Dahlias

[Mrs Ava]

Sorry if this has been asked before.  :-\

I have a couple of batches, one lot have been in the ground all winter, one lot were given to me (thanks Doris) and are now planted out.  Both lots are growing well, altho the second batch are a good 8 inches tall now whereas those left in all winter are only about 3 inches tall.  What I wanted to know is should I pinch the tops out to make them bushy?  I am a learner where Dahlias are concerned.
Ta

[Mrs Ava]

[Rosa_Mundi]

Never have, and they always grow rampantly :)

[nell]

I find that Dahlias that have been left in situ overwinter generally send up several strong shoots and so don't need any pinching out,  (although these shoots usually show up much later (i.e.late May/June) than cuttings or pot grown Dahlias - but I find they are much stronger and soon overtake growth of Dahlias that have been raised indoors ! )
   Indoor raised Dahlias from cuttings/ mail order etc can sometimes send up just one main shoot and become rather leggy - so I think these are best pinched out at about 8" to encourage bushiness.

[Lazy Daisy]

Wait a minute, wait a minute, 'doing' Dahlias for the first time this season. Have taken cuttings and also planted the tubers when shoots have appeared. They have been there for about 3 weeks and are growing strongly some with 2 ,3 or even 4 shoots. Are you telling me now that I can leave them is situ over the winter, if I can yipee. I live in West Yorkshire.

[sandersj89]

All depends on your soil, how wet and cold it is and if you can protect the tubers with a good layer of mulch to keep the frost from them.

I tries it last year on my clay soil and lost them all but no big deal as they are sooooo easy to grow from seed each year.

Jerry

[Lazy Daisy]

Ta for that Jerry, never had the courage to grow 'em never mind from seed. Promise to be more adventurous next year

[Emagggie]

Have always left mine in over winter but dug them up this time and planted new tubers. Not one single plant has grown and I have resorted to buying some in trays from the garden center.Serves me right for buying cheapos from Aldi in the first place.  ;D I replanted the originals on the allotment and they are doing well.

[Mrs Ava]

I left mine in situ and put a good thick layer of rotted compost down.  Although my garden is a swamp for 11 months of the year, the borders have had so much compost encorporated, they are reasonably well drained and they are sheltered so snug!  ;D  I can't be doing with this digging up and storing lark, I have enough trouble getting everything else ready for the allotment!  They are dead easy to grow from seed and I have already acquired a selection for sowing for next year.

[Tee Gee]

This thread intrigues me!

Now there are Dahlias and there are Dahlias!!!

Are we talking 'Bedding' Dahlias or we talking such things as Decoratives (Giant / Large / Medium /small /miniature) Cactus & Semi cactus (Giant /Large/ Medium/ small/ miniature) etc

If we are talking the latter the chances of having any success with leaving them in the ground is limited at best.

OK in areas south of the Thames with a bit of protection perhaps, but Lazy Daisy I would forget it if I were you.

Like you I live in West Yorkshire (same town as it happens) and I have grown and exhibited all these types for many many years and wouldn't even contemplate it.

I might consider doing it with  bedding dahlias, but considering dahlias are very susceptible to virus I don't see the point because this type (bedding) is so easy to grow annualy from seed.

Taking cuttings is agood option providing you can overwinter the tubers, but then again thats another story.

I always say; 'if it works for you carry on doing it' but with this one my opinion is a definite No!!!

As far as 'pinching out is concerned it all depends if you want them for display, cut flowers or exhibition.

If you are interested in the way I did it when I grew them have a look in here;

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

Incidently; these are my favourite flower.

[Lazy Daisy]

Thanks Tee Gee for all the gen and the link. Will read it with pleasure. I want the best of both worlds, I want to grow them to show off in the garden and also to nick a few for the house. Which are the best  for this. I would have problems storing the tubers during the winter months so would it be better me  growing from seed, if so where is the best place to get them. The ones I have in at the moment are ones that caught my eye at various places like garden centres, Wilko's and the like. All info gratefully received.

