New and Unread Tree-Mails
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Name: Mary Stella Anchorage, AK (Zone 4b)         Oberon46 Mar 29, 2015 3:25 PM CST |
I got my lighted racks up and running, my plywood table set up and the lights lowered from the ceiling. Boxes of dahlia tubers up from the crawl space, seeds to plant.....   |
Name: Jennifer 48036 MI (Zone 6b)           jvdubb Mar 29, 2015 3:35 PM CST |
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Name: Arlene Southold, Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)         pirl Mar 29, 2015 3:37 PM CST |
| Hurray! The season is officially underway. I faced the basement, got out all the dahlias and lost only 3, maybe 4. About 80% have sprouted so I'm doing the happy dance. |
Name: Mary Stella Anchorage, AK (Zone 4b) Oberon46 Mar 29, 2015 5:37 PM CST |
I would do a happy dance if I weren't so exhausted. I have never complained about too many tubers sprouting but I am running out of room and I only opened up one box of bags. I have 30 or so on order and haven't started planting my vegie seeds which need the light racks. ARGHHHH  I don't know if my iris can survive outside or not. The ones in the ground are growing so you would think the ones in pots would be okay. I can put them in one of the hoop beds so they would be somewhat protected. I just really need the room. Then I could move the two flats of onions and one of begonias from the racks to the plywood table as they are getting too tall for the racks anyway. |
Name: Arlene Southold, Long Island, NY (Zone 7a) pirl Mar 29, 2015 6:03 PM CST |
| Some of my dahlias have numerous sprouts so I guess I can afford to learn how to cut them up without much risk. |
Name: Mary Stella Anchorage, AK (Zone 4b) Oberon46 Mar 29, 2015 6:05 PM CST |
| Soooo, you want some more tubers. lol. I could send you a list. |
Name: Arlene Southold, Long Island, NY (Zone 7a) pirl Mar 29, 2015 6:05 PM CST |
| No thank you! I have many on order! |
Name: Mary Stella Anchorage, AK (Zone 4b) Oberon46 Mar 29, 2015 6:08 PM CST |
| Figured. lol |
Name: Arlene Southold, Long Island, NY (Zone 7a) pirl Mar 29, 2015 6:44 PM CST |
| Even started a list for next year. |
Name: Mary Stella Anchorage, AK (Zone 4b) Oberon46 Mar 29, 2015 9:40 PM CST |
| OH my. You are dedicated, driven, addicted. lol |
Name: Geof NW Wisconsin (Zone 4b)   mandolls Mar 30, 2015 6:02 AM CST |
| Its that time of year isn't it? Mary - your light racks look great. I spent pretty much all of yesterday sorting tubers. The day before that I potted up 50 lilies, and sowed the last of my annual seed (except the zinnia). Luckily I got my new iris last October and they are in the ground already. I am feeling a bit over whelmed and behind, but in 8 weeks school will be out and I will be gardening full time, so there is a lot of prep to do. |
Name: Arlene Southold, Long Island, NY (Zone 7a) pirl Mar 30, 2015 7:16 AM CST |
| When I went to the basement and saw the many bags of dahlias, I was tense. I got through it all in 90 minutes but don't have the amount of tubers others have. I still have seeds to sow but they'll wait for mid April. |
Name: Jennifer 48036 MI (Zone 6b) jvdubb Mar 30, 2015 7:47 AM CST |
| I'm torn. I don't want to even deal with my tubers for another two weeks. That is, the ones in my basement. (I have a ton of new ones coming). But this coming weekend will be my very last free weekend for at least the next eight. So I just may be forced to deal with them. |
Name: Mary Stella Anchorage, AK (Zone 4b) Oberon46 Mar 30, 2015 7:51 AM CST |
I have many bags yet to open and sort. But the racks are filling up and the table is full. Panic is setting in. Where in the world will I put all the seed I have yet to sow? Much less the new tubers (Dahlia) and peonies yet to arrive.   |
Name: Arlene Southold, Long Island, NY (Zone 7a) pirl Mar 30, 2015 8:20 AM CST |
| There are still 10 new ones I purchased that have to take the trip to the basement but I have lots of room. I just won't bother with lights for another two weeks. I did it last year and didn't find any advantage. They burst into growth on their own schedule. |
Name: Mary Stella Anchorage, AK (Zone 4b) Oberon46 Mar 30, 2015 8:27 AM CST |
| I was wondering about that. Doesn't make sense to have lights when they haven't broken soil surface yet. I turned them on anyway thinking that maybe the heat from them would speed things along. Or perhaps it will only speed any on the edge of rotting. Some are really dried out and yet have growth. Those I planted in pots. I lightly sprinkled the flats to encourage 'plumping out' for the benefit of the shriveled tubers. Then put tops on the flats to hold some of the moisture. I will be checking daily until they have either sprouted or hit the round file. |
Name: Arlene Southold, Long Island, NY (Zone 7a) pirl Mar 30, 2015 9:21 AM CST |
| Having the lights on is guaranteed to increase your electric bill! One of my Walmart packages has four plants in it (not just tubers) so I could try one in a northwest window, one in a southwest window, one in a southeast window and one under lights downstairs but there's no guarantee that they'll sprout based on light or the warmth of the room. I really believe they have an inner clock and begin to grow when they're ready. |
Name: Jennifer 48036 MI (Zone 6b) jvdubb Mar 30, 2015 9:23 AM CST |
My husband is tolerant of almost all my plant/garden over zealousness. Hey, sometimes he even helps! But one thing he has put the kiebash on is growing under lights. I'm ok with it. But I did tell him he's gonna have to get me some more windows then!  |
Name: Frank Richards Clinton, Michigan (Zone 5b)   frankrichards16 Mar 30, 2015 10:39 AM CST |
jvdubb said:I'm torn. I don't want to even deal with my tubers for another two weeks. That is, the ones in my basement. (I have a ton of new ones coming). But this coming weekend will be my very last free weekend for at least the next eight. So I just may be forced to deal with them. the only thing you can do with dahlias at this time of year in Michigan, is to pot them. Last year I planted my tubers outside ~ the end of May. So, you could easily wait for another 8 weeks. |
Name: Mary Stella Anchorage, AK (Zone 4b) Oberon46 Mar 30, 2015 10:43 AM CST |
| When they are trying to grow and have long spindly growth, is it alright to just cut it off and plant. I heard they would just send out new growth. Hope so as that is what I have done. |
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