Dahlias a

katrinkemp

Do you start dahlias in pots?
Does it help to make them less appealing to slugs when planted into to ground established? What other benefits has starting in pots? Just read in the Gardeners World….

Fairygirl

Unless you're in an area where the climate, and your soil are suitable, they need to be lifted and stored over winter. That means they need potting up to start them back into growth, and keeping them happy until they can be planted out.
When they get planted out will again depend on your local climate. 

Bilje

Yes I start my dahlia tubers off in pots, some in a cold green house, some in a cold frame and the later potted ones just up against the house wall. I've about 50 altogether, if I over wintered the tubers in beds/borders the underground slugs just chomp off the new shoots. I grow in pots until they’re a few inches high before I plant them out. It doesn’t eliminate slug/snail damage but it certainly works for me. I’m in NE England. 

katrinkemp

so far I always put them straight into to ground - I‘ll try the potting up - thanks  

Fire

I grow all mine in pots as this keeps the slugs down all summer.

Loxley

I tried planting in the ground once but the slugs just razed the new shoots over and over again and they never really got going. I suspect when people think their dahlias have succumbed to frost, it's actually the pesky slugs! I have the same issue with Salvia Amistad.

takhana

I do a bit of both! I've got some varieties in pots and some in the ground. Only one in the ground actually did much last year. I try and rotate my tubers to make sure that they all get a good go so the ones in pots this year will go in the ground and the one in the ground will go in pots. 

mac12

I grow around 100 and never put them in pots has haven't the space or time so just plant straight into the ground. The pot grown ones I wouldn't be able to plant out until end of May because of frost so if I plant directly beginning of May they soon catch up