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Dahlias- snap frost

Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
in Plants
I've been away for the weekend and it appears there was a bit of an unexpected frost as a few (though not all) of my Dahlias have been blackened slightly since last Friday.

I've attached a photo of 2 of the more badly affected ones. Should I still keep feeding them right up until a proper frost blackens them?


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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,350
    I'd say no - don't feed, but I no longer grow them.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 14,593
    I stop feeding mine at the end of September, regardless of frost. They will still flower through October.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
    punkdoc said:
    I stop feeding mine at the end of September, regardless of frost. They will still flower through October.
    Do you base that on anything in particular or is it just something you've always done?
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 14,593
    Mine usually get dug up at the end of October, usually have had frosts by then, so not much point feeding after the end of September.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • tui34tui34 Posts: 3,293
    Looks like my Basil - it's history now.
    A good hoeing is worth two waterings.

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,350
    That was my thinking @punkdoc - there wouldn't be much benefit to the plant by that point, and it's a waste of food.
    I don't feed anything - annuals or later flowering plants,  beyond early September, or even earlier. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,048
    Ok thanks for the input.

    I'll probably give the others one final weekly feed tomorrow then.

    Curious to see how big the tubers will be come digging them out the pots. It's amazing the jump in size they make in the first year when bought as pathetic little things from the garden centre so wonder just how big the ones in their second year might be.
  • 2 point 42 point 4 Posts: 60
    @Dirty Harry - there is a school of thought that too much feed late in the dahlia growing season has a negative impact on the tuber keeping qualities whilst stored overwinter.  This appears to be particularly applicable to too much nitrogen.  You may want to check your bottle of feed tomorrow.
  • FireFire Posts: 18,026
    oooo, I'm hoping to have another month of dahlias left, here in the south.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 14,593
    You will get that without feeding them anymore @Fire
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
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