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Dahlias
Guernsey Donkey2
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Lured by the bright (gaudy) colours I purchased two packets of Dahlia tubers today at the GC - one if Bishop of Llandaff and one Bass Fusion - both are mainly red flowered. Does anyone have any experience of these dahlias and would they be suitable to grow in pots for the patio. I am a bit concerned about the height as the packets says the Bof L grow to 40" high and we do get a lot of wind around our area. Any information gladly received.
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Guernsey all dahlias can be grown in pots and do very well as long as you stake and feed them well. They're gross feeders so a weekly feed will give you a great display. One of my clients has a love for the Bishop series and they are a great show, good for pollinator as well. I have to double her stock this coming year so I'm starting them off in a week or so.
They will grow well in pots but will probably not reach that height. Remember to stake and feed once the leaves are up.
Thank you both for your advice. The instructions on the packets say to plant in April - but you suggest late February Dave - would that be in a heated greenhouse?
make sure the pots are nice and heavy so they don't blow over.
I don't think there is any difference, Hortico! Pots are just the containers we use in our work in the garden and containers are decorative and varied. Dahlias need large, heavy containers and I weight mine with a couple of heavy stones in the bottom as well. Plastic is not heavy enough, no matter how large.
Guernsey - they need to be protected from frost, so when it says February it's undercover.
I'm guessing by your name that your weather might be a bit kinder than some areas, but they get planted out when there's no risk of frost - May/June depending on your own climate.
Not sure if you'd need a heated greenhouse just now - someone more experienced with them will be able to answer that though
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Guernsey yes they are being raised in a heated GH . It still too cold for a cold GH.
I start my overwintered ones off on the windowsill in 'the study', which is up a spiral staircase from our front room. It is basically an attic room, with minimal insulation, and the only heating is what finds its way up from below, which is not very much! This seems to work fine for me, but if I have to grow any in the greenhouse later in the spring I tend to turn the heater up a notch, for warmth just above frost free. Growing things need a bit more heat than dormant ones! Last year I had some in flower inthe greenhouse in mid-May and they were planted out and flowered in the garden all summer and into autumn as usual - great flower power