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Post by Chuckles on Nov 11, 2006 22:49:32 GMT
I like to grow really bright coloured Dahlias in pots for a splash of colour. Last year I foolishly left them to the elements over winter and alot of them rotted in the pots.
I have kept the pots fairly sheltered the last few weeks and the compost is reletavely dry, I'm going to try putting them in the shed as they are and just put some polystyrene around them for protection.
Has anyone stored them like this before.
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Post by Dr Bill on Nov 11, 2006 22:57:36 GMT
I have a couple of dahlias in a container and they are left to their own devices over winter.
I think that damp is more deadly than cold, so if they are well drained I suspect they would be fine.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2006 23:30:06 GMT
Ive left my dahlias in my front garden for the last 2 years without lifting and they have been fine, if you keep them in your gh out of the wind and frost they should be OK.
If you need to lift then wait till the frost blackens the leaves cut to 6 inches above ground lift gentility remove soil and roots, store upside down for a week to get rid of moisture, then place on a bed of peat covering the roots not the crowns, store in a frost free place.
Plant the tubers in April wait until may if its cold its best to wait until all frost has gone if they are in gh they should be OK.
Hope this helps Karen
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2006 12:55:55 GMT
OK, silly novice question coming - when leaving dahlias in the open ground, should you still cut them down? And would a covering of leaf mulch be sufficient protection? ... cheers ...
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Post by 4pygmies on Nov 12, 2006 13:55:53 GMT
I'm a beginner with Dahlias too but I think you should cut the foliage down and give them a slightly warmer top covering like straw or something. I have heaped goat straw on mine this Autumn which I hope is enough.....last year I had one Bishop of Llandorf buried in a pot which was covered with the old leaves and rubbish of the surrounding plants. It only just made it and hasn't flowered this summer at all although the leaves came up eventually. This year I'm putting a warmer layer on it but it gets very very cold in Norfolk, maybe it's better temperatures in Dublin over winter??
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Post by piggingardener on Nov 13, 2006 11:53:34 GMT
I grow dahlias in pots too. I wait until the first frost blackens the foliage, cut them back, and bung them in the greenhouse. I allow the compost to dry completely and leave them until spring. I then empty them from the pot, clean off all the old compost and repot into fresh. When they shoot, you can then take cuttings. Keep them inside until the end of May.
PG
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