Yes, you absolutely can, laying the stem horizontally and using a stone to help 'upturn' the last couple inches of plant out of the ground. Often, roots will grow from the buried stem.

You can also bite the bullet and cut off the top plant near the tuber. The new plant growing from the tuber will grow much more sturdier, and will surprise you with the speed, as the tuber doesn't need to grow roots, and will love finally being in the ground. The top portion you cut off can be planted right next to the tuber, with only an inch sticking out. Some will wilt and die, but others will root and give you another plant!

Or, you can just plant out normally, and let what happens happen. Just remember your slug bait!

I think the stems are to thick to give them the tomato treatment. Do you mean to cut down as far as where the tuber meets the stem? If I leave them as they are, i'm not sure where they will be able to develop buds. hmm. You seem to have the magic touch with Dahlias...what would you do?

as far as slugs go...knock on wood...i don't have a big problem with them here

If the stems are thick, then you should be fine planting out as-is. Pictures would be helpful, as I can only go by what I envision between your words.

Regarding 'magic touch:' Haha! I can't even start to quantify how many dahlias I've killed/neglected. It is simply perseverance, both with learning from my mistakes and with hours of pestering master growers about their techniques. Although I have gotten the 'knack' of certain things, I have a long way to go yet with other facets of dahlia growing. I still pester for details, and compare/contrast with other tibits I have picked up until I come up with a working theory of my own to apply in the coming season.

Well i thank you for sharing so of your tried and true wisdom. It's certainly helped me with my experience. I'm actually having a lot of fun. As far as pics go...i don't know how to post them...