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Starting dahlia tubers

Pam100Pam100 Posts: 85
in Plants
I went a bit mad at the garden centre and bought 10 dahlia tubers. I’ve potted then in individual pots and they are presently sitting on a worktop in my utility room where the temperature ranges between 15 and 20 degrees. As they take up a lot of space and I want to start off some seeds for summer bedding, could my dahlia pots be put in the garage or shed instead. It is obviously much colder in these places. Thanks
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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They have to be frost free, so I doubt a garage or shed would be any good. If your garage is well protected, and you can be sure it isn't damp and cold [that's the big problem] they might be ok in there. 
    My new ones are all still dormant apart from one, which was sprouting when I got it. It's potted up and in the kitchen just now. 
    Are they in growth, or just dormant, like most of mine? 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    It is too early in a lot of the country to have Dahlias growing in a shed/garage.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - I know some people's garages are very nice, and pretty dry @punkdoc, but I can't say I've ever had one that would have been ideal for storing and starting dahlias! 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    I start mine off in a cold g/h in mid April.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Mine , from last year, are all potted up in pretty dryish compost in the polytunnel. 
    They'l start when they're ready
    Devon.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    I think if the compost is dry, they will probably be fine, but of course you are in the Devon riviera.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    punkdoc said:
    I think if the compost is dry, they will probably be fine, but of course you are in the Devon riviera.
    just throwing prawns on the barby as we speak
    Devon.
  • EmptyheadtimeEmptyheadtime Posts: 366
    Mine are sitting in the shed in buckets filled with dry compost. No signs of life yet thankfully as this weather would wipe them out.
  • Jenny_AsterJenny_Aster Posts: 945
    Just wondering what people would do once the tubers start to sprout? Do you plant the sprouting tuber, or do you take cuttings from the shoots? Or do you do a bit of both?
    Trying to be the person my dog thinks I am! 

    Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    I pot them up in a 'just big enough' pot and keep them in doors. They take over all my windowsills as my GH isn't heated. Some tubers may have lots of shoots, others may have only one or two, but I would only take cuttings from those with lots of sprouts.
    I have taken cuttings once or twice, but the vigorous ones are usually the good doers that have already been split more than once, when it's the shy, slow ones I need more of!
    They get planted out into well nourished soil at the beginning of June and after that it's up to them. I water them on planting and after that only when needed, stake when necessary. Then it's just wait for the flowers and enjoy :)


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