Anyone growing dalias this year?

[veggiechicken]

So could you split a clump and grow the individual tubers?

[Thelma Sanders]

They don't all have eyes on though, so only the ones with eyes on will grow.

[Scarlet]

Yes, but you need some "eyes" on each bit.

But you can take cuttings from the tubers in the early days. Taking a piece with the tuber attached. They flower in the same year, do as well as the tuber and you can take many off one.

[Scarlet]

Thelma got in before me!

[veggiechicken]

Like a potato tuber then?
You can tell I didn't look very closely at the 80 or so I had. Bits broke off and I assumed they'd all do something, eventually.

[bramble]

I grow lots of dahlias but only from seed packs.
No named varieties so just a mixture of them all.
I have a couple of named varieties but cant find the labels any more.

[mcdood]

Do you dig yours up?....

Yes they are currently stored in the garage.

[bramble]

I never dig them up, just cover over the crowns with extra soil.

[bikermike]

I will be trying "some purple ones", and possible "some other ones".

I had no luck with them last year or the year before. They got slug-destroyed in 17, so I started them in the greenhouse, and then they grew but didn't flower last year.

I might buy some new ones.

when do they need to go in?

[mcdood]

Like a potato tuber then?
You can tell I didn't look very closely at the 80 or so I had. Bits broke off and I assumed they'd all do something, eventually.

Not really like potatoes. The eyes on a Dahlia are usually where the old stem section of the plant meets the bulbous tuber itself. If you have multiple stems you can divide in autumn or spring making sure each section has a stem or as Scarlett says grow on in Spring and take cuttings which root quite easily.

[sparrow100]

From PN?

I'm still looking at the singles...

Yep all from PN. The price difference is quite something!

Am on the lookout for Vino, Gerrie Hoek and another I can't remember.

If my Verrones Obsidian survives I might try cuttings or tuber division. Is it easy? Could send you a bit if the thing isn't mushy.

[mcdood]

when do they need to go in?

I start mine off in a cold frame early March, plant out after last frost.

[Scarlet]

I had no luck with them last year or the year before. They got slug-destroyed in 17, so I started them in the greenhouse, and then they grew but didn't flower last year.

I might buy some new ones.

when do they need to go in?

I started my new ones last year as soon I received them( I think I ordered them for myself as a Christmas present ) I ordered from PN and they arrived March. I started in pots first and then put them in the garden when I had time......some of mine were planted out quite late. They already had lots of flower buds.

If yours didnt flower last year ( a few of mine that have been in the garden for years didn't and that's never happened before) it was probably due to the lack of rain early on in the season.
I visited a garden centre that specialises in dahlias in September and their display was half the size , some huge spaces were some of their had plants failed due to the lack of rain and heat, some succumbing to redmite. I've never seen that before on dahlias.

[mcdood]

If my Verrones Obsidian survives I might try cuttings or tuber division. Is it easy? .

Division is very easy if it has multiple stems, sometimes they can be pulled apart easily or better to use a sharp knife making sure each section has stalk and tuber. I use the cuttings route if the tuber is single stemmed. Cuttings are relatively easy using a sharp knife take the cutting very close to the base and then pot on in a propagator or cover pot with plastic bag as per normal soft cuttings.

[Scarlet]

I've had a little shopping spree while having a warm up after a day in the garden

Bishop of Oxford
Bishop of Canterbury
HS Juliet
HS Princess
Twynings After eight
Honka Fragile
Honka Pink
Jowey Veronique
..and I managed to get Veronones Obsidian it's on the PN website but hasn't got a photo.

I'll probably struggle with getting those in the garden