When to start dahlia tubers

sally smith

I have some dahlia tubers that I have overwintered from last year. Would appreciate some advice when to pot up and plant out?

Hostafan1

I just leave them to wake up and pot them up once they start growing

Bilje

I take a different approach. I have probably 50 tubers and start potting up Noe, I'm in NE England. They are under cover once potted, either my cold green house of two plastic ones. I'm sure they'd do ok if I left it later but I've got a "back" and just do a few at at time. I plant out when they're well grown Late April early May, more to foil the slugs than anything else

Dirty Harry

Most of mine are already in plastic pots for storage over the winter so I'll be putting them in the conservatory this weekend to give them some heat and light.

Obelixx

I left mine in the ground last year as we don't get extreme winters here and that worked fine, especially after I expanded their bed and bunged on loads of manure and did a bit of lifting, dividing, re-planting, adding.   In autumn, I lifted the lot and stored them in the PT because I needed their bed for other things.

I actually potted up each clump yesterday pm in just enough compost to cover the tubers and keep any shoots warm.  The pots have been watered and left i the PT until they're ready to plant out in their new bed.  It is unusually cold here compared to the 4 previous springs we have enjoyed here so I don't expect them to do much for another week or two but wanted to give them the opportunity to grow new shoots already should they feel that way inclined.

Fire

We're getting a fair bit off rain and I would worry about new tubers rotting if I put them out now.