Topic: Splitting dahlia tubers

[debjay]

Hi. I am growing dahlias for the first time this year. I had some large clumps of tubers give by a fellow allotmenteer and I dont know how to split them ???
And clues welcome ;D
Thanks
Debbie :)

[valmarg]

Well debjay, you can't treat them like potatoes and break off a tuber.  The new growth needs to come from the main stem.

Its probably best to wait until they are starting into growth, and split them up, complete with stem.

You can also take cuttings of the new growth, before the stems are hollow.

valmarg

[Tee Gee]

You have plenty of time yet so just leave them for now.

I was planning on doing a slide show for my website within the next few weeks showing how to take cuttings and how to divide, so if you hang fire this might be the best way to describe the method.

Otherwise if you are impatient and want to get on with it you must ensure that their is an 'eye' (growing point) on each severed section.

[debjay]

TeeGee. I will wait for you to do your slide show ;D
Thankyou very much
Debbie ;)

[betula]

Put them into compost.Do not cover the crown.The new growth comes from the crown so try not to get wet.Just keep the compost moist.This will avoid rot.Keep warm.Take the cuttings when they are about 4 ins long.Don't take the cutting right at the base,leave a little for more cuttings later.Trim the base of the cutting just below a node.Put into rooting powder and plant about an inch deep. :)

[Tee Gee]

As promised here is my slide show on propagating Dahlias. http://tinyurl.com/2pop6t

Let me apologise for the quality of the tubers in the pictures.

In February I set them up on the hot bed to produce basal growth for cuttings, and they came on a treat but !!

In early March when all that frost was about I had an aged moment and forgot to put my fan heater on (I only use it when it is forecast very cold weather) needless to say I got up the following morning to find all the top growth blackened by the frost.

This meant I had to wait until more growth was produced.  Because the second flush isn't as plentiful as the first batch I have had to resort to other methods of propagation.

Normally I just take basal cuttings then throw away the tubers but this year I have divided them and potted them on.

Firstly I took all the basal cuttings I could,  then I resorted to taking tip & nodal cuttings.

This a method I have used in the past when some varieties don't throw many cuttings, you can often get three for the price of one, i.e. slice the stem as you will see on the side show.

I hope you understand what I am doing in the pictures.

[Dadnlad]

Excellent slideshow Tee Gee  ;D 
Even I managed to follow that ::) cheers

[debjay]

Thankyou soooooooo much TeeGee ;)
Very helpful
Thanks again
Debbie :)

[kimbobill]

thanks TeeGee........... excellent

[alan42]

i learned something there, many thanks teegee.

[Rohaise]

Yes Thanks Tee Gee !  Amazed at how you can get such tiny pieces to root !  Will be having a go this afternoon ,thanks. Rohaise .

[Jitterbug]

Thanks TeeGee

Wonder videa - learnt a lot - now know how to take tip cuttings and split further in emergencies.  Can you do this for Chrysanthemums as well?

Jitterbug

[Tee Gee]

Can you do this for Chrysanthemums

I prefer to take cuttings, but I don't see any reason why you can't split the stool. I would have thought if you leave some basal growth on each section all should be OK

This is how I take my cuttings; http://tinyurl.com/2s4r46