No luck with dahlias

[LittleBowSheep]

I've tried planting dahlias over the last couple of years and not one of them has worked. Some were planted direct in the soil, some were put in pots, but not even one of them has grown. My soil is reasonably good, it doesn't get water-logged, it's not clay or sand and is ever so slightly acidic.

Any idea what I'm doing wrong please? I'd really like to have some in my garden. Does anyone have success with dahlias?

I'm hit and miss with Dahlias. Mine didn't come into bloom until September last year then hit with frost. Any in pots go into my shed for winter

A neighbour is very successful, she removes them each Autumn then replants the tubers in Spring after frosts. Hers are amazing. They are in sun.

It’s too early to see signs of life from dahlias so they might be fine.

Slugs were rampant last year when it was so wet so any growth was likely nibbled before it had a chance

When tubers arrive, you need to check they've got a crown and growing eyes.
They need plenty of feeding. They get a bacterial disease called gall which causes insane numbers of shoots but not healthy.

Mine in the (slightly heated) greenhouse are only just poking up now and some have been potted up for weeks.

I don’t mean to be smug but when we moved into our house the back garden had two long beds full of dahlias, that was 20 years ago and they still come up every year without fail. It amazes me, I do absolutely nothing to them except cut them all down when they’ve gone brown around October

I lift the tubers and keep them in the garage over winter, then start them in pots inside and only plant out when they’re quite established and leafy. I get better results in pots than in the ground and they need feeding every week. I left one in the ground this winter so I’ll see if it makes it - it hasn’t been that cold but slugs may get it instead 🙄

Thanks all. I'm starting to see why mine have failed lol.

I've never over-wintered them even though I had read somewhere that I should. I'm also a bit hap-hazard when it comes to feeding. I don't think slugs are an issue particularly in my garden but it's something for me to bear in mind.

I think I'll have another go in pots this year and remember to store them away for winter. Do they normally flower in the first year?

Yes, they will do. I also start mine off in pots until they're nice and bushy.

This is my first year growing dahlias, I bought tubers and followed the method given in the Cottoverdi YouTube video to start them indoors. She is a really good communicator, I find her instructions very clear and no nonsense. So far so good - my five tubers are growing 🤞…

I always start any new ones in pots, in the greenhouse until they have put on a good show of growth. Make sure the pots are a good size and aren't too small.

You don't want too many shoots per tuber, so cut off all but the strongest three or four, before planting out. When the growth is good and strong you also need to pinch them out before planting.

As PPs the slugs go absolutely mad for them, so good slug control is necessary.

I grow mine in a separate raised bed and I overwinter them there with no problem, I just cut them right back when the frost gets them and heap on a nice thick layer of compost. You then have to watch out for the first signs of growth in the spring to start the slug control.

It may have been too wet and rotted off

Also worth pinching out to get more flowering stems

Started mine off in pots inside in March, with tops sowing above soil line. Water regularly - don't let them Dry out! Stored overwinter in garage, having brushed off all soil late last year, wrapped in newspaper.
I am following instructions from a Dahlia-holic.

Yes but until you see active growth, they really do not want much water or they will rot

It depends on your soil as to whether they will succeed in the ground. Also position - they need full sunlight. You should be able to get them to optimum conditions in pots. Having said that, last year was a very bad summer for dahlias going to the lack of sunlight.
Have another try this year in pots. Now is the time so don’t delay!