Forum home› Plants

Dahlia Tuber Health

ciaranmcgreneraciaranmcgrenera Posts: 258
in Plants
Hi,

im growing Dahlias from tubers for the first time this year, bought from a garden centre.

I’m wondering about the health of some of them. I potted them about two weeks ago. 1 has already got shoots, and there’s nothing from the others yet. I know that’s normal enough, but here are photos of the main shoot of three of remaining the tubers... 

Can any of the more experienced Dahlia growers here tell me if I’ve got duds?
«13

Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,049
    I'd not water again until you seen new shoots emerge.
    Devon.
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,427
    They do take a long time,but are worth it
  • ciaranmcgreneraciaranmcgrenera Posts: 258
    Hostafan1 said:
    I'd not water again until you seen new shoots emerge.
    That’s a good call- they did get a bit of a water yesterday- they’re in my utility room and it can get quite dry in there- but I hadn’t planned on going near them again for a while.

    the main worry I have is have I got rot of some description?
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 8,812
    edited April 2021
    If it's last year's old stems you're worried about, they look absolutely normal to me. The new shoots should appear next to them. No old stem on a tuber usually means no eyes for new shoots to grow from.
    PS if the tubers were nice and firm when you got them, that's how they should be. If they were soft and squishy, that would indicate rot.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • ciaranmcgreneraciaranmcgrenera Posts: 258
    JennyJ said:
    If it's last year's old stems you're worried about, they look absolutely normal to me. The new shoots should appear next to them. No old stem on a tuber usually means no eyes for new shoots to grow from.
    PS if the tubers were nice and firm when you got them, that's how they should be. If they were soft and squishy, that would indicate rot.
    They aren’t squishy as such but at least one is a good bit flakey- the second in the pictures.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 8,812
    That's just the remnant of last year's old flower stem showing in the picture - the tubers are (I hope!!) under the compost.
    There's a labelled picture on this page.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • ciaranmcgreneraciaranmcgrenera Posts: 258
    JennyJ said:
    That's just the remnant of last year's old flower stem showing in the picture - the tubers are (I hope!!) under the compost.
    There's a labelled picture on this page.
    Oh I get all that alright. I just had been reading something that mentioned rot getting in at the stem and working its way into the actual tubers and it’s spooked me now!
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,030
    edited April 2021
    Just don't over water at this point.

    It might be dry in the top couple of inches but you might be surprised how damp it can be if you stick your finger into the bottom half of compost.
  • selinasallyselinasally Posts: 166
    so how often should you be watering them ? Ive been thinking the same ...now I am worried I have been overwatering them

  • MarsheeeMarsheee Posts: 15
    ciaranmcgrenera said:
    Hi,

    im growing Dahlias from tubers for the first time this year, bought from a garden centre.

    I’m wondering about the health of some of them. I potted them about two weeks ago. 1 has already got shoots, and there’s nothing from the others yet. I know that’s normal enough, but here are photos of the main shoot of three of remaining the tubers... 

    Can any of the more experienced Dahlia growers here tell me if I’ve got duds?
    It’s hard to know what’s right sometimes isn’t it!?

    It’s only my 2nd year growing dahlias & starting off indoors.

    last year I lost quite a few to rot. I think I over watered them too early on. 

    So this year I just watered them in and tried not to over water by doing every few days.

    However, I read somewhere that they don’t need water until they show growth, so I panicked other day & thought “oh no not again!” & just to make sure they were ok (because they were showing no growth) I gently lifted them out to check the health. Only a couple had some rotted tubers. All others had new growth hiding under the soil. 
    I was surprised at the rot as the compost in pots were really dry on top but I discovered very damp at the bottom of compost so it’s hard to tell, even sticking your finger in.

    I’ve since cut off the rotted ones and re planted back in by mixing in some fresh drier compost & have left them to hopefully recover. 🤞🏻

    I’m not going anywhere near them with water until they start to show growth, & even then I’m a little scared of watering them 🙈.

    Trial and error, hope this helps you a little 🌱🤓😉


Sign In or Register to comment.