Since my tuber purchases and gifts ended up being a higher number than I expected ....
How close do you plant tubers to each other and how far apart do you space your rows?

Still very cold and wet, but if I don't get them in the ground soon, they won't have time to grow and show their stuff. I really need a hoop house ....

The rows and plants in my front yard beds are about 20" apart. I have a lot more room in the backyard bed so the rows and plants are about 3' apart. I have a small area in the corner of that bed where I cram all the extra plants/tubers. The plan is just to save them and hope they produce tubers for next year. Any blooming is a bonus. Even though they're planted only 10-12" apart, many grow and bloom as well as those in the main bed.

The website where I purchased many of my tubers says 8-10" apart with 45" between rows. I was surprised at only 8-10 inches apart, but it sounds like it works for you Dan. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Raining again! I may be growing greens this year, not flowers, since they aren't in the ground yet. I hope we have a mild Fall.

I don't know what the absolute minimum distance between plants would be in order for them to still grow and bloom like they're suppose to. But I'm sure the more room, the better. I've read articles about the dahlia clumps grown by the Dutch that are imported here and sold in garden centers and big box stores. It sounds like they're planted in very tight rows with the plants practically touching each other. Blooming is probably minimal but not a concern anyway. Crowding them close together produces smaller clumps that are easier to package. Anyone who has dug dahlias in the fall knows 3 of those clumps would never fit into a bag like those sold at Walmart, Home Depot, etc.

I agree about the rain and have considered growing rice. Only half of my dahlias are planted and none of the tomatoes. We had a brief heavy t'storm this morning and another warning has been issued for tonight for heavy rain and possibly hail. Definitely don't need either!

One good thing about later blooms around here is it sometimes allows you to miss part of the Japanese Beetle invasion. Early blooms are great but mine usually get eaten anyway.

I planted 18" apart in rows that are 3 feet apart ......... I'll report back.

Update, how it looks at the beginning of August.
Only a few blooms so far.

Looks great! Blooming here is starting to pick up. We could use some rain.

Kathy I just discovered this thread:
<<< I really need a hoop house ....>>> Please seriously consider investing in one. The rewards so clearly outweigh the investment, because with so many plants you can overcome much easier the increasing uncertanties caused by climate change. With dahlias it is amazing the difference it makes in growth rates and extension of the blooming period.
We rely on plastic lined greenhouses for our year round small scale commercial vegetable operation. In the future I'm even considering widening for our short sized fruit trees as well. Late spring frosts or early fall unexpected frosts simply ruin our crops. Flowers is the same.
Arturo

Thanks Arturo! I'm seriously researching the idea of a hoop house. Thanks for taking the time to respond and encourage me.

Kathy, when your're ready to do so perhaps we might start a thread around this particular side of gardening. I know there's a special forum for that. What is however in my view the most serious handicap, are the undecided or even those that simply whisk it off their heads. Most are unaware of what they are missing . Almost all threads relating to dahlias, roses, daylilies, annuals...(and it goes on) contain passages/posts that could be condensed as moan-complain-grieve series , all related with climate instability. I really am astonished how so very few gardeners that use hoophouse as a work space specially in N.America. It has multiple functions.

hampartsum said: I really am astonished how so very few gardeners that use hoophouse as a work space specially in N.America. It has multiple functions.

Speaking for much of the mid-west US or the plains states, in early spring, we often have sustained 45 mph winds with 55-60 mph gusts. And then there are tornadoes, micro-bursts, and all of the other more extreme wind events.

Anyhow, this cuts down on the casual construction of light-weight structures in general. Professional growers still do it and probably break them down for the winter, but it is very uncommon for a household to have something similar.

Sun porches and the like are more common since they are substantial and generally less...aerodynamic. They are also insurable.

Good Top that you bring about the wind issues! We happen to live in a wind ridden environment... 55mph winds are so common that we permanently have to deal with that. So instead of conventional hoophouses we designed our own system greenhouses with structural quadrangular steel poles and beams still using the plastic lining though. The lining is attached to the poles with a type of thin inch wide slab of wood rivetted onto the structure. Since we built it ourselves the costs weren't exorbitant. Yes the wind factor is not an easy factor to underestimate. For anyone interested of finding more about how we dealt with it, I would gladly provide what we built and how it was assembled. ( just drop me a T-mail)
Arturo

That is an excellent point, Top. I've been considering a pop up greenhouse or a hoop house, as I get super antsy waiting for Winter to end and Spring to arrive, plus I would like to lengthen my season a bit on the Autumn end (at least have a few plants still blooming while I'm digging and dividing).

I have lived in Nebraska my whole life, and always conveniently forget about the crazy wind until it happens. Last year we had a weekend with 6 inches of rain and 50 mph winds...that was a huge mess and a lightweight structure may have made it worse. Thank you for the perspective! :)

Arturo- I may be dropping you a Tree Mail when I get closer to deciding what I want to do!

hampartsum said: I would gladly provide what we built and how it was assembled

If you could share a couple of pictures Arturo, I'd be interested in seeing your build. Thanks!

@Topdecker Sure enough, here are a few general views:

a side view from the west of the main structure (23mt x21 mt)


view from the north
We've been developing this along a few years by now and have accumulated some experience. What we've come about is restricted to available materials here. Also their costs which are part of our biz equations. I'm almost certain that others could improve it a lot.

This is a much smaller structure right next to our sheep barn and where I start/grow my roses, dahlias amd whatever else needed . Also where we start our veggie seedings.




Roof lining being fixed
I hope it helps. There are tons of details to look into.
Arturo

Arturo, it certainly looks a lot more rigid than many that I've seen. 4/5 mil plastic, or heavier?

EDIT: And thanks for the pics. The distant mountains were nice to see!

@Topdecker We use micron scaling here and the plastic seen is of 150 microns, It has ultraviolet and thermal filters. The fact that the structure is rigid provides the necessary sturdiness to withstand the 55mph winds and...
(second issue) heavy snow in winter. We've been just through a very wet and thick snow standing on the roofs. ( 15 "!!!!)The lining was able to withstand it.
However as I understand the principles underlying are the same anywhere. The shape of the modules is given by the length of the steel tubing. It is sold here in bars 6mt long. So what can be seen on the side view, are squares of 3mt x 3mt. The beams of the roof are 6 mts long. Lining is sold in 3.6 mt wide . So in that way we minimize materials waste.
Arturo

For the record, 150u is our 6 mil. Most of the guys putting up tube green houses probably use 4 or 5 mil plastic (since that is what is typically sold).

Thanks Top for the info. So, then what you are seeing is slightly heavier than what is used normally up there. We've tried heavier and finer material. The heavier, didn't work. It wasn't more lasting and it had less light transparency. The finer tore much easier so we settled with this thickness. We have to have it shipped by the the full roll. The rolls are 100 mts. long. One is amazed how fast one uses 100 mts... and its always such a relief to have extra lining kept in the storeroom...
Arturo

Yes Top those mountains are wonderful to watch every day and all seasons.
They are part of why I live here: Why we chose to live here with my late wife. Even after her departure I still can't imagine living anywhere else. Perhaps unlike most mobile people, I've planted an invisible stake here and said this IS my place and devoted all my energies to make it come true. That conviction plus the joy of having an opportunity of direct contact with nature, makes this my tiniest, yet imo very large slice of heaven...
Another view of those mountains seen from our fruit orchard:

Plum trees in the front rows and pear trees in the rear in bloom.
Spring is around the corner...
Arturo