planting dahlias for "yams"

[out in the cold]

Heeeelllllppp!

We have decided to try these, having bought some of the James Wong tubers.

Obviously we are due to plant these quite soon, but our ground is still really cold.

I have done a bit of tinterwebby research and pretty much the info I am finding is all about growing them as flowers.

I therefore have a couple of questions...

Can I start these indoors and then transplant them?

When planting, how deep do I go to enable a good size root growth?

Do I "earth up" like potatoes as they develop?

It seemed like an interesting experiment when we decided to have a go at them, but we kinda realised that we haven't a clue what we are doing with these...

All and any help would be gratefully received by myself and KCN

[Madasafish]

I grow as flowers.

Tubers in pots in greenhouse today.

Garden when all chance of frost gone. (late May) No need to earth up.
need fertiliser and compost and do not let dry out.

I plant so the ball is about 20cms deep.. or a little more.. tubers grow under soil.

[kathycam]

I have some James Wong seeds. They've been growing for the last month or so. Getting pretty big now. Is anyone else try from seed?

[Two_Sheds]

I've grown dahlia from seed: dead easy. Follow the pack instructions. I guess you've paid about £20 for James Wong seeds?

Mine were 85p from Wilko


"plant hunters first brought them back to Europe in the late 1700's as a food crop. However, these weren't to everyone's taste, and ... their bright, exotic flowers proved far more appealing than their flavour."
Edible dahlia tubers - Grow & eat - Blog - gardenersworld.com

[kathycam]

I think these were 1.85. So fairly averagely priced and I got good germination. But I do worry they are growing a bit fast. They look fairly healthy, but I put support sticks in yesterday. It's partly my fault as I sown multiple per pot and left it too long before potting on, as I got busy with work. Then I didn't have handy the compost/pots to do it. They still look fairly healthy, but I think they might be a bit flimsy if they got outside. I might sow some fresh ones, just in case they dont make it.

[out in the cold]

Thanks for the info Madasafish!

How tall do yours get? I have heard varying reports from 3 ft to 6ft...

I grow as flowers.

Tubers in pots in greenhouse today.

Garden when all chance of frost gone. (late May) No need to earth up.
need fertiliser and compost and do not let dry out.

I plant so the ball is about 20cms deep.. or a little more.. tubers grow under soil.

[Two_Sheds]

I do worry they are growing a bit fast.

put them somewhere a bit cooler

Mine haven't even sprouted yet (they're in compost, in the cold gh)

[kathycam]

I don't really have anywhere cooler suitable. We were hoping to get the polytunnel up today- but its snowing again. Obviously that would be too cool for them. I might try the office window as thats slightly cooler in there- but hard to reach them to water.

Are you growing yours to eat or for the flowers? I probably started mine off too early, I didn't realise they'd grow so fast! Quicker than the tomatoes planted at the same time.

[Madasafish]

Thanks for the info Madasafish!

How tall do yours get? I have heard varying reports from 3 ft to 6ft...

Depends on the type!

Dwarf ones about 25cms.

Tall ones up to 2 meters in a good summer.

(What is this "feet " thing? Is it a new measurement or is it obsolete?) :-)


I only grow single flowered ones. Double flowered or complex flowered ones - are no good for pollen so a waste of time for bees.

As I keep bees, everything decorative I grow has to be considered in its usefulness for bee fodder.


I grow dahlias from seed one year , save the tubers and grow from them next year. After a couple of years I usually start again..with a different type for the sake of change...

Not snowing here.. drifts are still here though in the garden by the sides of the road and edges of fields... I don't start dahlias before April as it's usually too cold and they grow very quickly when it warms up.

[Two_Sheds]

Are you growing yours to eat or for the flowers? I probably started mine off too early

For flowers. There's a reason they aren't widely grown for food !

Yep, next year start them off a bit later: I start my tenders off 3-4 weeks before my last frost date

[kathycam]

Ok good advice from TS and MAAF I might try growing some more seeds, as these probably wont make it- or I could try growing them indoors- though if they grow 2 meters- not so sure. I do have some tubers to grow.

So has James Wong got it wrong? He says they taste like sweet potatoes. I'll try them anyway.

[Two_Sheds]

He probably also eats Jerusalem Artichokes. bleugh

[kathycam]

Yeah I have to agree on that. Though in some recipes they work. Apparently if you cook them slowly on a low temperture the side effects aren't so bad....

[rustylady]

or I could try growing them indoors- though if they grow 2 meters- not so sure. I do have some tubers to grow.

They aren't meant to be grown indoors.

[kathycam]

Yeah- I know that. I meant the ones that have gotten too big already and will probably be too flimsy so go outside.