Can I move my sprouted dahlias outside yet?

[helly29]

Hi all. It's my first year growing dahlias, and I've got about 10 sprouted in my mini greenhouse. They're looking healthy but getting a bit bent over due to shadowing from upper shelves. Now we're past the frost can I just keep them in pots but outside until they're big enough to plant out?

A couple would be ready to go in the ground now, but the others need a bit more time I think.

Thanks!

I moved mine (grown from seed) into a cold frame outside mid April but the lid has been fully open for the last week and they are thriving.

Thanks! Think I'll go for it, hope yours carry on doing well!

Mine are out in the (open) cold frame as well but have been since potting up as I've no space.

Some (the stored over winter, anonymous cos permanent pen wasn't) got planted out today.

I left some in pots outside to overwinter, they’re all sprouting so it must be ok.

My dad is very much a dahlia man and his went out last week. He is in the South though.

I did mine inside. I did a week of hardening off and they are now in the ground outside !

Mine have had 2 weeks hardening off outside and I planted them out over the weekend. I'm in Yorkshire. However I regularly plant things out too early and it's my first year of growing dahlias too so I'll let you know if I regret it in a few weeks if the weather turns!

@Paranoidandroidmarvin. @GlisteningGoldGrasses how big are they that you’ve planted outside? I’m more worried about slugs at this point tbh. I’ve picked a few slugs out of the cold frame that have had a bit of a nibble, I’m worried my dahlias won’t stand a chance against slugs if I plant them out but it’s getting to the point that they are starting to become pot bound so will have to go out at the weekend.

anyone have ant anti slug advice? Egg shells don’t work, copper doesn’t work, I’d feel mean if they drowned in beer, nematodes seem cruel…

@Peterpiperpickedwrongagain mine are about 20 to 30cm tall and they are very heavily mulched with Strulch. I find it totally slug proof and have no real slug damage, even on lettuces and squashes since I started using it and slugs used to be a big problem at my allotment. I also have a lot of frogs which may be helping me out too.

@Peterpiperpickedwrongagain I'm afraid nematodes are the only thing I've used that have been successful at killing slugs. I consoled myself with the thought that the local birds could safely eat them. It didn't eradicate them completely either. I applied it 3 or 4 times last spring and summer to keep the numbers in check. My dahlias were still nibbles but nothing devastating.

Yes. It's a bit of a myth that you have to dig them up really. Mine have always been fine with a bit of mulch on top.

Some of mine have been planted out in garden for years and are growing strong now

I left my most favourite dahlias out last year and they rotted away so I’m resigned to having to lift and store them this year.

I heard of strulch on another thread, it seems expensive but, with the effort I’ve put into these growing from seed, I think it may be worth it.

maybe I’ll add nematodes too then, double insurance!

I left my dahlias out last year because I didn't care if they didn't come back (I had other plans for that bed). I added about 3 inches of compost on top just to improve the soil over winter rather than protect the dahlias. They're trying to come back to life now. Naturally the one I liked least is the one working hardest (it was a red bishop of Auckland from a pack that was supposed to be yellow and pink).

Mine rot as well if I leave them, we have heavy clay here and it’s pretty wet all winter.