edewitt Just an addition here but as a particularly impatient person I've noticed that I've had at least 4 different sprouts break out the soil surface in their pots the past few hours just this morning. That's definitely another reason why I love dahlias.
JessieC edewitt I feel terribly impatient as I'm hovering over my cuttings and tubers. The soil is already at 60 degrees, but I know it's too early to plant. Watching the day-to-day development of the sprouts is satisfying, but I can't help but want to get a head start on things.... Glad your year is going better. The spring is always so full of possibilities!
edewitt JessieC It's currently at 80 degrees in the room I have all my tubers in right now. I'm supplying slightly more water to the potting soil for all the tubers than I normally would but so far it seems that hasn't been a problem but I'm cringing about it. It only takes a couple of days before the soil is pretty dry again so I'm thinking I'm safe but there's a always seed of doubt in the back of my head at all times.
JessieC edewitt Me too, especially since I'm treating them to some time outside. The air is extremely dry, for us. I did fish one slow tuber out of a soggy pot. I used the ugly and disfigured tubers as practice for cuttings. This one had been cut before and was rotting in a too wet pot. Glad I checked it!
Teddahlia Dahlias can take quite bit of dry conditions but of course "soil moisture just right" is always best.
Krista Hello Portland Dahlia Society folk - I assume there won't be a Zoom Meeting tonight since it's the night of the member sale and auction? It sure sounds like fun, I hope you all have a wonderful time! I'm wishing I lived just a teensy bit closer but perhaps I'll have the courage to go experience a dahlia society tuber sale closer to me one of these years!
calico20hill Krista, I used to really enjoy the tuber sales at the Washington State Dahlia Club in Tacoma. They have lost some of the growers to old age and illness now, but I always came home from those with a nice stash. Lynnie Sperring is a good contact.
Krista calico20hill Oh thank you, I’ll look this one up for next year. Thanks for sharing your contact, Lynnie Sperring, with me. I’ll keep my ears and eyes peeled for her when I attend. It’s always easier when there’s a friendly face or name I can look out for.
KitCMC Who shortens their XXL tubers before planting? Do you let the cut end cure for a day or so and then pot up/plant out as normal?
AKWindWatcher KitCMC ME! And, yes, although I usually dip the end in cinnamon and let it cure for about 2 - 3 days.
Krista KitCMC Me too! I actually (against better judgement) lopped a couple tubers off while potting them a week or so ago. Dipped in sulfur (if my bag of cinnamon had been closer I’d have opted for that, like AKWindWatcher, instead!). If I lose any potted tubers, I’ll know why.
SteveM KitCMC This year I am trying a variation of what you describe. I have cut back several undivided tuber clumps (washed) to within 1" of the stalk (eyes). So, a clump that might have been 8-10 inches wide and 6-8" deep is now 2-4" wide and 1.5 inches deep (retaining the same number of eyes). I replanted immediately with no time to dry out and no treatment for pathogens. The goal is to get as many mother plants in as small of a space as possible for mass cutting propagation. I am still waiting to evaluate the results...
KitCMC SteveM reducing the amount of space used up by pots, and the cost of growing medium, would be major wins in my book. Please keep us posted, I’m eager to hear your results!
HiDahlia Are the PDS zoom talks recorded and available to watch? They come on at 4:00 here and it’s so much easier to watch after the kids are in bed.
HiDahlia Are the PDS zoom talks recorded and available to watch? They come on at 4:00 here and it’s so much easier to watch after the kids are in bed.
blown_dry Saw my first "wild" sprouts today: sprouts from clumps that over-wintered vs. tubers in pots that tend to warm up much sooner.
Krista blown_dry I love the term “wild sprouts”! What an exciting day, I can’t wait for the business to go on an’ be outside finally! I’m afraid we’ve got a few more weeks of suppering with the dahlias on the dining room table still.
