Starting Dahlias Early

Starting Dahlias Early

[@hmh3808]

I HAVE to pre sprout my tubers indoors because I live in zone 4b!
It doesn’t make my plants any weaker by not pushing through the soil in the garden on their own and planting out a 2 inch sprout.
It’s just not possible where I live ….when I first started growing dahlias I did it that way, and they barely had time to flower before the fall. ! So I am glad to hear you to dispel a TH-cam myth about NOT covering them when they are starting… but you may have created a new one inadvertently! Lol jk.
There’s more than one way to grow a dahlia….much of it dependent on your own location and whether or not you have a greenhouse AND enough time before summer ends! ( due to their 60 to 90 days of growth!)
Yes people, u can pre-sprout your dahlias indoors and grow for 8 to 10 weeks sometimes even a foot tall before putting in the garden- if you have a short growing season and need earlier blooms - every May 24 weekend I am putting in plants anywhere from 6 to 12 inches tall that have been pinched back already.
Thnks for all your great info! Love your videos….from Ontario.

[@tikilee7172]

I received my Dahlia tubers from you last week and I am in sunny warm South East Arizona. They are in the ground with their beautiful new tags and insurance tags around the stakes. You’re planting guide that came with the order answered every question I had and Many that I didn’t. Thank you for another wonderful video dispelling TH-cam myths.

[@SwanIslandDahlias]

Wonderful! Can't wait to hear how the tags work for you! Happy Growing!

[@tracycrider7778]

I’m waiting on my tubers that I ordered last night from them!❤❤😂😂😂 I can’t wait ❤

[@johnkulcsar1649]

Outstanding Tutorials, Tuber Quality, Selection & SERVICE. KUDO'S

[@min0regon]

Hello from Southern Oregon! I recently placed an order and am so pleased to have found your channel and the wealth of info you share. I hope you can continue to make videos - I grew my first dahlia last year and this year have 14 started. 🙈

[@SwanIslandDahlias]

Thanks for watching! Have a beautiful growing season!!🌸

[@andreaarroyo4883]

What is the website I can buy from

[@peggyjk]

Thanks for all the great information, I didn’t know about not using soil like Miracle Grow. Great video, please post more on care and flower cutting!

[@barbarapearson5567]

Great information from someone that clearly knows what they are doing!

[@RyanNewby]

Absolutely Amazing Information

[@HomeSweetHomewithKaren]

Great explanation, love your passion for doing it right!

[@bjburke4547]

very helpful, lots of information straightforward.

[@kimberlycobb2956]

You need to zoom in with the camera.

[@amineketani9161]

Just amazing wonderful
From algeria

[@lpthomp1956]

Excellent information!

[@danillescas5327]

Thanks for my super healthy tubers, and the amazing tags this year!

[@sammiedog4]

Invest in camera closeup and sound.

[@SwanIslandDahlias]

Thank you for the feedback!

[@DanielleDeleo-wh4zv]

Can you do a more zoomed in talk about the actual parts of the tubers and how they lay. I don't trust any other people for this info

[@catherinejones6537]

Hi very informative video thx
I have a sun room that gets around 70-80 but can go down to the 40 @
Night would that still work

[@valasina2015]

Just getting started, Mar. 29, with Dalia tubers in a package--sorry, just bought on a whim, but not from you. Next year, you for sure. When should I start planting my Dalias in pots? When it is time to plant them in the garden, should I use a mixture of garden soil and the soil in my garden? How deep should I bury the tubers? I assume the sprouts should be visible, or am I wrong on that? I'm a real novice. I live in Myrtle Beach, SC.

[@jeromejohnson1954]

listen to this video again---your questions will be answered--

[@rebeccacimarusti8804]

There is a video out there where a lady shows you how to grow tubers laying half way in the soil 😥 misinformation, thank for your help 💜

[@hmh3808]

It works just fine and is a great way for taking cuttings off of single tubers, that can then be buried once the garden is ready and warmed up…I think she’s saying to develop your full plant though, you need to start getting a good root system going below the soil. Those ones on their sides in trays will need some soil depth at some point in order to grow a big plant- people just use that system for pre-sprouting, waking up their dahlias….taking cuttings and to save space and not use lots of pots and lots of medium.

