Dahlia Happy Kiss (P)

Hello, I've just bought a few of these dahlias which still have new buds on them, can I plant them out now or will they die. I was told they are perennial. Also I have been reading that they need to be brought in during the winter, is this true? Hope I don't appear too dim with these questions!

 

Hi Rosie

There are a few coments here that I wrote some time ago on Dahlias. http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/...on/9537-dahlias-10-things-you-didnt-know.html

I think it would be a good thing to plant your Dahlias out now. They won't do much this year but they will gain strength and then store this in the tubers for next year.

Its generally better to lift Dahlias over the winter, because they are susceptable to winter cold and also winter wet. I see that you are in the Isle of Wight, so you may well get away with leaving them in the ground overwinter from the cold point of view, but they may still not like the wet.

If you do lift them, wait till the first frosts. This will kill of the top growth and signal the tuber to go dormant. But the first frost won't hurt the tuber which will be underground. After the first frost is normal time to lift them. Cut the top growth off to within an inch or so of the crown, then leave them upside down (to let the water run out of the hollow stems) and let them dry off. When dry store them somewhere cool and dry, such as in a shed covered with newspaper, old carpet, compost or anything else to keep the frost out.

 

thanks

thanks for the advice, I think i will plant them out now & hope for the best