Dahlias

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alp from these

 

Thank you, @zenj I will have a look and see if I can get myself on the addicts'/suckers' list!

 

Hellooo!
I'm new so please point me in the right direction if I'm lost!
I have just found some Dahlia tubers in the garden. Completely unexpected as there were no Dahlia plants there earlier this year (not even foliage and no flowers!), though looking back at photos of the previous year (when we bought the house) there are several Dahlias in that spot.
They are firm and not rotten, though some are quite wrinkly, others are not. I have lifted them and was just wondering before expending too much energy on storing them properly, has anyone ever had a dahlia dormant for an entire year and managed to coax it back to life?
I have managed this with rhubarb (also tubers) but I assume Dahlias are fussier?
I am in the process of searching out other related forum posts but I think mostly people lob them on the compost at this point. Any advice on proper storage if I want to be super optimistic? I live in damp old south wales if that makes a difference.
Thanks!

 

@Mol , any Dahlia tubers I have left in the garden have sprouted . Bearing in mind we have had mild winters for the past few years. To my mind its not worth the faff of storing them potting them up in spring , to find they are duds. Wilkos will have plenty tubers next spring

 

Probably rotted off at the crown last winter, without the neck, the tubers cant grow new shoots even if the tubers are unaffected.
If there was no growth this year probably best to bin them.

 

I .used to be my main ones were shade or pastel colours, I treat them as directed by the profesionals, dug up cleaned dryed treated with flowers of sulphur , I lost more than I did by leaving them in the ground, but now I grow from seed , I get a good show the same year, then leave them were they are and cover with a little well strawed manure to keep the frost off and to feed them in the spring ,I could get bitten aging by the dahlia but without the expert advice

 

Growing from seed sounds interesting. I bought some bulbs last year and was okay with what they produced but I'm not excited with the bit about having to dig up and store them.

I'll have a look to see what our local seed companies have to offer.

Have you got pictures to share?

 

Lori , I grew Bishops Children Dahlia from seed 3 years ago ( Google photo below ) . They are easy to grow and a very popular variety , so seeds should be easy to buy. They will form tubers , so can be saved for the following year, if you can be bothered lifting them and storing them.

 

Oh, @HarryS , I really like those. Gorgeous!

 

thanks for the replies @HarryS @pete
I thought as much.
Ah well.

 

Wilkos now have Dahlia tubers in stock . Bought a 3 pack of Cactus Dahlia for £2.50
Plenty others in stock from £1.

 

Nice little article from J Parkers on Dahlia history , types and growing tips

Complete Guide: How To Plant Dahlia Tubers – Gardening Tips with J. Parker's

 

First signs of Spring here - my dahlia piccolo seed tray has sprouted

 

Anyone been brave and started them off yet?

Edit : posted same time Clanless. weird. Think I'll get going this weekend.

 

I pot my Dahlia rhizomes up in late march and put them in the GH .