Dahlia bed - Problem solving - gardenersworld.com

Dreadful Gardener

09/05/2012 at 14:42

kate1123

09/05/2012 at 14:47

I have a dahlia bed, how can we help?

Dreadful Gardener

09/05/2012 at 14:56

Hi Kate I am new to Dahlias, I thought I would plant them in raised beds as part of a cuttting flower area, but the dahlias seem to need to be planted 90cm apart! Which doesn't leave me a lot of room for anything else, do they really need such big spacings?

sotongeoff

09/05/2012 at 15:10

You can plant them closer than that -I do-that distance is if you want exhibition blooms-for cutting in the garden it is not so vital -just give them room to grow.

Dreadful Gardener

09/05/2012 at 15:12

It's pouring with rain and not exactly warm. I believe I shouldn't contemplate planting out my Dahias until it warms up a lot?

Dreadful Gardener

09/05/2012 at 15:16

Thanks for your help sotongeoff, I will want to cut them for the house, I'm nervous about getting the planting wrong.

sotongeoff

09/05/2012 at 15:16

Have you started them into growth or are they just dried tubers?

What part of the country are you?

kate1123

09/05/2012 at 15:19

90cm! mine are a lot closer than that. I try to avoid the tubers touching as that can cause problems.

I started my tubers indoors and have now planted a lot of them out as they are going strong.

Dreadful Gardener

09/05/2012 at 15:20

They are only just starting to show signs of life. I don't have a greenhouse, so they are in a warm sheltered part of my garden protected by sheets of glass that I salvaged from an old greenhouse

Dreadful Gardener

09/05/2012 at 15:23

Hi Kate, Sarah Raven recommends 90cm for the taller varieties, the one that grow 100cm tall? Or have I misunderstood? Which is quite possible !

sotongeoff

09/05/2012 at 15:23

I planted mine out 2 weeks ago-you can plant them quite deep so if there is an unexpected late frost they will resprout-I would suggest that once it stops raining you get them in.

Dreadful Gardener

09/05/2012 at 15:24

I am in the welsh marches, lots of rain at the moment...

Dreadful Gardener

09/05/2012 at 15:29

How far apart did you plant yours Sotongeoff?

kate1123

09/05/2012 at 15:37

It will depend on the look you are going for, I believe she grows to cut so needs to walk between them. If you have gone for the very large varieties you may need to allow 50 cm but 90cm sounds a lot.

Make sure you stake as you go as you do not want to put a stake into a tuber at a later date, you will need stakes.

sotongeoff

09/05/2012 at 15:38

I dont do cms so had too look it up

You will be ok at around 2 ft or so apart- perhaps even closer-it is not vital and as they grow they will support each other but you will also need to use canes.

Dreadful Gardener

09/05/2012 at 15:39

Just had another question to ask for some help with. I need to support my plants well when I plant them, is there something inexpensive that I can use?

Dreadful Gardener

09/05/2012 at 15:42

Oops As you can tell I'm new to this, "canes" will they be strong enough?

sotongeoff

09/05/2012 at 15:43

Garden canes and soft string are fine.

When you have them in flower post some pictures and let us know how you got on-guard against slugs/snails especially on warm wet evenings

Dreadful Gardener

09/05/2012 at 15:46

Many thanks, to both of you, no doubt I will be back in touch very soon with a host of other problems.

pavery026

09/05/2012 at 18:46

On top of your canes fill a plant pot with straw and place it upside down over the cane. It will attract the earwigs they like to sleep in there, check and empty the pots when you find them, they cause havoc with the flowers eating them.