Growing dahlias

teapot2

Hope someone can advise. I grew a few dahlias last year and dug up the tubers in the autumn and put them in the shed. I forgot all about them until this week, some but not all are doing what looks like chitting.

My questions are:
Will they still be ok to plant? Am in Scotland where its been cold, wet and windy until this week so quite a few things are behind.

If I can plant them do I need to wait for them all to chit or is ok just to bung them in?

Also the tubers look like they have got extra bits on since last year so can I split them to make more plants?

Thanks for any help with this, my Dad used to grow dahlias so thought I'd give it a go

Farway

First question is - are the tubers still hard / solid? If they are [not squishy] then they are OK to use

You can just bung them in, or to be certain plant them in trays / pots or similar, water and sit back for a few weeks

You can split to make new plants, but this is best done when you can see what is actaully sprouting.

Personally I would put into pots / trays, wait until they are growing and then take some cuttings for new plants and plant the tuber out with a few sprouts on it

FWIW my dahlias, left in the ground have only just got a few buds on them [Hampshire], so still plenty of time

Tiby

I have always dug up and stored Dahlia tubers in the past except last year( regretting not hving done it now). I agree with Farway's advice; best thing to do will be to put them into a tray of compost, keep it warm and watered and within a week or so you might notice fresh growth. I wouldnt suggest to spliting the plants at this stage either.

teapot2

Farway wrote: »

First question is - are the tubers still hard / solid? If they are [not squishy] then they are OK to use

You can just bung them in, or to be certain plant them in trays / pots or similar, water and sit back for a few weeks

You can split to make new plants, but this is best done when you can see what is actaully sprouting.

Personally I would put into pots / trays, wait until they are growing and then take some cuttings for new plants and plant the tuber out with a few sprouts on it

FWIW my dahlias, left in the ground have only just got a few buds on them [Hampshire], so still plenty of time

Thanks Farway, the tubers are solid so haven't rotted :j sorry to be a bit dense but are you saying I should put them in some compost then when they start to sprout [hopefully] I should lift them out and then split the tubers? Or have I got hold of the wrong end of the stick here [which is entirely possible] Wasn't sure what you meant by 'taking cuttings'?

teapot2

Anyone?????????????????

Thanks Teapot

angie_loves_veg

teapot2 wrote: »

Thanks Farway, the tubers are solid so haven't rotted :j sorry to be a bit dense but are you saying I should put them in some compost then when they start to sprout [hopefully] I should lift them out and then split the tubers? Or have I got hold of the wrong end of the stick here [which is entirely possible] Wasn't sure what you meant by 'taking cuttings'?

you've got it exactly - put the tubers in a tray of compost. water. this should get the tuber throwing out some new sprouts. when they have done so, and the sprouts are a couple of inches tall, plant the tuber with its couple of sprouts on it into the garden or wherever.

no expert on splitting tubers myself, but I would only consider doing it when you can see where the healthy plants are growing from....
hth

teapot2

Thanks will do that this affy. Have to say am getting very fed up with the wet, cold and cloudy weather we are having on the East coast. I keep hearing on the radio about the sun shining and folk getting sunburn and I'm here thinking I need to put a jumper on top of my 2 layers cos its a bit chilly.:p