Dahlia planting advice

[LakieLady]

The three dahlia tubers I planted a month or so ago have done nothing, and I think putting them straight into the ground was a big mistake (in my defence, I was lulled into a false sense of security by a warm spell). Plus I didn't know about soaking the tubers first, which I think they should tell you on the packet!

Is it too early to plant some more straight into the ground, or should I start them off in pots and wait till they show shoots and then transplant them?

I'm in the SE, and near the coast, so warmer than most areas, and the forecast for the next couple of weeks is for daytime temperatures of 13-15 degrees, nights only down to 3 or 4. No frost forecast, and we haven't had anything resembling a proper frost all winter, just a tiny bit on the grass at 6 am some mornings.

I'm very disappointed, as there are a few gardens nearby that have dahlias left in year round and spectacular displays when they flower.

Any other dahlia tips much appreciated. The peony advice I got on here produced great results (the elderly Sarah Bernhardt now has 10 stems, and the new Bowl of Beauty has the beginnings of flower buds already) so I trust you all and value your wisdom!

Even in the south, I think it’s a bit early for Dahlias to be showing. I’m in the Midlands and have a mix of Dahlias in the greenhouse and outside. The greenhouse ones are only just showing their tips. The outside ones are not showing at all, so I’ve no idea what they are doing. I’m just waiting patiently, they repay the patience at the other end of the year when they continue to flower into Autumn.

I'm not an expert but I would expect the established roots of dahlias left over winter would help them survive the cold (as well as a mild winter and thick mulch), whereas planting new tubers when it's still cold wouldn't be as effective. Most things in my garden have really slowed down with the cold snaps in the last couple of weeks. If I were you I'd dig them back out and put them in pots indoors to give them a head start. I put some in 3 litre pots with John Inness no.2 and they've gone a bit mad but I won't be planting them outside until early May.

I am in the south and my in ground dahlias haven’t done anything yet.
I have a few new ones in the greenhouse that are laying on a bed of damp compost and I have a few signs of life on these but not enough to divide and plant them.

Mine come back every year, no signs of them yet. It will be a couple more weeks in the north.

Definitely do not soak the tubers. I have put mine into pots and kept them inside for 4 weeks until they sprouted. They are outside now and will be planted early May.

Dahlias need a certain temperature to sprout. You do not need to worry, you have just been a bit early but they will catch up. The worse thing for tubers in the early days is wet as this can rot them

Did you use good quality compost in the planting hole? Dahlias like a rich soil so if you have any doubts about yours, just spread some fish blood and bone around and water it in. You only need to do this once a year . I give this to my whole garden each March. It is not too late to do it now.

Once they start to sprout they need gentle watering. About a month after sprouting you can give them a weak seaweed or tomato feed once a month until they finish flowering.

If you want larger blooms you can take of some of the flower buds as they form. Dahlias are very forgiving they just need food and water to really reward you.

I’ve never bothered lifting my tubers in winter and they have come back every year. We usually see shoots in late May and they flower around June/July right up to October.

Yes, @FLOrenze, I used good compost, plus some added well-rotted horse manure, and a handful of slow-release plant food.

We're on chalky soil, so it's a bit short on good stuff. It also drains freely, so I was a bit concerned the tubers might not have enough moisture. A fair few sites online say to soak the tubers in water for a couple of hours before planting.

I'd like to know where you all find room indoors for pots. I usually use the spare room window ledge, but the room's being decorated next week. There were a couple of small sheets of perspex in the garage, if I can find them, I'll see if I can improvise a cold frame of some sort.

Thanks to all - once again, my problem seems to be lack of patience, not incompetence!

I don't like dahlias. My Mum used to grow them and earwigs loved them. Ughhh!
I hate earwigs.

I think, no matter how long we have been gardening, we can always learn something new. I have not heard of putting the tubers in water. I might try that. With regard to room, we are empty nesters, so the kids rooms come in very handy for this type of thing.

Who am I to disagree with Gardener's World?

www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-dahlias-from-tubers/#:~:text=Before%20planting%2C%20soak%20tubers%20in,likely%20to%20start%20flowering%20earlier.

@LadyEloise

I don't like dahlias. My Mum used to grow them and earwigs loved them. Ughhh! I hate earwigs.

I love them. They're so showy, and they make for lovely cut flowers. I especially like the open-flowered ones, which are great for pollinators, but not keen on the pom-pom ones, too neat and tidy for my liking.

I didn't know about earwigs, but have got over my earwig fear (caused by a cousin who told me they would get in my ears and burrow through, and eat my brain from the inside out ).

Hi OP...Could I ask you to link to the peony advice? I’m probably being impatient but other people’s peonies seem to be doing better than mine!

And I love dahlias....only ever grown them in containers so I’m keen to see how they do planted out this year.

@MaryIsA

Hi OP...Could I ask you to link to the peony advice? I’m probably being impatient but other people’s peonies seem to be doing better than mine!

Here you go, @MaryIsA: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/gardening/4197144-Peony-advice-please

I'm delighted to report that Sarah Bernhardt now has eleven stems, varying from around a foot high to the most recent, which is about an inch. Bowl of Beauty is starting to bud.

Thank you. Reading that I may have planted mine 8n too shady a spot..I’ll see what happens this year and move in autumn if needs be.

@MaryIsA , both of mine are in very sunny spots. Bowl of Beauty grew like a maniac as soon as the shoots appeared. Sarah Bernhardt really perked up after the seaweed feed, recommended by some kind soul on here.

I'm in the south though, and near the coast, so it's probably warmer here than in most of the country. And apart from one side, where there is a hedge that creates a shady strip, my beds get sun almost all day.

I realised yesterday that I had planted my bulbs out way too early, dd had planted one indoors and it is growing fast so I went outside to my planted planning on digging up the bulbs and putting them into pots indoors but as I started moving the soil I realised they were sprouting (just under the soil) so I have left them. Crossing my fingers that they will be ok and I haven’t killed any by planting too early.

@Lovemusic33 they’ll be fine as long as there’s not another frost. If one is forecast then put some protection over them. Fleece or bubble wrap (take the bubble wrap off as soon as you get up.