This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Dahlia Tubers
NGLittleSeedlings
Posts: 729
I have just received some tubers in the post today and was wondering what everyone's opinions are on starting them off.
I would like to start them off ideally in pots, to plant out later in the year but I'm not sure what size would be best?
Also has anyone tried the 'chitting' technique as I have heard some people like to lay them on trays of compost in a dry bright place for a few days before planting, similar to chitting potatoes. I wondered whether anyone thought this was worth doing?
Any suggestions or helpful tips are of course very welcome 
0
Posts
Hello, never tried chatting. Prepared tubers as verdun advises a trip, tested and no fuss method. Success every time.
Thank you to the both of you, I shall try this tomorrow.
Don't worry BizzieB, I chat to my plants all the time!
Haha I chat to them all the time too! lol
I expect verdun to chat to his plants, maybe while he is on a trip
I planted most of my Dahlia tubers in pots last year in moist compost and kept them inside at first in a warm place. They then were moved outside when the weather warmed up. The majority of tubers shooted and produced a beautiful and continuous summer-autumn display. This method is the best. I also planted some tubers directly into the soil later in May with successful results. I will be doing the same again this year.
Also, when the shoots are about 3 inches long (before hollow stems develop) you can take stem or basal cuttings and root them in small pots of compost to grow on. These will grow to flower during this summer season and of course come true to type (vegetative propagation).
MH