tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post969565427702671216..comments2024-03-28T23:22:41.774-05:00Comments on TYWKIWDBI ("Tai-Wiki-Widbee"): Seeking advice re dahliasMinnesotastanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01382888179579245181noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-52568976388213148152019-11-07T14:52:04.468-06:002019-11-07T14:52:04.468-06:00Thank you for the tips, unknown person. My cluste...Thank you for the tips, unknown person. My clusters dried out nicely in the elevated rack and I was able to gently brush off all the adherent soil. Now I need to pack them in something - lacking sawdust and sand, my choices appear to be potting mix or dry kitty litter (unused). I'm concerned the latter might have desiccant properties, so will probably choose the former.Minnesotastanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01382888179579245181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-7952222909813555432019-11-07T13:45:05.662-06:002019-11-07T13:45:05.662-06:00I live in CT and just lifted my dahlias last week....I live in CT and just lifted my dahlias last week. I store them against a north wall in my cool basement, usually in a big plastic pot and covered with shredded paper, with an inch or so of newspaper on top. I've also stored in sterile potting mix to cover by 3-5 inches. Frost, water and light are the enemies in storage. Check carefully for soft tubers that may have borers or grubs, cut off cleanly and discard these. I've had the same plants going now for 15+ years and they get bigger and better all the time! I do plant loose stalkless tubers in a sort of nursery row and they will often put up a stalk and grow more tubers, tho' some just rot...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02674182157414247863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-26858752498132064992019-10-30T18:23:31.130-05:002019-10-30T18:23:31.130-05:00I grew up in Minnesota as well and remember diggin...I grew up in Minnesota as well and remember digging up dahlias, covering of the roses etc as we prepared the gardens for winter. I am now fortunate to live in France in an area that enjoys maritime climate (Brittany) where I'm learning anew gardening that is for all purposes year round. No more digging up tender perennials!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17784762192736575188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-58394632828067318802019-10-30T11:13:01.342-05:002019-10-30T11:13:01.342-05:00William Halsted had quite a collection at High Ham...William Halsted had quite a collection at High Hampton.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01862991443735318236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-51991970803811591682019-10-30T06:15:19.328-05:002019-10-30T06:15:19.328-05:00Thank you for the insights Vireya. I'll plant...Thank you for the insights Vireya. I'll plant a couple flat ones next spring and not venture into dividing my old ones just yet.Minnesotastanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01382888179579245181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-33260192044899047712019-10-30T06:13:26.851-05:002019-10-30T06:13:26.851-05:00Thank you for the link. Our local supply is quite...Thank you for the link. Our local supply is quite limited, but that catalogue is huge. :-)Minnesotastanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01382888179579245181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-26886191614266665412019-10-29T21:24:40.253-05:002019-10-29T21:24:40.253-05:00You are right that the simple flowers with an acce...You are right that the simple flowers with an accessible area in the centre are better for insects. I keep bees, so I only grow this sort of dahlia. The others might look nice, but they are no good for the bees and butterflies.<br /><br />I live in a climate where lifting dahlias isn't necessary, however I have lifted mine a couple of times when either moving house, or moving the dahlias to a different part of the garden. The first time they were stored in plastic bags with sawdust, the second time just loose in cardboard boxes.<br /><br />Dividing them is only possible when there is more than one stem. The tubers have to be attached to a stem to re-grow. Tubers which become detached from a stem will just rot away. So in your photo, the one in the centre front doesn't look divisible, but the one on the left could be. The trick is to separate the stems without breaking the tubers off. But it wouldn't hurt to wait another year and divide them when they are bigger.<br /><br />Happy dahlia growing!Vireyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16464838238295059335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-6196291845951593782019-10-29T20:58:54.562-05:002019-10-29T20:58:54.562-05:00It looks like you did pretty well from your pictur...It looks like you did pretty well from your pictures. I live in upstate New York. We have had 30 degree nights, but our dahlias are still blooming. I would not expect your bulbs to make it through the winter if your garage gets below freezing. I have a basement that is not kept heated, but does not freeze. For information, I would recommend Swan Island Dahlias of Oregon. Their URL is https://www.dahlias.com<br />They have growing instruction and a gorgeous catalog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com