What's your favourite dahlia?

[QuietKingdom]

I can't decide between so many beautiful looking dahlia tubers that are on offer at the moment. I've never grown them before but I've decided to create a cutting garden at my allotment and I'm dreaming about bouquets of dahlias all summer long. I especially like the red, bronze and pink ones but do I want big pom poms or bee friendly giant daisies? What is everyone else growing?

I usually order some, and then top them up whenever M&S and Waitrose start selling theirs.

@Moonface123, Salvia Amistad will happily go over the top of many dahlias and is marvellous. I lost two out of three last winter in Berkshire, though.

i love my salvia Amistrad! hope mine is ok this year as I did lose one last year

The bees and butterflies absolutely love it too, don't they @GirlInACountrySong

Wow those photos are beautiful, I've added Seniors Hope and Creme de Cassis to my list now. I've actually got a seed packed of Bishops Children I forgot I bought last year so I will give them a go too.

Thanks for the advice on dinner plate varieties I hadn't really realised the differences in size. I've got plenty of space to fill at the allotment but I'll make sure to add stakes and slug protection. I find Strulch works well to keep slugs off lettuces and squash so I'll try that.

I can't wait to get started.

Can any of you identify this one? It was my most favourite ever but succumbed to slugs then, after a bit of a flood, rot so I’ve lost it forever.
I’ve trawled the internet and can’t find another one anywhere.

@PostThenGhost - taking a stab, looks like dahlia electro pink? www.suttons.co.uk/flowers/flower-plants/all/dahlia-electro-pink_mh8411?feed=shopping&source=SGWEBPPC&gclid=Cj0KCQiA0p2QBhDvARIsAACSOONsp7dqJd-ExyhLEGOiqmSwTwlot8oiqiXG_8CdO9_SMpBkhvQH4pwaAmLkEALw_wcB

I grew loads of Bishop's Children from seed last year - dead easy to grow and very pretty. Lovely dark foliage and nice flower colours.

@Equalizer it does doesn’t it?! Thank you 😊

I did a lot of cafe au lait two year’s ago and loved them. They were massive and just beautiful . None of them made it back up last year though so probably should have lifted.

I love dahlias!

favourites would be Cafe au lait, Thomas Edison, Roxy, Snowstorm, Islander and Salmon runner.

I've also seen dahlia Striped Vulcan at some national trust gardens and thought it was brilliant!

I also really like the dwarf doubles and Bishops children that are easy to grow from seed.

for slugs and snails, the green plastic collars are brilliant:

www.greengardener.co.uk/product/slug-collars-hosta-halos/

Does anybody have variety recommendations that do well in pots. Do they all need to be dug up after flowering? Never grown them before but would like to try a couple in pots.

Would you plant 1 tuber per pot?

Yes, in big pots. Stake and feed as well, even more important because you don't want the pot to topple over.

It's even more important to lift when they are in pots because the danger of freezing is bigger.

I would put two in a big pot.

I have never had to lift the one I have ( a dark red pompom type) but have just ordered a CoL and am now a bit worried. I just dont have the space to lift and store so everything has to take its chances.

I am SW London on clay.

@W0rdl3

Does anybody have variety recommendations that do well in pots. Do they all need to be dug up after flowering? Never grown them before but would like to try a couple in pots.

Tropical breeze are lovely in a pot.

I dont lift any of mine over winter. I did last year and only one or two of the tubers grew again. the ones i left in the ground came back. this year I have mulched well instead. SW England

Maya was my favourite last year. I’ve got about 30 different varieties on order with farmer gracey and Sarah raven this year. I’m going to have to clear a border for them and I suspect give some away as well.

Totally tangerine and edge of joy both do well in pots for me. Edge of joy isn't exactly my cup of tea (my kids chose it during lockdown to get them gardening) but it's been very easy to look after with loads of flowers so long as you keep slugs off during growing time.

I'm very basic and love Cafe au Lait best of all. Wizard of Oz is also very lovely, so perfect and prolific.

This year I've bought Thomas Edison, and Bishops Children to grow from seed. I want a Bishop of Llandaff when they come into the shops, as I can't face keeping slugs off a lot of dahlia babies! I use copper slug rings and grow them in pots as my garden is too damp and sluggy for them to survive in the borders.

@Onionbhajisandwich that is so beautiful!

@ChristopherTracy thanks

Love dahlias but not tried growing before, put off by having to lift them - though maybe this isn’t necessary after all

@garlicandsapphires I have never lifted mine before in London - I do mulch/put some random stuff over the top though.