Dahlias

middlewife

I'm growing 2 dahlias for the first time. One has produced a flower, the other has buds. Novice question, do they repeat flower or just produce one flush of flowers?

At what point should I lift them and pop them in the garage?

Can you store them bare, or do they need to be in pots of compost?, if so, do they require any watering/feeding?

gwynlas

They repeat flower to the first frosts if you dead head regularly.

You can lift them and store dry over winter checking for signs of rot before replanting next spring

Silvertabby

I don't grow dahlias because they seem to be earwig magnets. I don't mind spiders - but earwigs, for some reason, are just creepy!

Valli

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82067265#Comment_82067265

and crysanthemums - anything the little horrors can tuck themselves in… shudder

Farway

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6676020/dahlias

Common guide for when to lift is after first frost, which will kill off the foliage, turning it black

However, depending where you live and price you paid, just covering the area where they are planted with some mulch, leaves, old compost , used grow bags etc, will see them safely through the winter. I'd advise sticking a cane in so you know where they are

Apart form frost protection one reason for bringing in over winter is to get an early start next year by getting them growing under cover before the outside ones are stirring. Which brings me back to price, unless you have or want something named & fancy then you could just start again and buy fresh tubers once they appear in shops, or mail order.

May not be exactly money saving, but as time is money so they say, it may equal out

Yorkshire_Dangermouse

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82067465#Comment_82067465

…and if you do decide to lift them, cut the stem down to 4/6 inches, and keep the tuber upside down for a week or so, in order that the moisture drains out.

twopenny

When I grew dahlias I followed the instructions and lifted them. They died. So I left them in the ground with a little mulch on top and they did find.

For those with an earwig problem smear a little Vaseline on the stems as they bud. No earwigs. ( Thanks to gardeners question time decades ago) 🙂

middlewife

Wow! So many tips, thanks guys, they were reduced to clear at a garden centre, so a bit of an experiment as had a bare patch to fill....

Alfrescodave

I grow many dahlias in large pots and store the pots in the garage over the winter as I have clay soil which remains very wet and causes the dahlias to rot.