Dahlias 2023

[JamMakingWannaBe]

Lidl has dahlia bulbs in stock. I can't vouch for their quality/reliably but for £2.99 for a mix of 3 it would be rude not to.
They also had packs of x 8 of single varieties.

*tubers!

Waitrose had a nice selection, 4 different varieties for £10 iirc. I bought theirs last year and was taking a look for a reminder of what I'd bought (the labels I used rotted) but they've changed. Was really pleased with last year's and was very tempted with this new batch, but managed to resist....just.

I’ve bought one of the 8 packs! I’ve never grown dahlias before so looking forward to it

They can be grown from seed very easily as a cheaper way of growing these.

I planted mine today from farmer Gracy. Never planted them before so worried what I’m going to get in a few months!

Mine were great from Farmer Gracy, really beautiful with loads of blooms even in a north facing site.

I had some from Farmer Gracy last year. They were amazing!
Sadly, I thought I was safe to leave them in the ground over winter as we rarely get frost here. -10C temperatures have proved me wrong…

I’ve got half a dozen or so to plant from FG and Sarah Raven.
I grew some for the first time last year but dug them up and left them in the shed uncovered to dry out … a few weeks later I realised they’d all gone mouldy so had to throw them out!
Hopefully will do better this year

First year doing Dahlia's last year and loved picking flowers for a posie vase... look lovely with cosmos.

I have Cafe au Lait and Cafe au Lait Royale I lifted last year as I wanted to move them so lifting over winter and replanting in thier new spot this year seemed like a plan. I'm glad I did as the winer was so cold at times.

I also have a Cafe au Lait Supreme, Penhill Dark Monarch, Thomas A Edison, Creme de Cognac and Arabian Night to add - all for the cutting beds on the allotment!

When's everyone putting theirs in the ground? I am keen to, but am always TOO keen, I think

I leave mine in the ground all year. They come up beautiful every year.

@TheDanceOfTheTomato i would pot up bare tubers now, keep them somewhere protected eg greenhouse/ in a cool, bright room indoors. Water once only until they sprout. They should start to sprout around April time, but you can only plant out after the frosts are over.

Lush ! I’ve got cafe royale and lait as well

Do dahlias grow well in pots?

Lovely collection!

I've just received
Penhill watermelon, cafe au Lait and twist and sweet suzanne from FG.

No space in the greenhouse so may plant them in pots early April and look out for frosts and cover with fleece if needed.

Thanks @TheGander. Like @TheLastofThem I have no greenhouse space and nowhere suitable in the house, so they may have to go in the ground in April (weather forecast permitting) and I'll try to protect them from any late frosts.

Normally I leave dahlias in all year round, well mulched over winter. It's only this year Ive lifted some to move them and added some new ones that'll need planting.

@candelabra probably only in large pots ( is say 50 cm across minimum) and only some varieties, if you look at the Sarah Raven catalogue she usually points out which ones are suitable for pots.

I've googled the named varieties of the tubers I bought from Lidl. They are all dinner plate varieties so that'll be something new for us in terms of extra staking etc although I do like the dahlia and cosmos bouquet arrangement above.

I had them last year in smallish pots, one was given to me as a freebie and the others were bought in July as part of a mixed bag discounted to pennies.

They all did really well, when the cold came I brought them in and left them in a corner, now they've all sprouted again and some have buds. I have no idea what to do about them now, it's still frosting every night outside here.

I bought a bunch more from the Lidl too, same as OP, they were so cheap that I thought whatever. Planning to plant them in the veg plot for cuttings though this time.

Should I move the ones in pots into the ground as well? When?

So easy form seed as well and forms a tuber in the first year. These are some Pom Pom mix I sowed a few weeks ago....

Had lots of success last year with collarette dandy seeds.

Every seed creates a new/different variety of Dahlia and then you can keep the tubers you like.

I do this too... with 'bishops children' seeds which give a mixture of single flowered in lovely bronze oranges and reds. This year I'm trying it with seed I saved from last year.