Dahlias

[RustyDHart]

Hi Seedcorn....I never dig my tubers up until the first "HARD" frost....then I wait a day or two...dig them up carefully as not to break the necks of the tubers. I then hose them off...let them dry...then label them and store at 45 degrees in uncovered totes layered with pine shavings...not pine needles...shavings (dog bedding). Sometimes people dig them up way too soon and they're still not matured... This is me with some of last years Dahlias

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[seedcorn]

maybe I dig them too early? thanks, will try again next year.

 

[RustyDHart]

Maybe.....If I can be of any help...feel free to ask....we live and learn

 

[digitS']

Holy Moly! 125 varieties & over 2,000 plants!

I grow about 300 and they take up about half of a fairly large suburban backyard or nearly all of a smaller backyard (moved the dahlia garden this past season ). I make no effort to keep track of varieties other than maintaining a nice blend of colors, shapes and sizes.

Welcome to TEG !

I have always used peat moss for the dahlias except for trying pine shavings for a few of the tubers the last couple of years. I'm still reluctant to make too much commitment on that route yet. Tampering with a small measure of success, you know.

Seedcorn, it would probably require a zone 7 winter and very thorough mulching to get dahlias thru a winter, outdoors.

It will be good to learn some techniques from Rusty on these sorts of things !

Steve

 

[RustyDHart]

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Thanks Steve, 300 is alot of Dahlias also...... I know that if I weighed about 5 lbs. more..I wouldn't be able to get into my farm basement....Tubers in totes from floor to ceiling...wall to wall....a 25' X 15" room....Call it a weakness..:/

 

[RustyDHart]

I added a few more photos of my Dahlias...it's nice to see some color this time of year....one day closer to Spring.[img

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[lesa]

Just lovely! Thanks for sharing those pics- one day closer to spring, indeed!!

 

[OSUman]

Nice flowers those are really cool looking.

 

[RustyDHart]

Thanks lesa and OSUman..... I can't wait 'til Spring so I can start planting tubers again....

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

such beautiful colors there! makes me wish it was warmer out and no chance of snow! but then again this time of year helps me make decisions on plants i want to add to the garden before the spring arrives again!

do you ever sell your tubers or seeds?