I need to be convinced.......

21 years ago

.....that all the work and time and effort that I put into my first ever dahlias was worth it. I know, I know, it's horrible to hear something like this when you really like them and love them and enjoy them like most of you do. But, I tried this year, and actually I succeeded quite well. I grew 12 dinner plate dahlias. I grew them well, they are all 3 1/2 to 4 ft. tall, they all sport large,luscious dark green leaves, look as healthy as I think they possibly can. They are covered with buds, bushy and look the picture of health. Now for the blooms, some are pretty, most just melt in the sun, I'm lucky if the centers last for a few days. I water them heavily as we have had a real hot summer. They are in full sun from 9:00 to 5:00. Do all the blooms on your dahlias get so nasty so quick? I'm really bummed. I haven't had half a dozen that I would even cut and give to someone. Can it be our unusually hot summer? (It never got over 95), am I fertilizing too much,(the plants are to die for). I'm lost for an answer, and I had such high hopes. Maybe they will look nicer as the weather cools, I can only hope. Anybody out there want to hold my hand?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

Poochella
21 years ago
Did you wash that hand?

9-5 is pretty full sun. Your foliage, lots of buds and some great blooms all sound good. The fact that the centers blow could be genetically programmed into the flower. Perhaps you're waiting too long to cut them? I have two plants that I could yank out of the ground right now and toss in the compost. There is no hope they'll produce anything but spindly, yucky sprawling open blossoms. Guess I could use the buds if I caught them in time.

It sounds like you've done everything you could. Maybe try cutting a little bit before the bloom is fully open and see if that makes a difference? Or try afternoon shading with an umbrella and see if that keeps them from 'melting.' I have two I have to do that with or the color just fades to nothingness. Give it a whirl, you have nothing to lose.
PIGEONBOB
Original Author
21 years ago
Thanks, I didn't realize that dahlias were quite as delicate as they seem to be. To have to grow them in the full sun and then protect the blooms isn't the type of gardening I enjoy. I hybridize Daylilies, do about 1200 seedlings a year and they have spoiled me, they simply grow and bloom. I'm not sure about the dahlias now. I may keep them over winter and try one more season as this one was particularly hot and dry. There are two that seem to do okay in the heat, if I knew others that were better in the sun, then I would enjoy it more. Bob
Related Professionals
Wichita Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Charlotte Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Brainerd Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Chico Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Montgomery Landscape Contractors · Chattanooga Landscape Contractors · Mason City Landscape Contractors · Barnstable Landscape Contractors · Las Cruces Landscape Contractors · Portland Landscape Contractors · New Braunfels Home Stagers · Rochester Home Stagers · Nashua Home Stagers · Burlington Home Stagers · Kahului Home Stagers
covella
21 years ago
I thought that was odd too about dahlias and sun. The original dahlias from Mexico must have grown in tougher circumstances than the hot-house beauties we get now.
plantlady2
21 years ago
Higher up in the mountains of Mexico- probably cooler up there than down in the desert.
Try the smaller dahlias (can't believe I just said that as we hybridize for the BIGGIES- the AA's & A sized ones- but if you want to have lots of blooms & have them last longer the smaller ones definately do better in the heat)& the really tight ball ones stand up better in the heat. Also the formal decoratives seem to do better than the cactus. One AA that comes to mind that is pretty hardy in any weather is good old Kenora Clyde. Nothing fainting about Clyde- he grows really tall, has huge blooms with petals you can stand on!
As for blowing their centers- the heat will make them do that.