Last 'spring' I dug up a couple of dahlia tubers that I found were in the way when planting new shrubs and placed them, half buried, in trays of MPC in the cold GH. They produced shoots much earlier than those I had lifted in the Autumn and kept in dry sandy peat, as well as before those left in the ground. They flowered a good month before any other dahlias in my garden. I intend to do the same to any I find are 'in the way' this year.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
When I first grew dahlias from seed I didn't know they were anything but annuals, so was surprised and delighted when they re-appeared the following year, and the next two years after that. But when we had a cold winter they perished. They were 'spoiled' by the fact that they live in well drained soil in raised beds under bark chippings. I seem to remember that they didn't show signs of life for some time in the spring, so I would wait if I were you. I bought some 'stocking filler' dahlias last year for 50p at the GC, to fill a bare spot, and it didn't occur to me to take them up, so I am watching with interest to see whether in this year's mild winter they have survived. No signs yet, but it may be a bit early.
in my last garden with sandy Hants soil,with little rainfall, I left my dahlias in the ground. However now in north Devon on heavy clay with TONS of rain, I lift them, all 200 of them . OH despairs when he sees them start to carpet the garage floor, tee hee.
hello i plant 4 plate sized dalhias from the range back in early april and there is no sign of any growth should i leave it for another month before i check the tuber to see if its rotted or not
hello i plant 4 plate sized dalhias from the range back in early april and there is no sign of any growth should i leave it for another month before i check the tuber to see if its rotted or not
Where did you plant them? I need to start mine off in the greenhouse in pots - most are not a good few feet tall now. I would never start them directly outside in the borders, as they take a long time for the right temperatures to develop for them to grow well then flower.
You can tell when they have rotted as the brown rhizomes will turn to mush or be hollow.
hi I planted some directly in the ground and few in tray on windowsil. The one in the ground are just peering above the ground. Howeve the on in a tray no sign. Should I have not watered them.
My dahlias have just poked up out of the ground in the last week - two inches above ground now. I'm in south wales, on clay soil, and I spread a thick (6 inch) layer of mulch (leaf mould) on the bed before winter.
Now I can see where they all are, I can start putting the other plants in around them!
I dug up my dahlias and stored then in a tray in the shed to dry out. All sound, so cleaned them up and re potted them early this month. Only one shows signs of growing so far and with the soaking they have had will have to be patient I think. Warmer weather forecast for Herefordshire next week.
I'm a complete novice when it comes to gardening so I'm sure this might cause a few laughs/gasps!
After the forst frost we had a few days back, my dahlia foliage blackened so as intructed I cut it right back to the ground. I wanted to try leaving them in as its well draining clay soil. SO I was going to cover the plant with some warm cotton wool and then put a large up turned flower pot over it and some polythene for the winter.
Is this a really bad idea - do I need to hot foot it to the garden centre for some proper mulch?!
Posts
Last 'spring' I dug up a couple of dahlia tubers that I found were in the way when planting new shrubs and placed them, half buried, in trays of MPC in the cold GH. They produced shoots much earlier than those I had lifted in the Autumn and kept in dry sandy peat, as well as before those left in the ground. They flowered a good month before any other dahlias in my garden. I intend to do the same to any I find are 'in the way' this year.
When I first grew dahlias from seed I didn't know they were anything but annuals, so was surprised and delighted when they re-appeared the following year, and the next two years after that. But when we had a cold winter they perished. They were 'spoiled' by the fact that they live in well drained soil in raised beds under bark chippings. I seem to remember that they didn't show signs of life for some time in the spring, so I would wait if I were you. I bought some 'stocking filler' dahlias last year for 50p at the GC, to fill a bare spot, and it didn't occur to me to take them up, so I am watching with interest to see whether in this year's mild winter they have survived. No signs yet, but it may be a bit early.
in my last garden with sandy Hants soil,with little rainfall, I left my dahlias in the ground. However now in north Devon on heavy clay with TONS of rain, I lift them, all 200 of them . OH despairs when he sees them start to carpet the garage floor, tee hee.
hello i plant 4 plate sized dalhias from the range back in early april and there is no sign of any growth should i leave it for another month before i check the tuber to see if its rotted or not
Where did you plant them? I need to start mine off in the greenhouse in pots - most are not a good few feet tall now. I would never start them directly outside in the borders, as they take a long time for the right temperatures to develop for them to grow well then flower.
You can tell when they have rotted as the brown rhizomes will turn to mush or be hollow.
hi I planted some directly in the ground and few in tray on windowsil. The one in the ground are just peering above the ground. Howeve the on in a tray no sign. Should I have not watered them.
My dahlias have just poked up out of the ground in the last week - two inches above ground now. I'm in south wales, on clay soil, and I spread a thick (6 inch) layer of mulch (leaf mould) on the bed before winter.
Now I can see where they all are, I can start putting the other plants in around them!
Rosie
I dug up my dahlias and stored then in a tray in the shed to dry out. All sound, so cleaned them up and re potted them early this month. Only one shows signs of growing so far and with the soaking they have had will have to be patient I think. Warmer weather forecast for Herefordshire next week.
I'm a complete novice when it comes to gardening so I'm sure this might cause a few laughs/gasps!
After the forst frost we had a few days back, my dahlia foliage blackened so as intructed I cut it right back to the ground. I wanted to try leaving them in as its well draining clay soil. SO I was going to cover the plant with some warm cotton wool and then put a large up turned flower pot over it and some polythene for the winter.
Is this a really bad idea - do I need to hot foot it to the garden centre for some proper mulch?!