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Gardening

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Original poster

Dahlias not sprouting - should I bring them in?

47 replies

WellTidy · 05/05/2021 11:50

First time to grow dahlias from tubers. I think I should have kept them indoors jljntilnthey started to sprout, but they’ve been outside since I planted them into pots a fortnight ago. They’re not doing anything - shapeless I bring them in? Daytime or just overnight? I am in the south east.

OP posts:

Tambora · 07/05/2021 21:55

@WellTidy

I’ve brought them in! They’re in the laundry room on a massive carrier bag as they’re wet from the rain. Along with my few bedding plants and the runner beans and peas. I’m going to start having to call it something else soon as there’s no much space left for laundry.

Am I right in thinking not to feed the dahlias until they shoot up?

Am I right in thinking not to feed the dahlias until they shoot up?

Yes - look at this way, their roots have to grow too and if there's very little going on up top they probably haven't grown many roots yet either. So there's no point in feeding them if there isn't enough growth to actually use the food yet. They will currently be sprouting by using the existing stored energy in the tubers, and there will be plenty in the way of nutrients in the compost for the first few weeks of new growth.

Original poster

WellTidy · 07/05/2021 22:05

Thanks! I have two pots inside and one pot outside. The outside pot is too heavy to lift on my own so it will have to stay outside and I will just hope for the best. I will take the ones that are inside into the garden in the daytime over the weekend. Should I bring them in overnight?

OP posts:

ichundich · 08/05/2021 06:17

Night time temperatures are above zero now, so they should be fine outside.

Original poster

WellTidy · 08/05/2021 10:52

One last question please, if I may! It is so wet here, absolutely sodden. I know that dahlia tubers are prone to rot. Should I be covering them?

OP posts:

MereDintofPandiculation · 08/05/2021 12:07

The ground may be sodden clay, but if the pot may be well drained compost and merely moist. Also, rot is more likely to happen in the dormant period than when tubers are actively shooting. But I'll leave actual advice to those who grow dahlias outdoors - mine have been in the greenhouse all winter and are still there.

Hedgesgalore · 08/05/2021 14:35

Mine are in pots in the potting shed.
Only one hasn't sprouted yet.
I did pull them outside when we had that week or so of warm weather, brought them inside since temps dropped.
Mine are in temporary small pots as I'm not sure if I'm going to put them in the ground.

LakieLady · 09/05/2021 12:15

The new tubers I planted (far too early!) haven't done a thing yet, even though we've only had the very lightest of frosts. We've had an unusual amount of rain though, so I think they may have succumbed to rot, despite my free draining soil.

I've got another 2 to plant. Do you think it's ok to put them outside now, and do I need to start them in pots?

I've got nowhere to keep them indoors, and would far rather not faff about with pots.

ichundich · 09/05/2021 12:37

I start mine in pots because the slugs are less likely to eat them when the ants are bigger and the leaves less tender. Unfortunately dahlias are some of their favourite food. Once I plant them out, I put broken egg she'll all around the plants base; that seems to be enough.

Liliolla · 09/05/2021 13:03

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster

WellTidy · 16/05/2021 09:47

Thank you everyone for your advice and shared experiences with your dahlias.

They have shooted! I think I planted one tuber per pot, which means that I have (so far) a 100% success rate! They’ve been in the laundry room overnight but outside during the day.

Time for them to stay outside, so you think?

OP posts:

WobblyLondoner · 16/05/2021 13:24

I've kept mine outside - most are off the ground in a sort of cold frame (on occasional nights I shut them in) and one is in a pot on the patio. I've now got 2-3cm shoots for most pots but a big fat zero for a couple.

This was an experiment for me - I divided (aka hacked) an enormous set of tubers a few months back and I suspect the ones that haven't sprouted have rotted. I'm in London.

Beebumble2 · 16/05/2021 14:13

My outside once are just shooting, I’m in the Midlands.

movingquandry · 16/05/2021 16:17

Mine still haven't done anything.

Nottheshrinkingcapgrandpa · 16/05/2021 21:35

Mine are beginning to sprout outside this week- I think it's all the rain we've had this week!

Original poster

WellTidy · 31/05/2021 07:56

Just reporting back in case this thread is of any use to anyone else at any stage! I brought the two pots that I could lift inside until they started sprouting. And then I hardened them off for about a week. And how they’re outside permanently, growing well.

I couldn’t lift one of the other pots, which was on the patio in a sheltered spot, but not under cover. I covered the top of it with some photinia cuttings, and removed them when the dahlias started to sprout, which coincided with the upturn in the weather. So now they’re uncovered permanently outside and are growing well (but not as big as the ones I’d brought in).

Fingers crossed for some blooms!

OP posts:

Billybagpuss · 31/05/2021 10:25

I bought 2 packets of 3 in the garden centre bargain bucket 2 weeks ago, have them in a greenhouse and 5 out of 6 have sprouted.

GuyFawkesDay · 31/05/2021 10:37

Mine have just popped their heads out a fortnight ago, I planted them on April 1st! So a full 6 weeks because it was so ruddy cold, even in the greenhouse (no heat may)

Give them time, now we are past the frost risk leave them somewhere sunny and they'll be up. Once they get going they grow like the clappers and they don't flower til late summer so you will be just fine

Purplewithred · 31/05/2021 10:39

They take a few weeks to get going, be patient. Mine are well sprouted and outdoors but if I had unsprouted ones and space indoors I'd keep them in for the overnight warmth. Once they get going they'll romp away. Lots of food and water once they do start, they are greedy things.

ChristopherTracy · 01/06/2021 10:59

Mine are finally up but only about 2 inches (SE)

ichundich · 01/06/2021 11:23

Great news OP. Just to warn you that slugs and snails absolutely love them. One of my plants got eaten down to the stalk within 2 weeks of planting it into the soil. I hope it recovers and I'm now out every night with a torch and scissors! A dahlia that I had planted last year and covered with lots of mulch and conifer twigs has started growing again though, despite the fact that we had many frost nights in February.

Original poster

WellTidy · 01/06/2021 19:50

Thank you. I’m having trouble with snails on my lupins this year as I don’t want to use pellets, so I am out at night keeping an eye on those. I will patrol the dahlias too!

I’ve just put some grow through supports on the dahlias as the ones that I brought in are getting quite large.

OP posts:

ichundich · 01/06/2021 21:43

@WellTidy

Thank you. I’m having trouble with snails on my lupins this year as I don’t want to use pellets, so I am out at night keeping an eye on those. I will patrol the dahlias too!

I’ve just put some grow through supports on the dahlias as the ones that I brought in are getting quite large.

Yes, lupins is another one of their favourites! It should get better with the drier weather in terms of slugs and snails.

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