Planting Dahlia tubers

mercury · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 02 May 2014 Posts: 1

Hi Folks,
Relatively new to gardening and would appreciate some feedback/advice if ye could..Thanks !

Purchased a number of Dahlias tubers from a reputable garden centre about 2 months ago.
Stored the tubers in their packets indoors in the utility room.
Planted a number of purchased Dahlia tubers between the 04th - 11th of April in the garden and in large pots on the patio.
Planted them the required distance in the ground in surrounded by a mix of 50:50 bag of westland compost and bag/westland manure ...mix.
Watered well after planting.

To date no signs of anything above ground or above the soil in the pots.

Opening up some of the soil in one of the pots down to the tubers and noticed a green substance on some of the roots under the tuber...

I'm beginning to question at this stage
1. whether or not the tubers are rotting with a fungus, etc... ?

2. will they grow if they have not made any move at this stage ( four weeks on)?

3. Have not opened up any of the tubers that have been sown into the ground, but are these in the same situation regarding rotting?

4. Should I be looking to dig these out and replace with something else?

5. What did I doi wrong if anything?

Appreciate any and all feedback !

Mercury !

Greengage · Posted: Fri May 02, 2014 7:00 pm Post subject:

Im not being smart here but I presume you bought Dahlias and not Begonias.
Dahlia tubers should be planted in large pots eg 3ltr depending on size of tuber, the should be planted in the pots with the top just below the soil surface and kept in a cool place for a few weeks under a bench out of the light, they should then be moved into a warm area in the greenhouse and allowed to grow on until approx 4 inches high they should then be hardened off before planting in their final position for flowering.If they are planted in the ground as you have done be careful because slugs and snails will have a feast, hope this helps. lots of other subscribers here will have different methods but this works for me and this is how old timers I work with do it never fails, so if its not broken dont fix it. they will require other maintenance such as dead heading and supporting.

Margo · Posted: Fri May 02, 2014 8:48 pm Post subject:

I always plant my dahlias in pots and start off in the Polytunnel. I then plant them out. Problem being as its been to cold to put them out they've shot up and about a foot high. What I'll do is put them out in the day and then bring them in at night for a week and then I'll plant them out