Dahlia query

I am new to Dahlias, having only bought my first ones last year. Most have overwintered well and are showing good growth. A couple, on examination, were rotten and obviously have had it. But one or two others, of the same variety as those growing strongly, have made no growth at all. When I examined them there weren't even any hints of a bud, but a couple seem to have made some fine roots. They are all large and firm tubers.

The question. Is every large healthy tuber capable of making new growth, or can you have some large tubers without growing points destined to finally shrivel and rot? And at what point does the creation of fine white roots come in. I have not dared examine closely one of my happy ones. So I do not know what their roots look like at this time of year.

 

Pete - I have grown dahlias for years, but just lifted them, given them a dusting down and chucked wht has not emerged int the spring. However I think things are changing.My Bishop LLandarf has gone decidedly iffy, got him out of bed and where as I usually get 6/7 shoots without trying, I have struggled for two this year.

I have not done as advised put down in winter dusted in sulpour, but why should I , never had to do it before, however I think times are changing and we are subject to problems arising from wetter climate.

I have some BIG tubours which I simply cannot give up on, so I I am interested in your post. ALSO I have started mine off in post without drainage, would not have thought to have done otherwise, but this could have contributed to rot, but suspect this is not the problem this year???

 

The one thing I have learnt already is that not all Dahlias are created equal. I treated all my Dahlias tubers the same. But my Arabian Night's showed growth as much as a month ago and are now about 12 inches high, whilst Bishop of Llandaff only appeared a couple of days ago and is less than an inch high.

Last year I had a couple of plain (rather dull) purple Dahlias from my brother-in-law, who goes through the motions but is not really a gardiner. His wife complians that almost all his Dahlias are the same colour. I now know why. His purple ones have multiplied to about 6 major plants. And when individual tubers dropped off in the autumn, I potted these up and they have all sprouted as well.

 

snap peter my Bishop is lazy this year too! Pleased you said that as I was beginning to fear for it as only had two bits, it is now starting to show.

Yellow Star is MASSIVE

I have a superb one called Deco Rose which is a very classy plant a clear pink colour with waterlilly shape absolute beauty.

then you will remember me posting Dark Desire - this has gone mad, I think even the cuttings taked from broken off bits in the post seem to be trying to flower despite me pulling buds off every time I look at it!

As you say peter they are all different animals.

I fancied the look of that Arabian nights, but went for Dark Desire instead - I do like my black things - black tulips just fading now, I am going to try your suggestion with them

 

Strange to say Waco - my 'Bishop' has been prolific this year and I have large and small tubers all over the place at the moment - must be the sandy soil down here.
Others I have incl. 'Yvonne' show little progress to date.

 

I haven't even got any in the ground yet! 1.00pm and the temp was 9C and I reset the max/min. When I knocked off to go home at 5pm the temp had risen to 12 but the min reading had gone down to 6C somewhen in between. I'm hoping to get them all (over a 100!) planted next week

One thing I did find when digging a border on Thursday though. A small tuber clump (Edinburgh) that had been missed in the autumn lift was 3/4 rotten pulp but 3 of the tubers were firm and healthy with one showing a dark pink shoot so they are back in the ground again. I keep checking the ones in storage (unheated garage) but no sign of life yet.

Regarding tubers and eyes, Last year I had a box of broken tubers and assorted odds left over that didn't have eyes (or labels!) so I planted them all in one big plastic crate and got a couple of blooms and loads of leafy bits. The crate was stored as it was after the first frost and it's outside again now. No shoots apearing yet but I'm curious to see how they develop this year.

[ 26. May 2006, 10:08 PM: Message edited by: frogesque ]

 

Well I thought about you today peter - I was reviewing my compost heap when I found lying on top the dahlias I had chucked out at the beginning of this month and guess what.............yes, there they all were happily sprouting away!

 

I am glad your compost heap made you think of me. :D :D :D

 

now you have done yourself a diservice,

I am grateful to both you and compost heap

 

i am growing dahlia's for the first time this year. i have a few different varieties, rigoletto,some happy singles and the others will know once they flower, got last lot in a plant swap. so i am looking forward to seeing if they come up. the rigoletto, show now growth as of yet, they are in 2 of my beds, the others are still in pots in my mini greenhouse. they should be big enough to plant out in one or two weeks time.

 

I put my #bishop Lout two days ago and he looks very sad -hope you have better luck.

 

i have planted out my dahlias now that where in the greenhouse. but wild rabbits are munching them. so i have had to put plastic bottles over them for protection for now. until i get chickenwire to put around beds.