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Dahlia tubers without "eyes"

InglezinhoInglezinho Posts: 568
in Plants
I found some Dahlia tubers that had "got lost" under the bench in the greenhouse. They appear to be quite healthy, not soft or shrivelled, but I can't see any "eyes". Is it worth soaking them in water for a day, to get them going a bit?
Everyone likes butterflies. Nobody likes caterpillars.
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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,913
    The tuners without eyes just feed the plant they’re part of. They don’t develop into plants if they’re ‘on their own’. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    Sometimes it can be really difficult to spot the eyes. I'd pop them into damp compost and give them a couple of weeks to wake up if they can. You can't lose and you may gain.
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,669
    Eye, eye none of mine had eyes all growing well
  • Butterfly66Butterfly66 Posts: 931
    I don’t recall been able to see any obvious eyes on mine either and all are growing 
     If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero
    East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,913
    Here's an earlier thread on the same subject

    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1050114/dahlia-tubers-with-no-eyes
    🌼🌼🌼


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Butterfly66Butterfly66 Posts: 931
    Thanks @Dovefromabove, I know they need to be attached to the old stems but have never noticed ‘eyes’ but then I don’t think I’ve ever really looked. Will have to remember to have a closer look next year 🧐
     If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero
    East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,913
    Sometimes it is hard to see the eyes, particularly if the tubers are a bit dried and shrivelled... pop them into some damp compost in a warmish light place, wait a few weeks and see what happens. 
    But if there are no eyes and no stem there's nowhere for the new shoots to grow from. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 14,605

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • FireFire Posts: 18,056
    edited May 2021
    I think the 'eyes' thing is only important if you are splitting dahlias. If you are repotting dahlias, the eyes / growth will come in time. I understand that if one 'sausage' has broken off from the rest of the clump, it won't develop green growth for some years, and therefore is held to not be worth planting up (as Dove says). I found this dahlia video useful.

    I wouldn't soak dahlias tubers. You would risk them rotting. If the tuber clump is firm, just pot up as is (the whole clump of sausages together) and wait to see what happens.
  • InglezinhoInglezinho Posts: 568
    edited May 2021
    Much of the advice I have received is not good. I mailed Janet Brondyke - one of the leading American growers of dahlias.
    Her advice was: If the tubers are in good condition and have firm tuber, neck and crown, persevere. She is from Michigan and says often Dahlias don't get going till June.
    Incidentally she has the best site on dahlia tubers I have seen: https://summerdreamsfarm.com/dahlia-tuber-and-splitting-guide
    Everyone likes butterflies. Nobody likes caterpillars.
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