Dahlias.

Hi all,

I would really like some dahlias in the garden this year. The way I have my borders with weed fabric and gravel means that digging them up each year to overwinter would be a real hassle. Does anyone know if there are any hardy dahlias?

Rusty

 

I am with you RR. I also avoid them. knowing I have to deal with the digging them up, finding a place to overwinter them etc. So I do not. And I believe there are not any hardy ones. You will just have to find other color in other flowering plants, as I have.

 

I have never heard of a hardy variety so I think you best bet is to grow them from seed every year, and bin / compost them at the end of the season!

In years gone by you could only get "Bedding" dahlias in seed form, but now you can get seed for most of the other dis-bud varieties.

A tip; if you go this route, plant out a few in 5"-6" pots and allow them to grow on as pot tubers.

Only allow them to flower once to determine type and colour, then at the end of the season cut them down to soil level and throw the pot and tuber into a frost free spot.

Then around about the end of February fetch them into a heated spot and they will throw off basal cuttings, which you can root as new plants, plus you can plant out the existing tuber.

I hope that gives you food for thought.

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Dahlia/Dahlia.htm

 

From what I know I concur re any Dahlias that are truly hardy. However my late father when he got a bit past digging them up every year planted some tubers close to a relatively warm south facing wall and they survived about 5 winters before eventually "buying it". This was in Scotland which isn't known for the warmest winters! so maybe worth a go and hope for the best. He did cover the tubers with big poly bags filled with leaves I think and pinned them down to stop them blowing away. These would have given a little protection.

 

I agree rusty, digging up dahlias is a bit of a hassle - what I did last year was to grow some in pots and then stood them in the borders between other plants - so that you couldn't see the pots. Worked well and a lot easier to handle once they had finished flowering.

 

Hi Grannie Annie

Did you then remove from the pot and overwinter the tuber or did you overwinter the whole pot in Greenhouse? This would work in pot for me. How big a pot do I need or does it depend on the Dahlia?

 

Hi Rusty

Just been out and measured one of the pots I used its about 28 cm across. The dwarf and lower growing ones are best as you don't want the taller ones towering over the other plants. The pot needs drainage holes and will want watering more often than if they were in the ground - but don't overwater. I did overwinter them by taking them out of the pots and wrapped them in newspaper. Decided to try it that way last year as the previous year I put them in compost and sharp sand and they went soft.

 

I love dahlias too and tend to do the same as Tee Gee, just grow from seed each year, so easy usually every seed germinates had some really lovely ones last year called 'Bishops Children' dark foliage with flowers in yellows, oranges, pinks and reds, just trying to decide which to grow this year from the Chilterns catalogue

 

Did any of you left them outside? I gave mine away 2/3 years ago , just to make space for more interesting plants , but i never lifted any bulbs , I alwas planted them in sand , to keep the snails away and simple cover up with heavy mulch in late November .
never lost any and even year late i still have some popping out every year ....

 

Hi,
I believe that winters in UK are mild enough to be able to leave the tubers in the soil but what has to be ensured is free drainage. Waterlogging is a killer for any tubers or bulbs.
I think that if you just cover the soil above tuber with some dry leaves or hay or any protective material that should be enough to see them grow next season.
So, try and see.
Jitka

 

I think I will put some in the ground and some in pots. I will over winter the ones in pots ans leave the ones on the ground and see what happens.

Rusty

 

Hi Rusty, Dahlias are not hardy in the UK. With some protection they can be, but I never chance it and always dig them up every year. This is good for the simple reason of saving the tuber from the cold, they also benefit from being divided as if left in the ground and survive the flowers dwindle over the years. So not only do you get more plants you also get more flowers.

There is supposed to be just one species Dahlia which is meant to be hardy in the UK, I guess it needs some protection though. It is called Dahlia Merckii and grows quite tall. I would grow if possible up towards the house, so the heat from the house can give them a little warmth during the winter months. Plant world seeds sells that variety if you want to have a look.

Happy to give more advice if needed. Dahlia lover and breeder

 

Thanks ben I will check it out. Do you think im better off just going with pots and taking tubers up each year and storing?

Rusty

 

Here's a link to Plantworld website Rusty who sell seeds for Dahlia Merckii, has to be one of my favourite seeds sites
http://www.plant-world-seeds.com/store/view_seed_item/371?gclid=CL7Qqsv5_rQCFeTMtAodrH8AWw

 

Ooops sorry Ben see you mentioned Plant World