Starting Dahlias

Recently bought 10 dahlias from Wilkos I would like to start them early this season is it possible to start them of on the kitchen window shelf.

They are 4ft decorative types can I start them now.

 

yes you can , no problem, just bear in mind you wont be able to plant them out until after the last frost, so they might be getting quite big by then.

Put three in my propagator today, hoping to take some cuttings.

 

So I started my dahlias I'm a little concerned they are not getting enough sunlight the window they are sitting on is south facing but blocked by trees some leaves look to curling how much sunlight will they need to grow.

 

Does this look healthy.

 

Maybe cooler as well.
You dont want them too big at the moment, its a couple of months before you can plant out with confidence.

 

I plant my Dahlia Cactus tubers around the end of March in the Greenhouse/ converted shed . I usually find I need to pinch them back early May before planting out Mid to late May. The pinching back does improve them

 

I might not be watering enough I know they like a good watering I started this tuber three weeks ago.

 

Pete the window is open most of the day so they are exposed to cooler air.

 

Be careful, dont overwater, its growing so its not short of water.
Basically, imo, its too warm and not enough light, usual problems when you start plants too early.

 

Hi Tangham, one thing to remember is that they should only be frost-free, they don't mind low temperatures. I wonder I they're in too warm a place.
Also, that seems a lot of growth for just 3 weeks.

 

@tangham , how many of your tubers have sprouted ? It can take 28 days , one of my Bishops Children took 54 days last year - then again it looked a bit sickly so it went to the great green bin

 

My others only started shooting last week this ones in a rush for some reason.

 

That is my next skill test to propagate from cuttings and tubers . Never tried it yet

 

Was going to, but kind of got side tracked.

Done it before though, you need a propagator really, its a big help.
Dont try rooting any hollow shoots.

You can virtually take all shoots of a tuber at this time of the year as it has lots of time to reshoot.
Just dont take the cutting too low, so as to not allow new shoots to appear from lower down.