Are there any dahlia growers out there? If so, I need your help!
Earlier this year I bought 3 dahlia plants at the local nursery and now I’m hooked. I am kicking myself for throwing away the plant tags because I really like the ones I have {and want more!}.
I planted them early this summer and they are STILL blooming! I can’t believe it. All I did was water them and deadhead the blooms. That’s it.
The flowers just won’t stop! And now that I know how insanely easy dahlias are to grow, I want to know:
1. How and when do I dig up and store the tubers?
2. Where do you recommend I shop for dahlia tubers online?
Is it too late to order dahlia tubers for the spring? What are the websites I should be looking at and what kind of dahlias have you had great success with?
Are there varieties that are easier to grow than others? I’d like to have some for cutting flowers and some on the sides of the fence to display all summer {and apparently fall} long.
I’m on the hunt for pale pinks, salmon, and coral colored ones.
If you grow dahlias, I’d love to know more!
~Mavis
Mary says
Ask Dahlia Dill at Chandler Pond Farm in South Wheelock VT , the most amazing farm !
Maria says
I store my dahlias in paper bags in our basement, in an unheated room. I don’t rinse them after digging them up, so there is always a little soil left on them.
I usually dig them up right after the first frost, depending on the weather.
I love “Preference” and “Penhill Watermelon”.
Christa H. says
I buy dahlias at Costco in the spring and they are a great price for a good sized bag of multiple tubers I think around $16-18. I have also bought at “Swan Island Dahlias” online to get more rare varieties. They come stamped with the name on them but are $$$. I get blooms from May to November and cut them to bring inside for bathroom counter and kitchen sink bouquets.
I have also collected my own seeds to create my own varieties that cross with one another.
I am in the Piedmont area of NC and I don’t need to dig mine up in the late fall to store properly, but you would. I’ll dig to divide when needed.
Be sure you plant in full sun, 6″ deep, and in very well draining soil with compost added in so you don’t get rot.
Swan Island has growing guides on their site that are well done.
maureen detmer says
dahlias are easy, peasy. they grow well into the first frost. most beautiful and abundant in the fall. after a hard frost just cut back the wilted greens, dry the tubers for a few days and i store in my basement overwinter. i used to put some dried leaves and pine needles and a little soil around them, but don’t bother with that now and they seem to wether fine. couldn’t tell what that variety is, i just usually pick up packets at home depot or lowes in the spring, there are always plenty to choose from. the tubers get larger each year and you just divide.
Diane says
I would show a picture of the dahlia to the nursery where you bought them. Whoever orders the inventory might recognize the picture or can give you a list of the ones they ordered and you can look them up to find a match. That pink one looks really pretty with the yellow streaks in it.
Sue says
This is the best suggestion–the nursery knows what stock they ordered and will at least be able to narrow it down. Especially if you bring in a bloom (plus leaves) for them to examine.
My guess, aided by Google image search, is ‘Otto’s Thrill’. It seems to be a common nursery stock.
Nora says
Dahlias are to be dug up after the first frost, but before the frost reaches the ground. This way the plant dies down naturally and the tubers „knows“ when to stop sending water and nutrients upwards.
Store them cool, dark and dry – paperbags or single layer in (wooden) boxes, if stored in boxes – a little newspaper, dry leaves or sand prevents drying out. No need to wash them, a little soil or sand on them is okay.
Lived near Engelhard (famos gröber and in Germany – but they don’t sell anymore.