I grow my dahlias in my seed room until they are about 6" tall. Since I start them at the beginning of Feb. they have been pinched before they go outside - sometimes twice - to keep their size manageable. I don't wait for the fourth set of leaves, they'd be too tall for my grow lights. The height means they will already be above ground when planted, which gives me earlier blooms although not mid June, that's just wild, usually beginning of July. The other thing I do to help avoid pest damage once planted is I remove all the lower leaves, this creates a secondary benefit. It's like a pinching and branches start to grow where I removed the bottom leaves giving me an even bushier plant and tonnes of flowers during the season. I remove all the lower leaves all through the season as they keep coming back.
Ooh that’s super interesting how you’re waking them up and getting them going indoors before planting! That would be a great option for people who have the indoor space and don’t have hoop houses or a way to protect them outdoors. I remove lower leaves too a bit later in the season as the plants are full, to improve aeration through the crop, prevent mildew, and make it easier to label at the base of each dahlia; but I had never noticed that it encourages more branching! I will have to try that! Thanks for sharing what you do, Evelyn!
@@Daisy-Hey-Hello Thank you so much🙂It's why I started my channel. I learn so much from youtube myself that I wanted to be part of the knowledge sharing🙂
Covid this last strain has been hard work. We have had it here too in Australia and I was very ill with it. Dahlias are fabulous and your video is full of information and also delightful. Thank you so much ❤
Thank you for being so honest and straightforward! Really helpful video, too! I'm curious about tearing off versus using snips for pinching? Have you found one method better than the other, or just personal preference?
I say all that so that the really diligent dahlia growers who are super passionate about their dahlias know what to expect with my approaches 😜. I just find it faster (usually) to use my fingers, especially if I’m on top of pinching and just removing the small central bud, which actually can be done as soon as it’s showing up and only an inch or two long unlike what I showed here in this video. If diseases are a concern, snips that are sanitized between plants would be better!
A great explanation on pinching. Do you stake your dahlias? Do you grow the dahlias in a hoop house to primarily get them blooming earlier? Do you grow outside too? Thank you!
Glad it was helpful! Yes, I do support them with a corral method. I grow them in the hoophouse for early blooming and for bloom quality (no rain spots, better protection from weather). I don’t grow them outside anymore, with the hoophouse full, that is enough dahlias for me!
Have you ever tried leaving the tubers in the ground over winter instead of digging them out in the Fall? I've seen growers down to zone 6 that mulch and cover with a tarp to protect the tubers from getting too wet and rotting, but that wouldn't be a problem with yours growing in a covered space. And secondly do you cover the hoop house with shade cloth in the Summer or do you find that they're ok with just having the side walls up? Thanks so much!
I tend not to leave them in because it’s possible to have high losses from too much moisture, covering can help; however it also comes down to soil drainage. There are parts of my hoophouse where it would work; but it’s also a pest problem with wire worms. It’s definitely possible to do though! I don’t find I have to shade my dahlias, we don’t get super hot here on the south coast of Canada.
Glad you’re all starting to feel better! ❤️🩹 😊 I suffer every year too with Thrips and Spider mites and I think im buying those slow release sachets of beneficial mites that eat them. Not cheap to buy but praying it helps 😩🌸x
I grow my dahlias in my seed room until they are about 6" tall. Since I start them at the beginning of Feb. they have been pinched before they go outside - sometimes twice - to keep their size manageable. I don't wait for the fourth set of leaves, they'd be too tall for my grow lights. The height means they will already be above ground when planted, which gives me earlier blooms although not mid June, that's just wild, usually beginning of July. The other thing I do to help avoid pest damage once planted is I remove all the lower leaves, this creates a secondary benefit. It's like a pinching and branches start to grow where I removed the bottom leaves giving me an even bushier plant and tonnes of flowers during the season. I remove all the lower leaves all through the season as they keep coming back.
Ooh that’s super interesting how you’re waking them up and getting them going indoors before planting! That would be a great option for people who have the indoor space and don’t have hoop houses or a way to protect them outdoors. I remove lower leaves too a bit later in the season as the plants are full, to improve aeration through the crop, prevent mildew, and make it easier to label at the base of each dahlia; but I had never noticed that it encourages more branching! I will have to try that! Thanks for sharing what you do, Evelyn!
@floristsonfarms yup, can't have a hoop house in the middle of a city on a tiny lot.
You are always so helpful Evelyn!
@@Daisy-Hey-Hello Thank you so much🙂It's why I started my channel. I learn so much from youtube myself that I wanted to be part of the knowledge sharing🙂
Very timely and informative, glad to see that you’re back and feeling healthy again 😊
Thank you! It’s bad when you’re sick and you still have to get up and do life; but I really don’t like being so sick that I can’t get anything done 🤣
I'd love to know your advice on pest control for all different diseases on various plants.
That would be fun! Thanks for the suggestion!
Covid this last strain has been hard work. We have had it here too in Australia and I was very ill with it. Dahlias are fabulous and your video is full of information and also delightful. Thank you so much ❤
It certainly has been! I am glad you are feeling better now too! Thank you!
Thank you for being so honest and straightforward! Really helpful video, too! I'm curious about tearing off versus using snips for pinching? Have you found one method better than the other, or just personal preference?
I say all that so that the really diligent dahlia growers who are super passionate about their dahlias know what to expect with my approaches 😜. I just find it faster (usually) to use my fingers, especially if I’m on top of pinching and just removing the small central bud, which actually can be done as soon as it’s showing up and only an inch or two long unlike what I showed here in this video. If diseases are a concern, snips that are sanitized between plants would be better!
A great explanation on pinching. Do you stake your dahlias? Do you grow the dahlias in a hoop house to primarily get them blooming earlier? Do you grow outside too? Thank you!
Glad it was helpful! Yes, I do support them with a corral method. I grow them in the hoophouse for early blooming and for bloom quality (no rain spots, better protection from weather). I don’t grow them outside anymore, with the hoophouse full, that is enough dahlias for me!
I would love more info on thrip control please
This is what I do: Spraying my dahlias with DIY insecticidal soap
th-cam.com/video/b5L6U38E-NA/w-d-xo.html
Have you ever tried leaving the tubers in the ground over winter instead of digging them out in the Fall? I've seen growers down to zone 6 that mulch and cover with a tarp to protect the tubers from getting too wet and rotting, but that wouldn't be a problem with yours growing in a covered space. And secondly do you cover the hoop house with shade cloth in the Summer or do you find that they're ok with just having the side walls up? Thanks so much!
I tend not to leave them in because it’s possible to have high losses from too much moisture, covering can help; however it also comes down to soil drainage. There are parts of my hoophouse where it would work; but it’s also a pest problem with wire worms. It’s definitely possible to do though! I don’t find I have to shade my dahlias, we don’t get super hot here on the south coast of Canada.
Glad you’re all starting to feel better! ❤️🩹 😊 I suffer every year too with Thrips and Spider mites and I think im buying those slow release sachets of beneficial mites that eat them. Not cheap to buy but praying it helps 😩🌸x
I find them pricey too; but I’ve heard really good things about them! 🤞🏻