Anyone else growing dahlias?

[ddsack]

Beautiful, they look so luscious and extravagant!

I have to dig mine up, and unfortunately I stored them too close to an outside cement wall in the garage. They all froze and turned to mush. I bought three replacements at our farm coop this spring, two are blooming, the yellow has not yet unfurled it's blossoms. I'll have to try to remember to save seeds like we talked about previously in this thread.

[Penny]

Those are all gorgeous!!

[hill60]

I think it depends on where we are in the season what my favourite flowers. Right now I am enjoying my dahlias
I think they always pack a punch and stand out in the garden.

Hill60

[Penny]

Those are pretty too.

[ddsack]

Nice selection of varieties, hill60!

I only have three colors this years, but they are doing so well that I will for sure be adding some next spring. I love how long the blossoms last. unlike some of the day lilies that peak for only a day or two. I need a better support system though. Some of those big stems go down easy in wind and rain when they have a heavy flower head on them.

[Tormato]

ddsack,

I use 9 gauge tension wire for support (cut and shaped, painting optional).

Tormato

[ddsack]

Tormato, do you make them yourself? Do you weld them? Please post a picture of your supports if you can.

[Tormato]

Dee,

Sorry, but I can't post a pic.

The 9 gauge wire comes in a 170' coil. I cut it to length with a hacksaw, straighten into a shaft, and then form an open loop at the top (bent at 90 degrees to the straight shaft). The bending is done with one (or two ) pliers.

Similar wire forms can found in many garden centers.

Tormato

[patty_b]

Dahlias are at their best now. So nice not to have the japanese beetles devouring them. These are some of my favorite 09 seed dahlias.

[mjc]

I used to grow a bunch of different ones when I was a kid...but this is the first year I've grown any in a long time.

And patty_b is right, now is the time when they are looking their best.

[PNW_D]

Beautiful Patty_b, I particularly like the Salmon Ruffles

are these all from named varieties, or do you continue to save seed from each generation - I know so little about dahlia propagation - do dahlia's cross easily?? I read somewhere that it is important when growing from seed to transplant both some of the earlier and later germinating ones. Dahlias germinate according to colour: white, pink, yellow, orange, red (in that order) The best colours are usually the later germinating ones.

Do you have any dark foliage seedlings? I had a nice one from Bishop of Llandaff, but lost it this past winter.

I'm hoping to get seed from my Papageno this year

[mjc]

I used to dig the tubers every fall...never did have good luck with seed production.

That is my plan for this year, too...dig the tubers.

The local McDonald's has a bunch of nice ones in the flower bed by the drive through...I've been thinking of asking the manager about grabbing them when the time comes (first frost).