[djbrenton]

As tee Gee said, there are two distinctly different plants called Dahlia. The large flowers commonly grown for show are grown from tubers that generally are taken up each year. It's bedding Dahliahs that are grown from seed.

[Ceratonia]

If we are talking the latter the chances of having any success with leaving them in the ground is limited at best.

OK in areas south of the Thames with a bit of protection perhaps, but Lazy Daisy I would forget it if I were you.

I'm sure you're right about conditions in Yorkshire, but I've left my tubers in the ground over-winter without any problems here in Cambridge (lowest temperature this winter was -8C). It's the damp that causes problems more than the cold - if they're going to spend the whole winter in wet soil, they'll rot, but cold, dry conditions are not a problem. I only bring indoors any that I want to take cuttings from in spring.

[Tee Gee]

Quote; As tee Gee said, there are two distinctly different plants called Dahlia. The large flowers commonly grown for show are grown from tubers that generally are taken up each year. It's bedding Dahliahs that are grown from seed.

With respect Ceratonia I didn't say that, although on reading my own comments above, I can see why one could think I had.

No, all the Dahlias I mentioned are of the same family and the original Dahlia found in Mexico was not unlike the present day 'bedding dahlia'

Through intensive breeding all these forms have since been developed, and as we all know to get an exact replica of the parent plant we have to take vegetative cuttings, hence the reason for keeping the tuber.

Having said that Dahlia breeders take seed from these 'hybrids' and grow them on.

If among the seedlings they find one with potential they will save the tuber, and take cuttings from it the following year to see if it maintains the same form or better.

Quite often they don't and they revert back to a single dahlia so two years have been wasted.

In all it can take around seven years to produce a seedling to commercial viability.

I hope that clarifies that point.


Quote; It's the damp that causes problems more than the cold - if they're going to spend the whole winter in wet soil, they'll rot, but cold, dry conditions are not a problem. I only bring indoors any that I want to take cuttings from in spring.

I totally agree! in fact one of the best places to store dahlia tubers is in the roof space where it is dry, cool and reasonably well ventilated.

Quote; so would it be better me  growing from seed, if so where is the best place to get them.

Anywhere! if you see something that takes your fancy then just buy them.

Who knows the seed from Wilkos might be the same as those bought from a more recognised seed merchant,and only the packing and number of seeds in the packet might be the only difference.

Just a point about the ones that you are growing now; If you find a plant or plants that you really like then save the tuber and take cuttings from it next year. You could always supplement the number of plants you want by sowing another packet next year.

[Ceratonia]

With respect Ceratonia I didn't say that,

I didn't say it either, it was djbrenton  ;)

Having said that Dahlia breeders take seed from these 'hybrids' and grow them on.

If among the seedlings they find one with potential they will save the tuber, and take cuttings from it the following year to see if it maintains the same form or better.

I saw a dutch hybridizer at work a few years back - he had rows containg many thousands of plants, 99.99% of which he was going to throw away. I was surprised that it wasn't more high-tech - using DNA profiles of the parents or something. Still seems to just grow lots and lots of plants and hope that one turns out to be special - a technique that hasn't changed for hundreds of years.

[Tee Gee]

Quote; I didn't say it either, it was djbrenton

My apologies another of my senile moments I'm afraid.

Quote; I was surprised that it wasn't more high-tech - using DNA profiles of the parents or something. Still seems to just grow lots and lots of plants and hope that one turns out to be special - a technique that hasn't changed for hundreds of years.

Not being an expert on the finer points of the Dahlia metabolism I wouldn't know.

I do know that it is quite common for Dahlias to throw 'sports' perhaps the DNA is unstable and this could be the reason why????

You can bet if a 'winner' in commercial terms is found, then the high tech will come into play by bulking up the cutting numbers through micro culture. techniques.