Gardening

[umslopogaas]

Dahlias arent difficult. There are two types, annual bedding dahlias which are raised from seed in the spring, and tuberous perennial dahlias, which are taller. The tubers are not frost hardy and must be dug up in the autumn and stored frost-free over winter. The tuberous ones have a greater variety of colours and shapes, but both types have a wonderful range of bright colours.

Clay, chalk, flint and brick rubble doesnt sound very promising, the addition of the local garden centre's three for ten quid bags of manure and/or compost would be a good idea. As I recall, dahlias like rich soil.

[gradus]

I think dahlias, which I like, are too vulnerable so I'm really not sure.

Expert advice is crucial.

I'm in clay, chalk and flint but mainly builder's brick.

With milder winters our dahlias cope just fine being left in the ground. I still have pot-grown dahlias to plant out and they'll give a good show well into the Autumn, so wouldn't worry unduly about their vulnerability but give them a reasonable planting hole as free as possible from bricks!

[Serial_Apologist]

With milder winters our dahlias cope just fine being left in the ground. I still have pot-grown dahlias to plant out and they'll give a good show well into the Autumn, so wouldn't worry unduly about their vulnerability but give them a reasonable planting hole as free as possible from bricks!

My dad always used to dig out the dahlia tubers and store them piled up in cardboard boxes along a shelf in the garage. I got a bit fed up with this annual dig up in November, re-plant end of May, and tried leaving them in the ground all winter for a couple of years after cutting away the rest of the plants just above ground level. Admittedly these large and pretty old specimens were deep in the ground by this stage, and so probably less vulnerable to frosts that would have been the case when new, but this was in sandy/gravelly soil in a part of Essex very prone to severe frosts. They all survived nevertheless, the only difference in their behaviour was that the new growth came more slowly, and the resultant plants were somewhat smaller by comparison with what they had previously been. Admittedly, however, the frosts were less pronounced over the three years of my doing this, and so, as with other plants conventionally classed as semi-hardy, temperatures rise trending may have contributed to their survival.

We don't have dahlias where I am living now, as nobody in the block seems to like them - and certainly not chrysanths, which are not to my liking: I being the elected garden liaison officer for the block (he added haughtily).

[oddoneout]

Dahlias arent difficult. There are two types, annual bedding dahlias which are raised from seed in the spring, and tuberous perennial dahlias, which are taller.

I have to disagree with 'two types'. There are big and small, seed raised and cutting raised, in various combinations. Named varieties will be cutting grown, and the small bedding types will almost certainly be seed raised but they all form tubers. I have grown a selection over the years from seed(very easy) and the only real difference I have found is that the small varieties don't seem to form such robust tubers - less inclined to bulk up and more prone to disappear over winter whether in storage or the ground. I grew some species dahlia from seed many years ago which lived on the allotment permanently. They interbred amongst themselves and with other named varieties I put out from time to time(one called Boogie Woogie proved an exceptional parent) and I ended up with some lovely forms, plenty of seed to give away, and a glorious jungle at the bottom of the plot. Rats were more of a problem with the overwintering than frosts.

[Lat-Literal]

Thanks to the many contributors on dahlias.

Interesting and helpful.

For info:

In five minutes time on BBC4: "The British Garden : Life and Death on Your Lawn".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08xyqcs

I'm not sure if I am going to like it but will give it a try.

[Lat-Literal]

.......this is an excellent programme and there is quite a lot of it still to go if anyone is interested. The subject is fascinating, the detail is pretty good, the production is strong and as always, since the 1970s, I'm on broadcaster watch. I've done one of my usual things in all areas of life and turned from a bit lukewarm on Chris Packham to very enthusiastic. It's a repeat but not old. And he has become a truly fabulous presenter in his middle age - sitting solidly in the history of the high number of very good presenters the BBC has produced.

[jean]

The following programme - 'The Science of Soil' - is pretty good too!

[Serial_Apologist]

.......this is an excellent programme and there is quite a lot of it still to go if anyone is interested. The subject is fascinating, the detail is pretty good, the production is strong and as always, since the 1970s, I'm on broadcaster watch. I've done one of my usual things in all areas of life and turned from a bit lukewarm on Chris Packham to very enthusiastic. It's a repeat but not old. And he has become a truly fabulous presenter in his middle age - sitting solidly in the history of the high number of very good presenters the BBC has produced.

Wasn't it just!!! Slightly Anglocentric if my attention didn't desert me: no mention of grey squirrels, for instance. Only one badger was a surprise to me - they've been in large numbers in every suburban situation I've lived in - and I have to say that on the outskirts of Welwyn Garden City - or any conurbation, for that matter - no mention was made of rats. Or wasps, mosquitoes, ants, many etceteras. But a good effort, all told - and some amazing footage. Given that Chris Packham is autistic, I respect him greatly for having evolved a personable presence in his various programmes - Springwatch etc, which I imagine wouldn't have come (pun intended) naturally.

[Lat-Literal]

Wasn't it just!!! Slightly Anglocentric if my attention didn't desert me: no mention of grey squirrels, for instance. Only one badger was a surprise to me - they've been in large numbers in every suburban situation I've lived in - and I have to say that on the outskirts of Welwyn Garden City - or any conurbation, for that matter - no mention was made of rats. Or wasps, mosquitoes, ants, many etceteras. But a good effort, all told - and some amazing footage. Given that Chris Packham is autistic, I respect him greatly for having evolved a personable presence in his various programmes - Springwatch etc, which I imagine wouldn't have come (pun intended) naturally.

Absolutely.

The following programme - 'The Science of Soil' - is pretty good too!

Spot on, Jean - it was excellent. Anyone for a "Friends of BBC4"?