Dahlias

[Scarlet]

I love dahlias, my OH gave me a bright pink one when we first moved into this house (nearly 20 years ago) and they are probably my favourite flower.

I bought several new tubers early this year and they were duly potted up and started of in the greenhouse and they've been planted up in my flower borders.

Now, I was on the web last night and spotted some cheap tubers - bit out of season - but I couldn't resist. I hope they come by mid week.. I will start them off in the greenhouse - I know it's warm enough but the slugs usually have a feast on the new shoots....my question is, do you think that it will be to hot to keep them in the GH for the whole of Summer?
I have some space and I'm considering putting them in the GH border and solely use the for cutting...I've not got an area outside ready for a dozen tubers either. I don't want to waste these as I can use the tubers for new cuttings next spring, so I don't want them dying off.
Thoughts.....

[Guest]

I wouldn't have thought it would be an issue. Just make sure you have sufficient support, especially if the growth gets a bit drawn.

[Scarlet]

I'm thinking the shoots could be a little leggy and not hold up the flowers?

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

As you are growing for long term as you say, using for cuttings next year, why would it matter?

Let them do their thing this year, so the tubers bulk up, lift and store under cover overwinter, replant early next year and use them for cuttings next spring as you are intending.

I may be reading wrongly, but you are not wanting them for their blooms this year, but merely taking stock!

I did grow some a good few years back and then were gorgeous! I may have to give it another try!

[rary]

I think that the dahlia growers each season generally keep a tuber from their different varieties in a five inch pot as an insurance against loss of their stock and these are generally kept in the greenhouse, but as they plant originally came from Mexico I would think they will withstand a fair bit of heat, as long as they are kept moist and not allowed to dry out

[Vince G]

Personally I wouldn't keep in the greenhouse. Pot them up and put them in the greenhouse to shoot initially then plant outside. I left it late too plant out this year due to the weird spring weather (even in sunny Suffolk) but the sun was still quite strong so with my erratic watering I found some rotted and others dried out.

Planted out in the lottie last weekend

[Scarlet]

Well just an update as I know lots of us are growing dahlias this year.
I received the tubers late for these - I bought them at 70% discount. The garden is too dry and I’ve no bed ready for outside. Ideally wanting to keep the tubers going for next year so I can take some early cuttings from the tubers so I wasn’t too bothered with a huge amount of flowers this season.

Planted in pots on the 4th June, just a little over 4 weeks ago.
They are thriving in the greenhouse - i’ll be putting them in the greenhouse border next week. Really chuffed at my bargains.

[bario1]

The dahlia in my polytunnel has started flowering!

[veggiechicken]

Tempted by all the Dahlia photos and Thelma S's link to cheap dahlias https://www.gardeningexpress.co.uk/s...mega-box-16326
I've just bought ............100 Dahlias (and 800 Gladioli but we'll ignore those for now).
Any advice for a total dahlia novice please? I know its very late in the season.
Pots or ground?

[Scarlet]

I’d go pots....just to make sure they make it this year. They should be up in a couple of weeks.

Though if you do prefer the open ground option you can leave them in the ground over winter, though this years cold weather saw off 70-% of what I had in the ground. Old faithfuls didn’t return ;( if you have that many loosing half wouldn’t be a problem?

[veggiechicken]

I'm not sure I can find enough workable open ground at the moment to plant them out - with 800 gladioli as well. I've never grown either of the successfully. If I can keep a few going until spring I'll be happy and, at this bargain price, they'll still be a bargain.

[bramble]

I would put them in pots for this, their first year.
See what makes it through the winter and plant out next year.
Wish I had the space for thst many dahlias.
Let us know how they progress.
Perhaps we could start a dahlia seed shop.

[veggiechicken]

That's 2 of you recommending pots!
100 tubers = ?100 pots (?size) = multiple bags of compost.
Not long to get ready for this - the tubers are on their way (at the sorting hub, wherever that is?)

I'm having the same sort of sinking feeling I had when 1000 or so begonia plug plants arrived

[Thelma Sanders]

If you have somewhere you can dig up topsoil - you could use a soil/compost mix - that's what's in the pots my dahlias are growing in this year. I find it more stable than mpc on it's own, and better water holding.

[bramble]

VC, I am sure you will manage.
If you are really stuck, send some on to me and I will over winter them for you.