Dahlias

Yes and yes! It depends on the size but I've read that you pinch out at 4 sets of leaves for Giants, 6 sets for medium and 8 sets for dwarfs. With the right conditions you'll get non stop flowers. Just remember to dead head the buds (the pointy spent flowers, not the round buds).

So exciting to have another dahlia fan!


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So what do I pinch then? Anything above the number of leaves quoted above? I really hope they grow well.

I'm so excited!!!

 

Yes, just the growing tip. Although it might be best to wait for an expert to come in and reply before taking my word for it


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Yes, where's @Madahhlia when you need her. Actually, haven't seen her around for a while, hope she's ok

 

I am no expert, but have been growing these for about 5 years now and I would
tend to "Top" them when they are a bit smaller, not every plant is the same and
some can be a bit thinner but taller before they are topped, whilst others that
are bit more healthier can be topped a bit earlier.

But as a general rule of thumb (and this seems to work for me) I would tend to top
the Dinner plate / Giants (like Sir Alf Ramsey) when they have two set of leaves,
the smaller medium variety would get topped when they reach about 4 sets of
leaves and real small bush type (like Cheesy) about 6 sets of leaves.

Also I have over 100 in the greenhouse at present and some had
flower buds, but for me May is to early for these to flower so I tend to pinch these
out as well so more energy is then put back into the plant....it might not be what
some people do for the big shows, but works well for me

 

I've just pinched my dinner plate and bishops Dahlias this morning . I only have 9 , so luckily didn't have to pinch out 100 . That must be some display @intel you have

How do you pronounce Dahlia ? I was watching a USA video on them and they pronounced it
Dar-leee-a . Now I say Day-lee-a . Hope I'm correct as the other way is very annoying

 

I'd go with your pronunciation Harry

My Dahlias have been outside in pots for several weeks and are growing nicely. We did have a bit of frost after I'd put them out which killed a couple of leaves but the rest are fine. Some are sprouting far quicker than others.

 

Think some of my Dahlias have a mosaic virus. One has lots of patchy chlorotic circles over all its leaves :( a couple of others have little patches I'm hoping are just growing pains at the moment.


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How is everyone planning to support your Dahlias? With stakes, is it literally just driving in a secure bit of wood and then tie the main stem at key points, or flowers too? I can't see how that can work for a large Dahlia with one piece of wood.

 

Hiya Jack.
I normally use 3 canes in a triangle around each plant, but this year I'm going to use 1"x1" stakes. I have 4 plants, so am going to have 6 of these interlinked with string or some-such. There's no need to go over the top by trying to support everything, just general support should suffice.

 

I use largish bamboo canes , 1 per plant . Like Freddy I tie these together with twine about two thirds off the way up . My Dahlias will grow ( if the weather improves ! ) to about 4 feet tall . So I have the support canes at about 3 feet tall , so the cane is not above the flower heads.

 

I've only just seen this thread I really like dahlias, I've not grown any since we moved here, last year I bought a couple from the farm shop, this year I've grown a few from seed & also bought a few. Thought they would brighten up my boarders

 

Cheesy Dahlia, have 3 of there in a single medium pot...picture does not do it justice,
bloom is just over a inch across, my first year of growing this Dahlia, growing tip was nipped (topped) out about 3 weeks ago.............just keep dead heading them and depending where you live, these will keep flowering till November or the first frost (and don't forget to feed them)

 

Looks lovely! I just love everything about their flowers, and their staying power.


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I bought 8 tubers from Wilkos in the summer bedding sale, , grew them on in the greenhouse , popped outside for a day or 2 now frosts have gone, positioned them yesterday and did, despite interuptions get 2 planted,, will put the other 6 in today , trying to get them deep as once in that`s where they stay and take their chance over winter,was hoping for a little rain to help settle them in, , but watered planting holes anyway, will do the last 6 today, your post about staking @JackJJW reminded me, will sort that round the tubers while I`m at it. As so easy to push supports through the tubers.