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Dahlia tubers not sprouting

ki_buxtki_buxt Posts: 63
in Plants
I have around 70 dahlias. All of them have spent the winter in the same place, but 6 of them refuse so far this year to sprout. They are in pots, in light earth, have not been overwatered. The ones that have sprouted are varying sizes at the moment, but the largest is already 1 meter high. Is there any way I can check on the ones that haven't sprouted? I thought about tapping them out of their pots to see if there is any root growth,  but the roots are so delicate that I am afraid of doing damage. Any advice? I am in Norway and we are in a heatwave. Temperatures have been in the mid 20s to low 30s for over three weeks now, so they have had plenty of warmth!

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    If there's no sign of growth by this time of the year something is probably not right.
    Firstly I'd have a gentle poke around the top to see if there are any stems about to appear. If not then as you are considering, I'd knock them out of the pot to see why.

    I leave mine in the ground over winter. Most make it through but some don't.
    I grow mine from seed (Bishops Children) and sow a few seeds each year to replace those in the garden that didn't make it.
    It takes a couple of years for them to catch up in size but after 2-3 years they reach about 4ft.
    The ones I have in the garden at the moment are about 3ft tall and flower buds are swelling.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Slugs will eat the shoots off underground. See if there's tell-tale green circles on the tubers.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    I've got the same thing with a couple of mine. I tapped them out of the pot and there was no evidence of root or shoot growth and the tubers were firm and healthy looking wit no sin of predation. I don't know why they haven't done anything just wanted you to know you aren't alone.
  • ki_buxtki_buxt Posts: 63
    Thanks! Found out that three had in fact disintegrated, two had tiny shoots on them but no roots, and one just looks like a healthy tuber in denial. Doesn't seem to want to grow. I'll hold out and see if it comes through.
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