Out of my favourites, I only know the names of two..... and they are Bishop of Llandaff and David Howard. They are quite tall and in my (very rich clay) soil they benefit from staking. But they always look lovely, with tons of blooms.
I've also grown dahlias from seed - I got some "Bishop's Children" seed from one of the big suppliers..... maybe Thomson and Morgan?...... and they were incredibly easy to germinate in the greenhouse then grow on in pots and plant out into the beds in May; they flowered that year, and have come back year after year after year (I lift them and store them over winter because our clay is so heavy). One packet of seed gave me at least 20 plants - mid-sized, and a variety of colours.
I'd suggest buy a few tubers, and also try sowing some from seed. Let us know how you get on!
I have no idea what it is called but I do recognize a Dahlia when I see one.
Having never grown Dahlias before I have lifted the plant I discovered in our newly acquired garden, (came free with our new house!!), after it died back, shook most of the soil from the tubers and wrapped them up in old newspaper for the time being and put them in the shed. I did this at the end of December.
The tubers look sort of like potatoes.
Can I separate these tubers and pot them up is my question and when should this be done?
You certainly can, but each piece must have a growing point - if the tuber has a good bit of last year's stem, that will usually do it. You should be able to see tiny incipient shoots at the base. You can pot them up in a light, frost free place quite soon now but allow for the fact that they cannot go out until all the frost has gone. They will grow quickly and take up a lot of space, so allow for that when you start them off.
Just a warning - when I first did dahlias I didn't realise that the growing tips would all be round the base of last year's stem, and I didn't realise that they were rather fragile! I managed to damage most of them while handling the plant. So my tip would be: go careful, at least until you can see the shoots sprouting really clearly. What looks like a grain of mud is often a baby shoot....
Some of the best I have grown are Downham Royal, Nuit D Ete, Bishop of Llandoff, Selina, Waltzing Matilda, all from tubers, various suppliers and from seed, any of the Yankee Doodle Dandy series as well as a Pom Pom mix which turned out to be great. Good luck.
Most of mine come from Taylors from RHS gardens and garden centres ( esp when they're being marked down for clearance)
I find Sarah Raven on the pricey side too.
I didn't get all of mine lifted last Autumn and those in the ground are no doubt mush by now as it's not stopped raining for months. I've still got plenty left in the tunnel for this season. I might try cuttings in Spring.
Posts
Out of my favourites, I only know the names of two..... and they are Bishop of Llandaff and David Howard. They are quite tall and in my (very rich clay) soil they benefit from staking. But they always look lovely, with tons of blooms.
I've also grown dahlias from seed - I got some "Bishop's Children" seed from one of the big suppliers..... maybe Thomson and Morgan?...... and they were incredibly easy to germinate in the greenhouse then grow on in pots and plant out into the beds in May; they flowered that year, and have come back year after year after year (I lift them and store them over winter because our clay is so heavy). One packet of seed gave me at least 20 plants - mid-sized, and a variety of colours.
I'd suggest buy a few tubers, and also try sowing some from seed. Let us know how you get on!
Rosie
I have no idea what it is called but I do recognize a Dahlia when I see one.
Having never grown Dahlias before I have lifted the plant I discovered in our newly acquired garden, (came free with our new house!!), after it died back, shook most of the soil from the tubers and wrapped them up in old newspaper for the time being and put them in the shed. I did this at the end of December.
The tubers look sort of like potatoes.
Can I separate these tubers and pot them up is my question and when should this be done?
You certainly can, but each piece must have a growing point - if the tuber has a good bit of last year's stem, that will usually do it. You should be able to see tiny incipient shoots at the base. You can pot them up in a light, frost free place quite soon now but allow for the fact that they cannot go out until all the frost has gone. They will grow quickly and take up a lot of space, so allow for that when you start them off.
Thank you Posy for your good advice.
Hi Simon
Just a warning - when I first did dahlias I didn't realise that the growing tips would all be round the base of last year's stem, and I didn't realise that they were rather fragile! I managed to damage most of them while handling the plant. So my tip would be: go careful, at least until you can see the shoots sprouting really clearly. What looks like a grain of mud is often a baby shoot....
Second vote for Sarah Raven, ordered 4 last year and they were fab. I've tried National Dahlia Collection this year Verdun, I'm waiting for delivery.
Some of the best I have grown are Downham Royal, Nuit D Ete, Bishop of Llandoff, Selina, Waltzing Matilda, all from tubers, various suppliers and from seed, any of the Yankee Doodle Dandy series as well as a Pom Pom mix which turned out to be great. Good luck.
Most of mine come from Taylors from RHS gardens and garden centres ( esp when they're being marked down for clearance)
I find Sarah Raven on the pricey side too.
I didn't get all of mine lifted last Autumn and those in the ground are no doubt mush by now as it's not stopped raining for months. I've still got plenty left in the tunnel for this season. I might try cuttings in Spring.