Dahlias

[jackb]

Lovely, Jackb. I wasn't aware you could plant dahlias from seed. I thought you needed tubers?

I used to buy several plants each year from a garden center for about six dollars a plant. This year I purchased two packs of dwarf dahlia seeds for about four dollars, and there are about a hundred seeds left, so growing from seed is certainly cost effective. As the colors are mixed though, I have no idea of what color the flower will be until it blossoms. Not that I care much, as they are all beautiful. .

 

[RustyDHart]

4 Mackinac Island tubers planted on June 4 in Lexington MA; three sprouted yesterday and the fourth today. I have them in protective custody, which is to say surrounded by a cylinder of hardware cloth attached to two bamboo stakes. It protects them from chipmunks and bunnies who got through the mild winter with a huge population and like to eat certain flowers. They eat bachelor buttons and asters, ignore zinnias and snapdragons. I discourage them by sprinkling the flower bases with cayenne pepper, but I don't kid around with dahlias-- I'll only trust a real barrier.

I'm so glad the tubers are doing well for you.....I planted about 35 of that variety this year.....you'll love the blooms. Keep us posted, Rusty

 

[scotexpat]

The Earwigs are out in full force,Leaves are being chomped to bits. I am going to try Neem Oil to see if that will stop them.Fingers crossed it works.

 

[jackb]

I have a dinner plate dahlia, Purple Gem, that had some earwig damage. I use a fungicide made from boiling garlic cloves to control mildew on the cucumbers in the garden, and I tried tossing the used garlic cloves around the dahlia to see if the garlic would deter earwigs. I have seen no further damage since I put the garlic around the base of the plant. It may not be the garlic at all, perhaps I just got lucky, but I am going to see if it works.

 

[ninnymary]

Jackb, please don't tell me you started that dahlia from seed. :/

Mary

 

[jackb]

Jackb, please don't tell me you started that dahlia from seed. :/

Mary

My wife came home with two tubers that she bought on sale somewhere, as we have never tried tubers before. I started them in the greenhouse in March and planted them outside in May. The ones I planted from seed are magnificent this year, though the blooms are smaller.

Jack

 

[ninnymary]

Jackb, I expect no less than magnificence from you!

Mary

 

[jackb]

Jackb, I expect no less than magnificence from you!

Mary

Mary,
After seeing the photos of your garden, and yard, you put me to shame....

 

[LG]

The Mackinac Islands planted in early June now all have their first buds. Probably 2 weeks until flowers. I am feeding them Alaska Morblooms.

 

[AdamBorzy]

Whats with the dahlias that butterflies love so much?
Is it because of the colors and nectars?
Uhmn,.. I guess, it's more than that.