or two and it's gone! On a clear day you can see Manchester and all the way into Lancashire, right up towards Cumbria as well as towards Wales.
We get every wind that blows, as we are at 1300ft on the south facing slope of 'our' hill, so some protection to the north. I just love the big skies and the constant movement of the clouds, it looks different every time you look out of the window
I often walk in Cheshire not far from where you are @Buttercupdays and am amazed at the expanse of views down to the Wirral, North Wales and then over to Lancashire and down to Shropshire. A lovely place to live!
Hi @Buttercupdays OK so step 1 is picking the tubers from a reputable supplier.... checking heights etc! What kind of time should I plant the tuber indoors? Beginning of March?
I store mine in those flat trays you can get at supermarkets. If you are getting new tubers you can just spread them out and keep an eye on them. When you see the start of new shoots you can think about potting them up.
Some are always faster than others so you can just do them as they are ready. Handle with care, you need a bit of the old flower stem with each tuber, ones without that stalk won't grow. Little tubers quite often fall off without any stem, which seems a waste. They need light, but not too much heat. You don't want to bring them on too fast if they can't be planted out and the last couple of years there have been sharp frosts in May. They will soon put on growth once they get their feet in the ground.
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C'est la vie.
I've thought of doing that with the tulips in a pot etc @Buttercupdays, but I never quite get round to it, and the garden isn't very large. Maybe I should make a concerted effort this year....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
OK so step 1 is picking the tubers from a reputable supplier.... checking heights etc! What kind of time should I plant the tuber indoors? Beginning of March?