Dahlias

[Anonymous]

It’s crazy that a particular dahlia I like is already selling out and it’s not even time to put bulbs in the ground.

I tried to dig up and store my dahlias last year but they were not viable when I pulled them from storage - a simple paper bag stored in the garage all winter.

I have other dahlias in the ground that remain there but they don’t flower much anymore. Time to pull them?

I’m having better luck with large pots but staking is tough with pots. I think I will try pots again next year.

Any tricks for staking other than unsightly tomato cages?

[Anonymous]

I love dahlias with a passion, but I refuse to get caught in the buying crazes. I get whatever Costco sells and I also buy directly from Longfield Gardens. That’s dozens of beautiful varieties.
I grow all of my dahlias in pots since the ground conditions can get iffy if we get a very wet spring. The tomato cages get covered by growth once the bushes fill out, and I also use stakes to tie up errant branches.
Look up resources for storing dahlia roots over winter. It’s not that easy and even professional growers have challenges.
If your dahlia are no longer flowering well then they should be lifted and divided.

[Anonymous]

I haven't lifted my dahlias in years and they come back and bloom fine. I'm in Nova. Do yours get enough sun?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't lifted my dahlias in years and they come back and bloom fine. I'm in Nova. Do yours get enough sun?

Do you know which variety you have?

[Anonymous]

I’m in Arlington and use bamboo to stake my dahlias. I put a few up and stake multiple plants to it.

Are you in DMV and storing in the garage? You want to make sure it doesn’t get under 40 degrees.

There are good videos on floret farms that talk about good storage techniques.

[Anonymous]

If you want to be really extra, I use copper piping. When I plant the dahlias, I put in 2ft rebar stakes. Then I just slip the copper pipe over that. You can cut it with a handheld tube cutter and use the little t and other connectors to build whatever shape of cage you like. You can even add sections as they grow. It breaks down easily for winter.

[Anonymous]

I never pull my dahlias. I suspect they will all be goners this winter. Time to rebuild.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never pull my dahlias. I suspect they will all be goners this winter. Time to rebuild.

Yup, I've had great luck the last two years (in MoCo) leaving dahlia bulbs planted outside to overwinter (I'd say 85%+ survival). But yes, following this miserable season, they're probably either still frozen solid or thawed mush at this point.