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Post by Tel on Jan 3, 2012 12:55:41 GMT
I know that not all gardeners enter gardening shows to exhibit dahlias, but would like to try growing a few for the garden. This is the place to find help in starting off.  |
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Post by robh on Jan 8, 2012 13:37:08 GMT
learnt my first lesson in how not to store dahlia tubers my best ones i stored in open boxes with paper dry and some in poly boxes with lids on checked them to day and the ones in polly boxes ive had to bin as they were rotten i saved one or 2 dusted them with sulphur i dont know if i did nt dry them properly or they sweated in the box but these are lessons learnt
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Post by Cherry on Jan 8, 2012 13:43:05 GMT
That is very helpful advice Rob given from first hand experience. Don't forget we have a dedicated topic for beginners. Dahlias for Beginners 2012 season is a 'sticky' subject so it won't get lost in time.
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Post by robh on Jan 8, 2012 14:44:04 GMT
yes it is the others are fine as they are in open boxes with paper i am goin to set some away in the spare room as i dont want to be putting them in the polly greenhouse as we have had some horrendious winds here they dont call it hilltop for nothing
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Post by jrae on Jan 8, 2012 18:00:19 GMT
I'm starting the year with another newbie question. I lifted some dahlias from the ground because I was going to use the bed they were in to plant squash. So, when I divide the tubers can I just leave the whole stem/s intact? I'll just cut off some (cut off the older leaves but leave the newer shoots). Is that okay? Or since I've taken them out of the ground should I let it dry out first before I replant them in pots?
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Post by scrumpy on Jan 8, 2012 18:24:49 GMT
I'm starting the year with another newbie question. I lifted some dahlias from the ground because I was going to use the bed they were in to plant squash. So, when I divide the tubers can I just leave the whole stem/s intact? I'll just cut off some (cut off the older leaves but leave the newer shoots). Is that okay? Or since I've taken them out of the ground should I let it dry out first before I replant them in pots? depends when you want them to flower. The reason we dry out tubers is to help them through the cold winter without rotting before starting them off anytime from now until April. You don't have those problems. The stem should be cut back to about 2 inches above the tuber and there should be no sign of last seasons growth. I then put them in trays and fill the gaps with almost dry peat.  |
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Post by robh on Jan 9, 2012 15:05:28 GMT
i have decided to bring my cuttings away indoors as the wind has been playing havoc whatsthe best way to bring my tubers on for cuttings do i just fill a tray with compost and lay the tubers on top or do i bury them this may be a daft question
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Post by Cherry on Jan 9, 2012 17:01:28 GMT
Rob that is not a daft question and we are lucky to have some of the most experienced dahlia growers in Britain to answer these questions, but please do help all the newbies to dahlias, by using the 'Dahlias for Beginners season 2012'. You must have forgotten it is there and it is 'sticky' so that it is always available to read again.
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Post by robh on Jan 9, 2012 18:59:50 GMT
daft q im goin to set some dahlias away indoors as the wind has been creating havock with the green house do i just plant my dahlias like in the picture or do i set them away in trays covered in peat or do i just lay them on the top of my trays with a layer of peet under them
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Post by dcdahlia on Jan 9, 2012 22:04:16 GMT
Robh put a layer of compost/peat on the botom of your tray about 2 inch will do and then place your tubers on top and cover the tubers with compost/peat leaving the crown showing (the bit just below the stem) this is where your cuttings will come from.It depends on how deep your trays are really on how much compost you put in he bottom.I use mushroom trays for pot tubers and 5 inch deep wooden boxes for ground tubers.Water sparingly until shoots appear.
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richardr
Full Member
Linux Ubuntu User
Posts: 149
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Post by richardr on Jan 9, 2012 22:22:42 GMT
... and give them some heat ...
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Post by robh on Jan 9, 2012 23:59:00 GMT
thanks dc i have some poly boxes about 3inch deep they they will hold quite a few tubers and there is room in the airing cupboard where there is plenty heat will put the cuttings into 4 inch pots provideing they come away they are just for the garden i will set the greenhouse away when these winds go i have terrable trouble with wind ishould get some thing for it ha ha seriously i live on the top of a hill and the begining of the year its always bad
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Post by Tel on Jan 10, 2012 7:12:27 GMT
After reading through last years Dahlias for beginners, including the build up to a village show in Devon and what happened next.
I have sent it as a script to Stephen Spielberg to see if he could use it for his next film. ;D
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Post by Cherry on Jan 10, 2012 8:06:32 GMT
That is not as funny as it sounds. It is an amazing story and perhaps it should be thought about. |
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Post by wildlifefriendly on Jan 11, 2012 18:25:38 GMT
After reading through last years Dahlias for beginners, including the build up to a village show in Devon and what happened next. I have sent it as a script to Stephen Spielberg to see if he could use it for his next film. ;D I’ve begun the sequel and have fingers and toes crossed that I haven’t left it too late. On the 9th of this month I put my Ruskin tubers on the heated bench. I have just looked at last years thread and saw that Tel’s tubers were showing the first signs of growth on the 16th of January. My tubers need to wake up in a week, will they? The date of our show hasn’t been confirmed yet but it should be on the 11th of August. |
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