grow dahlias – Sage peasant

I started growing dahlias a number of years ago. Here’s a brief history as i remember it. I bought a couple packs of mixed tubers from my local Home Depot. The first year i just stored the tubers as they came out of the ground. I didn’t know any better. The next spring i planted the clump of tubers as they were. the result was massive plants, easily six feet tall. Lots of blooms.

Again i stored the tuber clumps as they were, easily bigger than 1 foot.

By this time i had done more research into dahlias, knowing i had to seperate the tubers to grow. I also discarded some of the tubers I didn’t like. Too many yellows, too many single pedals that didn’t last long in the vase and so on. I also ordered a few Pom Pom type dahlias as i liked the way they looked.

I separated all the tubers and planted all of them in the field (way too many by the way). I started getting a game plan with my Dahlias. I had confirmed that i had a market for dahlias and i needed a better collection that i could be proud of. Fall of 2022 i marked and named all the varieties i wanted to keep and left the rest to rot in the field. I also purchased some new varieties of tubers to add in for 2023. Spring of 2023 i forced and took cuttings from my new tubers to get them multiplying faster. The tubers i bought were between 12-$15 each. That didn’t matter because the potential income that can be generated from these is endless. Results were amazing and i was happy with the bouquets i was able to put together for market.

Fall of 2023 i once again marked and kept only the tubers i wanted and left the rest in the field. I have found that the Pom Pom type hold their pedals the best and look the best also. I have kept only a few single pedal whites and pinks. In the future i need to get more Color’s and some larger dinner plate varieties.

but,

my game plan with each part of my operation is simplicity in Managment, income versus cost(actual dollars or labour) and general interest on my part.

So far this spring of 2024 i have started forcing some of my dahlia varieties that i am looking to multiply faster. The varieties i am forcing are

Peaches and cream

Ivanetti

Santa Claus

#7 dark purple (not sure of the name of this, ill look it up at some point)

Just splitting the tubers can get me anywhere from 4-10 viable tubers. Last year i was able to get 3-4 cuttings from each tuber and then plant the tuber in the field after. I would say 60% of the cuttings developed tubers. I am trying to force some of the plants that don’t have visable tubers to see if they are viable or not.

The plan for 2024 is to multiply and plant out tubers so that i have a balanced number of each. I would like to be able to sell tubers at some point if i want to, but mainly selling 8 stems for $15 is where its at for me.