 |
The Gardener's Almanac |  |
||||
| Index | FAQ's | Links | Photos | Guest book | ||
| Bedding Dahlias |
n.b. Click here for more pictures from same group
|
|
|
/Misc/Seedling%20(Dw%20b)%203.jpg)
Bedding dahlias will thrive in most types of well-drained soil, that has preferably has been enriched with well rotted manure or compost.
They grow to around 750mm (30") tall and should be planted out 400mm (16") apart in a sheltered sunny border.
The double, semi- double or single flowers appear from late July to November or the first frosts.
The flowers are generally around 75mm (3") in diameter and come in many pastel shades.
Regularly water throughout the summer months, and feed weekly with a high potash feed from bud formation.
Week 2-3; Check over dormant Dahlia tubers, remove any rotten parts, and dust with sulphur powder.
Week 5-6; Set up saved tubers on the top of boxes/trays filled with a 50-50 mix of compost and sharp sand.
Water in with a mix of fungicide and water, mixed to manufactures instructions.
Place containers on a hot bed set to give a bottom heat of 18°C (65°F) and a surrounding air temperature of 10°C (50°F) to encourage basal growth for cuttings.
Normally, it takes around two to three weeks for basal growth to appear and a further four or five weeks to produce shoots that are suitable for cuttings.
Week 11; Sow seed in pots or trays of seed compost and germinate at 20°C (68°F)
Germination should take around six or seven days.
Week 12 onwards; take 50-60mm long cuttings.
Remove bottom leaves and insert 30-40mm apart in a mixture of 50-50 (by volume) peat and grit sand (dipping cutting in rooting powder/liquid is optional)
Water cuttings in, with a fungicide solution.
Mist spray (daily) with a fungicide solution to prevent dehydration and damping off.
Week 13-14; When seedlings are large enough to handle, prick out into 75mm (3") pots of potting compost.
Grow on at a minimum temperature of 10°C (50°F) for two or three weeks then place them in a frost free coldframe to harden off until planting out time.
Week 15 onwards; depending upon available light, the cuttings should take around two to three weeks to root.
When the tip of the cutting looks a healthy shade of green suggesting that it has rooted, prick out into 70mm pots filled with potting compost.
Place pots in a well lit position but out of direct sunlight.
Week 18; Place cuttings in a cold frame to harden off.
If more stock is required lift tubers from trays and divide them into pieces ensuring that each piece has at least one 'eye' (growing point) on it.
Allow the wounds on the divisions to cauterise ( dry) before planting them out.
Week 22; Plant out 400mm (16") apart when all fear of late frost has passed.
In exposed areas insert a 1200mm (48") cane in the planting hole prior to planting to avoid damaging the forming tuber if done at a later date.
About this Site © The Gardener's Almanac 2005 Top of page