You can never have enough dahlias.

Raul's right! I am expanding to big pots next year for the first time, because I am fast running out of tilled soil. Clearly I need a water buffalo and plow because our soil is so gardener-unfriendly to turn into a decent dahlia bed. And I wonder what the nitrogen content is of water buffalo dung? Perhaps that's not such a bad idea....

If only we weren't renting! I could tear up some of our paved parking area and put in beds. The landlord would have a kitten. His philosophy is: where there is soil, you get weeds. I had to fight for every square inch of dirt I have. As for the water buffalo dung and other such fertilizers,

I WANT A PONY. well, a horse.

NO PROBLEM !!!!, when I ran out of space then I planted in pots, don´t have to worry if we move, I can take my treasures with me.

ah, nothing like a little mirth. your little man is sure having a good time! LOL.

How big a pot? That thought has already occured to me. They will be 'full-sized' plants. 3-1/2 feet and up.

Actually is more about how much you feed than how much soil is needed. I use pots twice as wide as the tubers are wide when presented on it´s side in the pot and twice as deep as the tubers are tall and I do grow those huge 3 1/2 ft tall plants in pots, you should see the ones that grow in the soil ( ever seen 7-8 ft dahlia ? ). The catch is that in order to grow plants with huge blooms you need to feed them heavily and remove secondary buds so all the nourishment goes to a few blooms. Potting mix is a mixture of sand, pea sized lava rock, just a little bit of clay soil to add firmness and tree bark nuggets; regular watering because it can get quite hot down here ( 110-120°F in the spring ) and lotz of fertilizer ( I use Miracle Gro, 1 spoon/ 5 gal of water ).

I'll find a spot for you - I'll even send pictures to prove they are happy. I have alotted a little more room to plant more next year also. Good luck,
AL

you're a funny guy Al. LOL.

I can only extend the edges of existing beds a row or so each year. I am constantly reminded that someone has to have the time and the energy to get over all that they have. I added 3 foot to one bed by putting a row of dahlias behind it and a row of peonies and iris beside it this year.

DH has already been informed that another row of dahlias is going in front of the bed of 80 daylilies.

Be glad there are some limits to your gardens. You can reach the point where you no longer want to have to spend 6 hours four days a week tending beds. With 40 acres of good Iowa farm ground to tear up I often need reminding of my own capabilities.

Look at it on the bright side, who else has a 40 acre garden ?

I would be happy with one acre to do whatever i wanted in.

I am also "rentally challenged" but my landlord doesn't care if I garden, so I removed the entire perimeter of the lawn. But my garden is "shade challenged", with one full grown maple in the front and two in the back. Dahlias like sun. I ordered my Dahlias from Arts and Botanus last season. I'm trying to hold myself back for this season and see if I can preserve the tubers that I have. My Tsuki Yori in a pot is 6 feet tall. The one in the ground is less than 3 feet. I think Raul is right. It is what you feed them not how big the pot is. My Dahlias in the ground have tougher soil (clay) and have to share the fertilizer with whatever else is around. Also the one's in the pots get more sun.

Sharon

Wow Sharon, 6 ft is tall for Tsuki Yori. I had a really glum tuber turnout on that one this year, compared to other years. Such a lovely lacy bloom, but I can never keep it well in a vase- it's the first to wilt.

Do you have any hints or helps on how to keep it going in a pot or how to keep the cut flower lasting longer?

Our first landlord was so great, I asked when I inquired about the house if I could garden and they had rototilled up a wonderful garden bed by the time we arrived! Really nice people. Unfortunateley, I did not know about dahlias at that time, and wasted the space on vegetables.... good vegetables, but not pretty in a vase.

All of the flowers seem to last longer when I use floral foam. All of the dahlias looked good for longer than a week. I've just discovered that they dry well too, except for white ones.

Sharon

I read your post, Raul. When I use Miracle Gro, they dahlias seem to get too bushy...They turn into a jungle!

tcgreene

This was the first year for me planting in pots. I used 10" pots purchased at the dollar store and I really like the fact that I could move them around and place them in empty spots in various gardens.
I experience no change in the height of the dahlia's nor did I do anything special as far as fertilizer. I treated them just the same as the ones in the ground. One thing you have to be careful about is making sure there are plenty of drainage holes, I had one that rotted due to to much water in plastic pots.
As far as tubers, when I dug this fall, I was surprised to find tuber growth was the same as if they were in the ground, nice clumps with plenty of eyes.
Just my two cents, Willow

you gotta love dollar stores!

Willow, what size were the dahlias you planted? I am thinking that the 4-5 footer plants I have would not do very well in a 10" pot. Any thoughts?

A good rule that has served me well for pots: three times as deep as the tuber is tall, twice as wide as the tuber is tall, with that you give them enough space.

Hey TC, I like the jungle look.

I am going to use about 20 pots for the first time ever this next summer. They are from trees/shrubs from a very wonderful neighbor with a sharing type of attitude. In other words, "Please take this garbage off my hands." One man's trash is another's treasure! I would guess they measure 18 inches in diameter, 14 inches deep and I'm guessing they will house some 3 footers next spring.

I like the jungle look too!
{{gwi:666393}}

OH GOOD, Poochella...how many more tubers can I Give you! Hahaha! Merry Christmas!