Dahlia's

[wendya]

Would it be best to leave a few weeks now before i plant in garden Ladygardener,

[Ladygardener]

When the risk of frost has passed they say wendya and then set them out in the daytime and bring in at night for a week or so to harden off. Having said that, if you have a sheltered place or grow house then I'd put your Dahlia there. I've quite a few of mine outside now in sheltered spots but I'm prepared to loose or stop some of them but I just don't have room anywhere else.

[wendya]

Ok will do thank you again

[Ladygardener]

No problem wendya good luck.

[wendya]

Getting big another few days and theyre going to be planted out.

[Ladygardener]

I have a good few of mine in the ground now too wendya, . Those look great. Good idea to put in a stake into the ground before you plant and then you can tie your Dahlia in as they grow up. A lot of them do need staking.

[Jilly]

Apr 18, 2015 8:51:00 GMT Jilly said:

I left a few in a raised bed all winter last year Chuckles, no growth yet but I've had a poke around & the tubers feel nice & firm, so I should think they'll be fine.

David Howard & Blue Bayou both made it through the winter & loads of nice new shoots 

[Ladygardener]

Thats's good Jilly. I have a few that have'nt done anything despite coming through. One of them is a decorative one that was bought new for this year.

A couple that started off well seemed to tail off. I tipped them out and part of the tubers were squishy so I removed them and replanted what was left. We'll see how it goes. I'll have more than enough anyhow.

[Chuckles]

May 15, 2015 10:58:02 GMT Jilly said:

Apr 18, 2015 8:51:00 GMT Jilly said:

I left a few in a raised bed all winter last year Chuckles, no growth yet but I've had a poke around & the tubers feel nice & firm, so I should think they'll be fine.

David Howard & Blue Bayou both made it through the winter & loads of nice new shoots 

Checked mine today and they are up, they vary from just poking through to 1" - 2 " shoots. Only thing I've had to do is put some trellis over the top of the bed as one of the local cats seems to think its a toilet

[wendya]

Chuckles, Ladygardener, oh good point, i will either stake or put something round it, as we have very naughty young squirells here that think my planters are a playground.

Im very happy as noticed last year dahlia, is now coming up about 3" showing so they must be fine to be left here over winter thank goodness as was worried i may not see that one again.
Hopefully will get them out today, just waiting on the copper rings, but must admit not seen any slugs this year after last years awful time with them.

Thanks

[wendya]

Dahlias now in the ground outside staked and with copper rings

[Ladygardener]

Your Dahlia coming through after overwintering in the ground are much earlier than mine are. I expect to see some shoots in another couple of weeks or so.

[wendya]

Maybe a lot warmer here Ladygardener, but its doing well at least i know now they will survive in ground here over winter which is great

[Rosefriend]

wendya,Ladygardener,Jilly,Chuckles,Tig,Amber,theinsidegardener,Ron,isabella,Dutchy,Missredhead,maggy
and anyone else that I have forgotten..

Caribbean Fantasy is one of the changing Dahlias (is there a proper word for it...dunno!!) but this one I found absolutely gorgeous...

Fairly normal to start with - bit pale perhaps...



...but I loved the back - all the colours seemed to have gone there....

[isabella]

I love that Dahlia - I need one  Absolutely gorgeous !!

[isabella]

I still love my David Howard

[theinsidegardener]

Rosefriend,

isabella,

Waltzing Mathilda has done well for me this year, flowering its socks off and the bees adore it.

[Ladygardener]

For caribbean fantasy Rosefriend. I love when Dahlia change colours or have other hues to them.


For David Howard isabella.

I'll try to get a pic of my favourite later today.

[Ron]

Beautiful. caribbean Fantasy looks like it is glowing.

[Jilly]

Beautiful everyone, 3 of my favourite Dahlias all in a row.


 isabella,



 theinsidegardener,



I'd have given a nom to Caribbean Fantasy too if it needed one, I do miss mine, had to get rid of it last year as the tuber had just got too big, still got one growing at Mum's though.

I must sort out a few pics of my best ones now I've rediscovered this thread, I've had some good new ones this year.

[Dutchy]

Caribbean fantasy looks like something for the want list.

I plan on a new Dahlia bed at my allotment as the present one is shaded out by a much wanted fruit shrub.
I'll see what I will plant next year but having a wish list is good

[Ladygardener]

Here are a few of my good do'ers. Dutchy I agree a wish list is good, I've managed to get quite a few plants on my wish list over the last couple of years.
Bluebell. Blooming for ages now, compact and does'nt need staking.


Selina, my favourite, it was one of the 1st to start blooming and has'nt stopped. I love the orange coloured front of the petals and then the cerise on the back.


Jowey Mirella, this one is from last year and is growing in a pot, I love the colour and shape.


Waltzing Matilda. This one is last years I think


This one is a couple of years old but has no name. It might be Garden Wonder.
.

[Dutchy]

Those are lovely indeed LG
I Waltzing Matilda. She is lovely and good for bees. Two in one.
Is she any good on a vase?
And ditto question and for Selina.

In Italy I saw these Dahlia at Villa Taranto. They had a good show of absolutely huge Dahlia but those will never grow as big where we live.



www.villataranto.it/en/gardens/ Their site in case you want to see more and I'll do a few of my pics on a new thread.

[Ladygardener]

Dutchy, thanks for the noms, I've not had either in a vase, I rarely pick my flowers but I'd say they'll last up to 2 weeks. Love the link, what an amazing place to visit. It's so colourful is'nt it. I love the lotus flowers.

[wendya]

Oh what amazing Dahlia's I must get a pic of my dark red one, I should try to remember the name of it. Its nearly 5ft tall now and the only thing in my little garden that seems to be very happy. The other one is not yet in bloom

[wendya]

My largets dahlia






This one has only one flower yet

[Ladygardener]

Are the large ones Nuit D Ete? I've got them as well wendya and they're a great and floriferous are'nt they? Well done, what is the smaller red one called? It's interesting to learn which ones perform well and which ones don't is'nt it.

[wendya]

Yes it is Black Dahlia Tuber Bulb - Cactus Dahlia - 'Nuit D'Ete' I love this one, very proud, pic is not the greatest though.
The one not doing as well is Dahlia 'Arabian Night' Tuber Red Purple Double Flower, but i think it may get there lots of buds on it now
So rather pleased at my first Dahlia grow, although maybe the dark red isnt a great colour as needs white behind it to show it off, i was hoping for loads of cosmos behind it, but that did not work out this year. The colour seems to get lost.

[Ladygardener]

Some of my planting ideas did'nt work out this year either wendya, thats gardening for you.

[wendya]

Guys do i still need to carry on giving my dahlias food?
And what happens when the winter comes, I know loys of you take them out of the garden and store in a dark place I think, but im thinking it may be OK to leave mine in the soil? have they died right back when you remove the tuber.
My 'Nuit D'Ete' is doing great lots of flowers but the other one only has one, not sure why.