Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => General Gardening => Topic started by: Babstreefern on October 09, 2009, 19:53

Title: Dahlias
Post by: Babstreefern on October 09, 2009, 19:53

I know someone can answer this - I've just dug up my dahlias which I grew from seed and now want to pack the tubers away for the winter, what is the stuff that I need to dust them with :wub:

Title: Re: Dahlias
Post by: Comfortably Numb on October 09, 2009, 20:36

Always used to use flowers of sulphur when I grew them some years ago.

Title: Re: Dahlias
Post by: Yabba on October 09, 2009, 21:41

We use sulphur as well, but store them upside down, it allows water to drain out of the necks

¥

Title: Re: Dahlias
Post by: Babstreefern on October 09, 2009, 22:06

Thanks guys, knew you could help 8)

Title: Re: Dahlias
Post by: Paul Plots on October 09, 2009, 22:18

So I really ought to oik mine out from the carrier bags I brought them home in from the allotment a couple of weeks ago...  ???

They were lovely - grew huge and then.....huger...

A present from my OH. Only problem was we can't eat them and wanted the space for a bigger strawberry patch. I'm hoping our friend (with the flint cottage and converted barn extension) will stick them in her garden as she has tons of space.  :)

Title: Re: Dahlias
Post by: Comfortably Numb on October 10, 2009, 16:34

Quote from: Learner on October 09, 2009, 22:18

So I really ought to oik mine out from the carrier bags I brought them home in from the allotment a couple of weeks ago...  ???

They were lovely - grew huge and then.....huger...

A present from my OH. Only problem was we can't eat them and wanted the space for a bigger strawberry patch. I'm hoping our friend (with the flint cottage and converted barn extension) will stick them in her garden as she has tons of space.  :)

Umm, plastic carrier bags and damp dahlia tubers. Not a good combination  :D

Title: Re: Dahlias
Post by: missycat on October 10, 2009, 16:49

do dahlia tubers have to be lifted? I put mine in this year but assumed you just left them! If I do have to lift, can it wait a few more weeks they are flowering like mad at the moment.

Title: Re: Dahlias
Post by: Yabba on October 10, 2009, 17:16

Quote from: missycat on October 10, 2009, 16:49

do dahlia tubers have to be lifted? I put mine in this year but assumed you just left them! If I do have to lift, can it wait a few more weeks they are flowering like mad at the moment.

Ours survived last winter in the ground @ norbreck ;)

The ones at home I normally leave until the first frost kills the tops, then I cut them down and ( if I can be arsed ), lift the tubers and store them

The ones at the field we try and lift by the end of nov and overwinter them in a garage

¥

Title: Re: Dahlias
Post by: Yabba on October 10, 2009, 17:20

Quote from: Comfortably Numb on October 10, 2009, 16:34

Umm, plastic carrier bags and damp dahlia tubers. Not a good combination  :D

Amazingly enough, some of ours survived much worse care/conditions ( we got *very* lucky :D ) ... we lost 100% of the ones that got to hot though ;)

¥

Title: Re: Dahlias
Post by: Paul Plots on October 11, 2009, 00:50

Quote from: missycat on October 10, 2009, 16:49

do dahlia tubers have to be lifted? I put mine in this year but assumed you just left them! If I do have to lift, can it wait a few more weeks they are flowering like mad at the moment.

Mine had been out on the plot for three years or more.... just cut them down and plonked a heap of compost on the top. Blessed things regrew every year - bigger and stronger each time. Little shelter but near the back of the shed.

I decided that they just had to go.... will stick a few in the front garden at home, some in my parent's place and the rest to a friend...if they survive the plastic-bag treatment - which I fear they might if not left there too long.