Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => General Gardening => Topic started by: Hey Jude on March 29, 2011, 13:50

Title: Dahlia's....again!
Post by: Hey Jude on March 29, 2011, 13:50
I knew I'd put last years tubers somewhere and I've just found them in the loft (I was getting a suitcase down!). I've had a look at them and a number of them are sending out little shoots, not pale weedy ones, good thick red one's so I'm thrilled but the tubers are enormous, can I cut any of them away? otherwise I'm looking a 6 litre pots and the greenhouse is rammed as it is!! Many thanks, Jude.
Title: Re: Dahlia's....again!
Post by: Goosegirl on March 29, 2011, 14:57
Just looked at my RHS propagating book and it says you can divide the clump of tubers into sections ensuring that each of them has at least one healthy bud and one tuber attached, Dust the cut surface with fungicide and plant 4-6" deep.
Title: Re: Dahlia's....again!
Post by: N.WalesIdealist on March 29, 2011, 15:03
^^^  What I was going to say.

My mum loves dahlias and I remember every few years doing this, planting them and giving the plants away as presents.  Make sure it's a good clean cut, no hacking away at them with anything blunt!
Title: Re: Dahlia's....again!
Post by: Hey Jude on March 29, 2011, 15:05
Thanks guys, I'm reaching for my best veg paring knife as I type!!
Title: Re: Dahlia's....again!
Post by: Trillium on March 29, 2011, 17:16
Yep, as long as each new section still has a bit of original 'top' with a bud, you're okay. Here are some pix.

http://www.cooltropicalplants.com/Dahlia-tubers.html