Dahlias

[johnjohn]

I've not grown dahlias before but we now have some extra space and myself and my plot neighbour are going to grow some this year at the allotment. Apart from perennials at home I've not much experience with flower gardening

I understand about dividing the tubers and I've read up on propagating from cuttings which is something that appeals but my question is, if I start my tubers off now with a view to taking cuttings is it still viable to divide the tubers after I have all the cuttings I need and will these tubers produce?

I've tried the search function which throws up a huge amount of posts about them but none that I can find answers this question.

Thanks all

[Martin H]

Morning!

My experience of first-year tubers is that they aren't usually big enough to split up: they don't produce enough shoots. Once you've grown a nice big plant from it you'll easily be able to divide it next spring.

Good luck with the cuttings. My own experience is mixed, they seem to rot at least as often as they take. Dividing the tubers is much more certain because you can do it once they have started to grow and you can see what's what. So that's what I do.

[burnie]

I have grown from tubers in the past, with mixed success, one of my favourite flowers, can you grow them in pots? If so, do you still remove them from the soil to over winter?

[Guest]

You haven't mentioned seed - don't know if there is a reason for that. But it is a cheap and easy way to grow them and if you are not fussed about colours you don't have to worry so much about overwintering your tubers.

Just a thought

[johnjohn]

You haven't mentioned seed - don't know if there is a reason for that. But it is a cheap and easy way to grow them and if you are not fussed about colours you don't have to worry so much about overwintering your tubers.

Just a thought

Funny you should mention that, on my way to the plot I picked up a couple of packets- I have Dwarf Double Mixed and Pompom Mixed, hope to get them sown today.

[johnjohn]

Morning!

My experience of first-year tubers is that they aren't usually big enough to split up: they don't produce enough shoots. Once you've grown a nice big plant from it you'll easily be able to divide it next spring.

Good luck with the cuttings. My own experience is mixed, they seem to rot at least as often as they take. Dividing the tubers is much more certain because you can do it once they have started to grow and you can see what's what. So that's what I do.

Thanks Martin, perhaps I'll just plant the tubers I have this year and then next year divide them and use some for cuttings and see how I get on. I'm going to grow some from seed that I picked up today so should have plenty available to experiment with, cheers.

[johnjohn]

I have grown from tubers in the past, with mixed success, one of my favourite flowers, can you grow them in pots? If so, do you still remove them from the soil to over winter?

From what I have read- bearing in mind as I've already indicated, I know nothing- you can grow them in pots. I think dwarf or certainly smaller varieties are more commonly pot grown. As far as overwintering is concerned whilst you could remove the tubers it seems quite common practice to insulate the pot so maybe a layer of straw on top and then bubble wrap or decent fleece?

[mothhawk]

I'm growing from seed for the first time this year. Do you just let them get on with it, or pinch out the tips or what?

[Jungle Jane]

I just let them get on with it MH but I don't know if that's right? I had Pom Pom dahlias for the first time last year,the bees loved them most out of all the flowers I had,they had nice bushy growth & about two foot tall,flowers till the frost got them,I've cut them down,left the root in there but I didn't mulch them very well at all,I don't think mine will come back this year but I've got more seeds

[Thelma Sanders]

Even the ones (in pots) I brought into the greenhouse look totally dead, it has been so cold at times this winter

I ordered some more from Sarah Raven when the free PP was on, so must look after them better this year!

MH when I grew them from seed, I just let them get on with it

[johnjohn]

I'm growing from seed for the first time this year. Do you just let them get on with it, or pinch out the tips or what?

I've seen advice given to pinch out the tips and advice given to pinch out the top three buds:
How To Grow Dahlias
I'm guessing it depends on objective. I'm not growing to show, just to cut so I would be happy with several blooms from a plant. I can imagine that if someone was growing to show then they would concentrate on getting one single brilliant bloom from the plant. The problem with trawling the net for advice is that often it doesn't differentiate between the two.
My assumption would be that pinching out the tip would provide a bushier plant with more flower heads whilst pinching out the other top buds (disbudding) would produce one singular specimen (presumably to show?)

[johnjohn]

Even the ones (in pots) I brought into the greenhouse look totally dead, it has been so cold at times this winter

Hopefully TS they are going to be fine, it's worth hanging on to see if they develop any growth. It may even be worth bringing them indoors if you have the space to see if they develop shoots that would indicate that they could be divided?

[Martin H]

I'm growing from seed for the first time this year. Do you just let them get on with it, or pinch out the tips or what?

No problem with letting them get on with it, they will make a nice garden display whatever you do.

If they are a tall variety and I want cut flowers, I do quite often remove the small side-buds to make a nice big flower with a long stem. But only when I think of it.

[Martin H]

Even the ones (in pots) I brought into the greenhouse look totally dead, it has been so cold at times this winter

I left all mine in the ground this year. In my cold clay they don't show any signs until late April, then they rush away to catch up.

If I have new or stored tubers I usually start them in a tray in the greenhouse so I can see where they are growing and maybe divide or take cuttings before potting them up and growing them on. Then they go outside after all the frosts, planted nice and deep.

[sparrow100]

If the dahlias have broken up a bit on arrival (several of the 'fingers' have split off from the main bit in the post) can the broken off bits be planted to make new ones?

Am growing dahlias for the first time this year, some from seed, most from bought tubers.