Dahlias: GET STARTED NOW for early blooms

[@lesliebehrens7252]

I’ve watched the videos in order. So much helpful information. I’ve watched them several times because I miss things.

[@MoorfieldFarmFlowers]

Thank you Leslie for taking the time to comment, it's appreciated.

[@michellejames5953]

Great video! Glad to see you back at it again. Can’t wait for Dahlia season!

[@MoorfieldFarmFlowers]

Thanks Michelle, yes we are off and running again, good luck to you with your growing.

[@michellejames5953]

@@MoorfieldFarmFlowers Thank you!

[@timmienorrie]

Great stuff!

[@MoorfieldFarmFlowers]

Thanks for the encouragement Tammie :)

[@matthewkita8894]

Great Videos! Just what I needed for my first attempt at growing dahlias this year… you mention heat?.. and I see you have a heat mat that gives you a consistent temperature. Would it be ok to pot up my tubers and leave in an unheated conservatory?

[@MoorfieldFarmFlowers]

Hi Mathew, should be ok, but the tubers are at risk if wet and cold (below 10C). Once they start to put shoots out, the physiology has started up, and they can then withstand cooler temperatures. If your conservatory is anything but very cold they should be fine.

[@matthewkita8894]

Ok great.. perhaps I’ll monitor the temperatures in the conservatory over the next couple of days and try to add heat if it’s insufficient

[@MoorfieldFarmFlowers]

Yes perfect and good luck Mathew.

[@sharonabraham-zw1vl]

Hello I started my dahlia tubers started in my house upstairs, and they are sprouting and growing, do I need to prune them ? To stop them getting too big and tall? I have taken a few cuttings but can't take many. Some tubers are on a window sill some are not, thank you

[@MoorfieldFarmFlowers]

Hi Sharon, Thanks for your question. Are you planning to grow your dahlias indoors? Most varieties require a lot of sun to do well. and will do poorly indoors. The ultimate size of the plant is dependent on variety, and it will be a battle to try to keep a tall plant at a lower height - it's unlikely to flower for example. If you want a low dahlia choose a low variety from the start. Here is a video on pinching out, in which I talk about the ultimate shape you may want to achieve kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIfEZqGnjKyfZ68 If you are new to dahlia growing I suggest you experiment this year, and maybe do some reading/ video watching to learn the ins and outs. There is a lot ! I hope you enjoy your dahlia experiments!

[@sharonabraham-zw1vl]

Thanks for the advice, No they are not staying in the house, I want an amazing dahlia show in our garden, i am hoping it will be ok to move them in to our new greenhouse to grow on before going into pots in the garden, if it ever arrives 🙄, I just wanted to see if it would be ok to trim the plants back a bit while they are in house. I brought 3 dahlias last year and now I am hooked, such amazing flowering plants 🌸 Thanks again

[@MoorfieldFarmFlowers]

Ok I understand better now. Yes you can trim the stems. A cut in a stem will result in two stems forming from the node below the cut. This is useful to form a bushy plant, and so some extent reduces height, although the new stems will race to make up the difference! Good luck, I know your dahlias will look great!

[@sharonabraham-zw1vl]

@@MoorfieldFarmFlowers Thank you very much for your advice it's nice to know that they will be ok to trim back alittle, your videos have been such amazing source of information and the best care of dahlias 🌸😁

[@MoorfieldFarmFlowers]

Thank you so much Sharon.

[@jlsst190]

Starting like this, all the roots grow together so when you take them out are you OK with breaking a lot of the roots before replanting? Thanks!

[@MoorfieldFarmFlowers]

Hi Jlsst, yes they do ok. preserve as much root as you can, but they are so keen to grow that you see very few failures, and it is standard practice to presprout like this.

[@jlsst190]

@@MoorfieldFarmFlowers Sounds good, thank you!

[@annemarie7919]

Why peat free?

[@MoorfieldFarmFlowers]

Hi Annemarie, Peat free practice is part of our sustainability efforts. Peat is a significant carbon store and should be left in the ground we feel. In the UK peat will be banned for use in gardening both amateur and professional in the very near future.