Forum home› Plants

Dahlia no show - did I do something wrong?

Rosie BeeRosie Bee Posts: 32
in Plants

Hi all,

I planted several dahlia tubers in my former veg bed in March /  April. Not a single one has come up! I planted them in exact accordance with the instructions, we've had no frost and I would have seen had slugs chewed any early growth. The soil is neutral and not overly rich. 

I bought them in a shop that starts with a w and ends in 'sons' (in case I'm not allowed to name names).  

I gave some to my mum and hers didn't come up either - and she's been growing dahlias for 40+ years.... 

Thoughts? Other than find a new supplier!

thanks 

Rosie

Posts

  • Tina_i_amTina_i_am Posts: 173

    I bought a rhubarb crown, from that store and nothing happened. Also had some other disappointing bulbs that were very soft and mushy. On saying this, I had a peony that has grown okay.

    You probably did nothing wrong.

    Last edited: 05 July 2017 14:45:00

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Billericay, EssexPosts: 9,869

    It's possible the slugs got at the new growth before the tips reached the surface.
    Or maybe they were dud's

    Have you had a peek under the soil where you would be expecting the shoots to appear?
    If there's no sign of growth by now the tubers have probably rotted

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • BobFlannigonBobFlannigon Posts: 619

    This happens sometimes, the most likely cause of a dahlia not returning is one of the following:

    Frost damage killed off the tubers (entirely possible if you planted them in March)

    They grew but slugs ate them

    The stalk got damaged at some point (this is where new growth occurs from).  This is possibly what Pete refers to as a dud.

    You can likely buy some replacements reduced-price at a garden centre right now! Good luck.

  • diggingdorisdiggingdoris Posts: 512

    I've never grown Dahlias before this year, so I bought a mixed bag from a value shop, to see how I got on. Only 9 of the 11 tubers have grown, and they don't look like the picture on the bag. But very pretty none the less. I had terrible trouble as soon as the leaves emerged. Blasted  slugs munched every day. I resorted to putting a ring of animal hair (from the hoover) around each stem and it seemed to stop them in their tracks. If I hadn't done that I doubt I would have had any plants at all.

  • RubyLeafRubyLeaf Posts: 248

    Brought 4 new dahlias and none of them came up either. I keep thinking what if I pulled them up by mistake? There's a weed that looks a tad similar to Dahlia's that keeps coming back.

  • Mary370Mary370 Limerick, Ireland Posts: 2,003

    I grew them from seed this year, very easy.  Lots of plants for a couple of euro, they have just started flowering.

  • sevbrownsevbrown Posts: 33

    I bought a few dahlias from same shop and they have all come up, i fid however start them in pots in feb/march and transfer them 

  • Rosie BeeRosie Bee Posts: 32

    Thanks all for your replies - duly noted. No more 'bargains' for me!

  • chickychicky SurreyPosts: 10,299

    Can't grow them here - slugs get them every timeimage

  • OvergrowthOvergrowth Posts: 41
    Chloe Kraven says:

    The best  way is to buy an established plant from a reputable specialist in a 3 litre container about now and plant it str8 out into the garden 

    that way it will be nice and strong and established and ready to survive the winter without faffing around digging it up and storing it

    See original post

    Depends very much where you live I suspect. I have lost some very healthy/established tubers by risking them to the Northern Irish Winters. (Never had an issue when I was living in South of England!) I recall this very issue was debated on Gardener's world recently - Monty shared my Northerner nervousness! 

    Last edited: 19 July 2017 20:35:15

Sign In or Register to comment.