Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => General Gardening => Topic started by: Plot 6B on March 10, 2013, 13:23

Title: Dahlia Tubers.
Post by: Plot 6B on March 10, 2013, 13:23
The Garden Centres are full of them this time of year and I think rather expensive.
My question is.............If you buy a tuber is it possible to split it in order to get more plants?
If so, what is the best way to do it?
Title: Re: Dahlia Tubers.
Post by: New shoot on March 10, 2013, 13:40
Usually there is only one main growing point in the bagged tubers in garden centres now, so they are not easy to split.  You can pot them up and then take loads of cuttings though  ;)

There's a video on this link   :)

http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/projects/creative-projects/how-to-take-dahlia-cuttings/104.html
Title: Re: Dahlia Tubers.
Post by: Plot 6B on March 11, 2013, 12:36
Thanks New Shoot that's just what I needed 8) 8) :)
Title: Re: Dahlia Tubers.
Post by: angelavdavis on March 11, 2013, 12:42
Also got some in Poundland too. 
Title: Re: Dahlia Tubers.
Post by: Plot 6B on March 11, 2013, 14:34
Also got some in Poundland too. 

Thanks I'll have a look and for a pound!!!!!
Title: Re: Dahlia Tubers.
Post by: angelavdavis on March 11, 2013, 16:40
Exactly!  My local branch had cactus, pompom and daisy headed varieties.  I thought they were worth a punt too!
Title: Re: Dahlia Tubers.
Post by: Sweetpea C on March 11, 2013, 18:36
I've already potted mine up and they are in the greenhouse - I have had a lot of success in taking the early cuttings and potting on - I'm hoping to have some to sell at the school summer fayre this year for the PTA. Worth noting that I am no expert in this area, it just worked for me so I have my fingers crossed again for success this year!
Title: Re: Dahlia Tubers.
Post by: angelavdavis on March 11, 2013, 22:57
I've already potted mine up and they are in the greenhouse - I have had a lot of success in taking the early cuttings and potting on - I'm hoping to have some to sell at the school summer fayre this year for the PTA. Worth noting that I am no expert in this area, it just worked for me so I have my fingers crossed again for success this year!

It is also my plan this year too!!!  Did you see this on Sunday morning's Cottage Gardens?  Carole Klein showed this process and explained that she recommended keeping them in pots for year 1 in order that the cuttings build up corms for next year.  Has that been your experience?
Title: Re: Dahlia Tubers.
Post by: yaxley on March 11, 2013, 23:09
Our aldi,s had some in with the summer flowing plants the other week they still had some friday when i popped in for bread worth a look if you have one nearby ...
Title: Re: Dahlia Tubers.
Post by: Sweetpea C on March 12, 2013, 06:27
I've already potted mine up and they are in the greenhouse - I have had a lot of success in taking the early cuttings and potting on - I'm hoping to have some to sell at the school summer fayre this year for the PTA. Worth noting that I am no expert in this area, it just worked for me so I have my fingers crossed again for success this year!

It is also my plan this year too!!!  Did you see this on Sunday morning's Cottage Gardens?  Carole Klein showed this process and explained that she recommended keeping them in pots for year 1 in order that the cuttings build up corms for next year.  Has that been your experience?

I kept the cuttings in the greenhouse in pots, I'm sure they flowered in the first year (no diary then!), It was very easy, but then things are when they work out aren't they?!
Title: Re: Dahlia Tubers.
Post by: angelavdavis on March 12, 2013, 10:24

I kept the cuttings in the greenhouse in pots, I'm sure they flowered in the first year (no diary then!), It was very easy, but then things are when they work out aren't they?!

Absolutely!  Well, let's both give it a try and see where it gets us this year!!
Title: Re: Dahlia Tubers.
Post by: Sweetpea C on March 12, 2013, 13:09

I kept the cuttings in the greenhouse in pots, I'm sure they flowered in the first year (no diary then!), It was very easy, but then things are when they work out aren't they?!

Absolutely!  Well, let's both give it a try and see where it gets us this year!!

Yes, lets :-)
Title: Re: Dahlia Tubers.
Post by: Sweetpea C on March 19, 2013, 19:30
According to this month's 'grow your own', dahlia's can be bought as tubers, potted up, stored somewhere frost free and light. Keep them moist and when the shoots appear remove all but 5. Put the ones you have removed not gritty compost and keep in a warm, light place. These cuttings should root to make new plants, which amazingly flower in the same season...

Thought mine did! Definitely doing it again this year :)
Title: Re: Dahlia Tubers.
Post by: Tea Break on March 19, 2013, 21:44
You can also buy packet seeds, and then you will have the tubers for next year. and the seeds are cheaper than buying tubers. 8)
Title: Re: Dahlia Tubers.
Post by: New shoot on March 20, 2013, 10:02
You can also buy packet seeds, and then you will have the tubers for next year. and the seeds are cheaper than buying tubers. 8)

Unfortunately the seed raised ones are usually annuals and don't make tubers to store.  Very easy from seed and a great way to grow lots of summer colour cheaply though  :)
Title: Re: Dahlia Tubers.
Post by: Plot 6B on March 22, 2013, 18:44
You can also buy packet seeds, and then you will have the tubers for next year. and the seeds are cheaper than buying tubers. 8)

Unfortunately the seed raised ones are usually annuals and don't make tubers to store.  Very easy from seed and a great way to grow lots of summer colour cheaply though  :)

That is another option. Thank you! :)
Title: Re: Dahlia Tubers.
Post by: New shoot on March 23, 2013, 07:53
I grew a mix called Bishop's Children a few years back.  They are dark leaved plants with rich deep flower colours.  Would recommend them  :)
Title: Re: Dahlia Tubers.
Post by: mumofstig on March 23, 2013, 12:37
Newshoot, about half of the Bishop's Children I sowed for my daughter, grew tubers - didn't yours?
Title: Re: Dahlia Tubers.
Post by: New shoot on March 23, 2013, 12:53
Newshoot, about half of the Bishop's Children I sowed for my daughter, grew tubers - didn't yours?

Most grew small tubers, but a lot withered away over winter and the remaining ones didn't sprout when I replanted them next spring  :(   Maybe I was unlucky, but the proper tuberous dahlias I had overwintered fine and they were all treated the same.
Title: Re: Dahlia Tubers.
Post by: mumofstig on March 23, 2013, 13:30
I just potted them up and slung them in the childrens playhouse, perhaps they didn't dry out as much  :unsure:
Title: Re: Dahlia Tubers.
Post by: Tea Break on March 31, 2013, 20:31
Been up to the glass house this morning and checked the dahlias that i sowed from seed last year and they alll produced tubers, so will be using them this year.


Mike
Title: Re: Dahlia Tubers.
Post by: Trillium on April 01, 2013, 03:26
All my seeded dahlias always produced tubers - it's how they grow. And, they all grew again next year when replanted. It could be how you're storing them overwinter that is giving trouble.