Congrats Marie. Not fun trying to do all that when you are feeling puny. Glad the baggie idea worked well for you. I would try it if it weren't too late - mine are all in pots now. Little green shoots are slowly showing.

For quite a few years I potted mine up in the Cow-pots (?) made out of cow manure - then when I put them in the ground I could just plant the whole thing. I liked that. I just have to many to use those now.

Well, I have well over 100 potted up and I don't think I am close to half done with the ones I saved. Even if some don't produce, I am going to have plenty for me and my gardening club sale. I have around 75 coming in the mail, but they wont get here until towards the end of April. I have a couple of days off now and the rain is just about over for about 4 days. I am so excited I can get outside.

Take lots of photos, Marie!

I plan on it. Thanks Arlene. I think I am going to take the camera out tomorrow.

Hello, I'm new to this site. I just want some feedback regarding my Dahlia barn order. It's my first time ordering Dahlias as I was so thrilled with my wal Mart varieties last year. All you addicts- I mean fanatics- I mean enthusiasts know how this works. My cafe au lait is somewhat shriveled and definitely puny. Is this expected? I paid$18.95 and placed my order last September. P.S. you seem such a nice supportive group, I am happy to join. Southeast Wisconsin zone 5 A.

Welcome, Pipsypop! We're glad to have you join our dahlia forum.

You could wrap it in a damp paper towel or put the tuber in a plastic baggie (sandwich size) with some damp vermiculite at the bottom. Make many air holes in the bag first. Then put it under lights and you should see it sprout within a week or two.

Others can add what methods they try.

@pipsypop

Cafe Au Lait are really over priced most places. Ever since Martha Stewart raved about them they have been super popular. I have seen them as high as $30.00. In my opinion there are a lot of much nicer dahlias out there (for 1/3 the price)

Your tuber looks just fine. It has an eye that should grow just fine.

I have had dahlias grow to 6 ft plants with multiple stalks from tubers half that size.

The ground is still a bit cold where you are, to plant it outside, so you might want to put it in a container with damp (not soaking wet) soil and get it started. It won't need light until it emerges from the soil.

Plant it outside about the time you would plant tomatoes & you should be golden.

Thank you for the response. I was disappointed with the quality, when a chain store has healthier tubers in a bag. I'm hoping to take cuttings. My niece is getting married September tenth. I'll get this baby going now.

Thank you for the response. I was disappointed with the quality, when a chain store has healthier tubers in a bag. I'm hoping to take cuttings. My niece is getting married September tenth. I'll get this baby going now indoors in a pot. The Sherwood peach dahlia is a beast and seems so much more robust. I can't wait to see how they grow.

Welcome Pipsypop! I am not very experienced with dahlias compared to several members here. Most of the dahlias sold in the big box stores are a complete clump. Most of the tubers sold by specialty growers are a single tuber. The first time I mail ordered I was rather disappointed too. But most of them grew to be fine plants.

Gary

Howdy,

I'm Nanette, live in Fort Worth, North Texas, and brand new in ATP/NGA and especially in Dahlia, I really don't know anything about Dahlia, grow a little and killed some, and when I planted I never dig.... I have a lot to learn here but I enjoy joining this wonderful site and got to meet all this cool, sweet and wonderful friends...

Have a wonderful evening,
Nanette

Welcome Nanette, the more the merrier

Hi Nanette, good to have you here. Which ones are you growing this year?

Greetings Nanette. I think the 'grow a little, kill a little' applies to most of us. Although most of us do dig ours maybe in your part of the country you are blessed with not having to. Love to know which ones you have.

I bought some called Pompom Downham Royals but I think it didn't make it because I do not see it sprouted and when I search the site nothing there, the tubes were quite small so I don't know if it got rotten..
I bought some from Costco but I went to the Plant Swap and gave away some of it with the bag, so I don't remember what its name but I know its the kind that started one color and then changed (white, pink to red).. I also ordered Fuchsianna Karma Dahlia that should be here sometimes next week.
I don't have many Dahlia, since am not that lucky with Dahlia gardening but with you all help maybe my luck will change

I looked and you are already in the 80's. Wow. Fort Worth must be horribly hot come summer. That can be a challenge for dahlias. Good soil that holds moisture would be a must for sure I would think. Poor little guys might even need an umbrella during the mid day crunch.

I like the Karma dahlias. I had Karma Chocolate and Karma Gold one year but couldn't hold the tubers over winter. I really need to reorder them as they were tall, for our area, and bloomed a lot. Neat colors.

We have overcast the last few days so right now it's 71, which I like but desperately need the sun because the rain and damp not great for my flowers...Roses started having blackspot and bugs that not supposed to be here I think start coming...I tried to plant my dahlia between Roses and other plant that may give them some shade come Summer...and yes Mary Stella we do get very Hot & scorching Summer
I can't wait for the blooms....

Morning all. I'm thinking ahead to fall when I will lift and store the dahlias. I'm looking for info for a good liquid fungicide that's concentrated and an be diluted in water to dip the bulbs in. what does everyone here use?

After digging in the fall and washing the dirt off the tubers, I let them dry and then divide. I know people who dip the tubers in a water/bleach mixture after dividing. I don't want to have to dry mine again. I use sulphur or copper dust as a fungicide. I've even heard of spraying with Lysol. Never tried that.