Dahlia Question

[TPeers]

I have a Dahlia I grew from seed a few years ago - it grows to about 4-4 1/5 feet tall and has deep red/purple flowers - I have never lifted it and it seems to do well enough.

Why are you recommended to lift dahlias each winter? I is one heck of a job given the size of the plant!

Terry

[Nick the Grief]

Hi Terry,

Dahlia's originate from Mexico so they don't appreciate the cold & wet of our winters. If it's in a sheltered spot you can get away with leaving it (our tresurer covers them with straw). The only reason you have to lift them is if you want todivide the tuber or take cuttings from it to propagate this way. The main problem with overwintering in the ground is they are slower to start into re-growth & when they do the shoots are loved by slugs & snails.

Hope that helps

Nick

[TPeers]

Thanks Nick. I had noticed the slug problem! Beating them off with sticks round here!

[girdhar]

Hi,Nick and Grief
I found your information very valuable indeed i had been unknown from these facts. thank you for such nice information.

[Nick the Grief]

Hi Girdhar,

Thats a pleasure but LJ will tell you I am fantastic

FOr a bit more information take a look at our local chrysanth and dahlia website.

Shameless plug - Dahlia's


Nick

[TPeers]

Lovely website, the photo links in 'early show' are borken or missing though.

I sort of split the difference this year, I had to move the plant in a hurry (not ideal) so half got replanted asap nearer the back of the border where it can take its chances with the rabid slug population and the other half is currently in a bucket in the green house.

Isn't there something about keeping the tubers upside down or draining the stems I'm supposed to do/have done?

[Nick the Grief]

Originally Posted by TPeers

Lovely website, the photo links in 'early show' are borken or missing though.

I sort of split the difference this year, I had to move the plant in a hurry (not ideal) so half got replanted asap nearer the back of the border where it can take its chances with the rabid slug population and the other half is currently in a bucket in the green house.

Isn't there something about keeping the tubers upside down or draining the stems I'm supposed to do/have done?

Hi TP,

You can either stand them upside down on the staging so the excess water drains from the tubers. Alternatively, tho can carefully shove a screwdriver it the hollow stem and through the base and it should do the same. If you've cut it in half though it should be OK so long as you dusted the cut surface with sulphur.

As to the early show links , I'm currently moving the site to another server and so some of the links on the old site are broken. Try our
New site although the server is down at the moment