[@dianetuttle6817]

Wow now I have to empty my premixed fortified soil and replant them in plain dirt. ( just done earlier this week). Also I only have 1 gal pots. Is it ok to cut the big tuber in half to have it fit the pot?

[@rabmakz2564]

No, don’t cut the tuber in half, that will automatically kill your plant. There’s a specific way on how to divide the tubers and there’s a lot of youtube videos on how to do it properly.

[@jcl5345]

This is an awesome, very professional video. I bought my tubers too early. Should I leave them in the packaging or pot them up and leave them in a cool, dark place, or in a warm dark place? zone 6, probably can't plant outdoors until May 15ish. Thank you!

[@hmh3808]

If you have room / a warm place inside, w good light -you can pre-sprout them and get them going up to two months before planting out like I do- it never hurts my plants and allows me to have flowers before the fall in my zone.

[@darlenerobinson3691]

hello, ill be starting my tubors indoors and using coconut coir. Do I need to add perlite and vermiculite to the coconut coir?

[@hmh3808]

I use peat and 30-40% perlite every year, and it definitely made for a better environment starting my plants indoors than just Peat, which is similar to coir

[@aimeesgardens]

Can I plant the dahlia and then take a cutting after it has grown some and then will it still bloom that season?

[@tracycrider7778]

Yes❤

[@lauranic88]

Really helpful!! I’m in 7B and am getting ready plant outside my dahlia pots that I started early. When and with what do I fertilize?

[@SwanIslandDahlias]

You can go ahead and fertilize them when you plant them, and continue to fertilize them every 3-4 weeks with a low nitrogen fertilizer like Dr. Earth Flower Girl!🌸

[@lauranic88]

Thank you so much for replying!!

[@darrinmc]

If the dahlia sprouts and produces a plant about 6" tall in the pot, did you say we should cut it back to 1" above the tuber when planting it in the ground? Thanks for the great info!

[@soulelee]

That's what she said, but I don't think that's what she meant. I have never done that and why would you?

[@hmh3808]

@@soulelee right???? You can take a cutting from it and double your variety to slow down the growth if u want...it will still produce- Some of mine are almost a foot tall before they go in the ground it doesn’t hurt the plant in any way.!

[@MF-xp9tq]

Oops! I goofed. I planted my Swan Island Dahlias barely covering the top. I placed them under lights and they sprouted. Should I cut off the sprouts, then wait till mid-May to plant? Is all lost? I'm kicking myself now.

[@SwanIslandDahlias]

Nope! Just cover them up a little deeper when you plant in May!🌸

[@privateperson5769]

that was SO good. ty

[@megantrentham3339]

Could I plant 2 tubers around the size of your tubers in a 15 inch wide pot?

[@annabetancourt5272]

Great info.
But the sound is too low.

[@royw9522]

Let’s see more Eric!

[@Russ4704]

It would have helped if the sound was louder.

[@yolandapierce4258]

Would a plain seed starting mix work?

[@SwanIslandDahlias]

It should work!🌸

[@KaylaNeece]

I hope you don’t mind me asking a quick question. I just received your tubers and was wondering if Vermont Fort Vee Will work for the medium?

[@kimmycakes81]

How important is light when starting them indoors? Is being near a window sufficient or do they need a grow light?

[@jenacy]

Yes, they need a lot of light.
I put mine on the floor next to our patio door which is south facing.
They get light most of the day and it can be quite strong beginning at the end of March
You can put them next to a window but it must be on "the south side" to ensure they get enough light.
If you don't have south side windows you could use a growth lamp.

[@hmh3808]

@@jenacy I agree, but you don’t need the light until you see sprouts. Initially they just need it to be really warm until you see something green above the soil line….