Time for the fun to begin!

Tell us what you've ordered, or are thinking of ordering, ask for any experience we've had with a particular cultivar, or supplier. We're all willing to share from our own observations.

I just placed an order for a few dahlias and had already placed another order so I'm looking forward to blooms.

How did your dahlia tubers (or clumps) survive winter storage?

Thanks for starting the new 2019 thread Pirl.
I bagged up my dahlia's from last year in individual labeled baggies and peat moss. I placed them in huge plastic bucket in the garage. The bucket was placed on a piece of wood so the bucket did not make contact with the cement flooring. Time will tell as to how they made it through the winter????
From White Flower Farm I ordered Burlesca - 28"-32" - hues of pink, purple and yellow - pompom shape.
From Longfield Gardens - Art Nouveau 16" - hot pink
Gallery Bellini 14" pastel pink
Dahlia Melody Swing 24" apricot gold
Wishing everyone a million blooms!

The beach ball collection from Breck's was too tempting (due to Tartan) so I ordered that along with Islander and Zoey Rey.
https://www.brecks.com/product...
https://www.brecks.com/product...
https://www.brecks.com/product...

Longfield was too tempting, so I caved for Vancouver (overwinters badly) and Alauna Clair-Obscur.
https://www.longfield-gardens....
https://www.longfield-gardens....

Winter storage wasn't that bad. I only lost three. The best survivor was Penhill Dark Monarch. It has many growing sprouts despite being in the cold, and dark, for months. AC Paint also has many sprouts.

After having lost less than a dozen of my 700 or so stored saran wrapped tubers the past two years, I guess I've become a little complacent and only check them a couple times all winter. A few days ago I took a look was stunned. I could see black "ooze" through the saran on dozens and others felt like marshmallows. I sorted through and have tossed 75 ... so far! I still have over 200 which will mostly be given to family and friends. I have ordered a ton more. I do a lot of hunting and fishing in the fall. So digging/dividing the tubers is a chore I try to hurry through. My thinking is that I didn't give them enough time to dry before wrapping. Rotting could also be due to the temperature swings in the attic where they're stored. A warm day following by cooling will sometimes leave condensation inside the wrapping. I'll reconsider whether to wash the clumps after digging this fall, although it hasn't been a problem in the past.

Not to go against tradition .... but I don't consider seeing robins to be the first sign of spring. For me it's when stores start displaying their dahlias! Spoken like a true dahliaholic! I needed a cure for the winter blahs so I drove to my favorite garden center last week. And as in years past, I wasn't disappointed. I counted 70+ varieties of packaged dahlias. I don't like buying them too soon but did pick up one hard to find type. I'll be going back soon. The itch has officially been scratched. LOL

I'm so ready for the growing season to begin! Last week at this time, we had 18 inches of snow on the ground...today it pretty much melted away! A few of my tubers have already sprouted (Tartan being one of them, woohoo!!!), and I've been unwrapping my saran wrap stored ones to check on them. I've had a few tubers rot, but no more than normal.

I think I am done shopping for new dahlias...some that I am super excited to grow are: Hilltop Lost Treasure, Mambo, Hollyhill Hello Dolly, Irish Blackhart, Hollyhill Clowning Around, Barbara B, AC Ring of Fire, Normandy Lisanne, Double Jill, Mingus Mikie B, Rivers Rosebud, and Linda's Baby.

Our snow is finally gone but it was a good winter here with very little snow.

Hurray for Tartan! You do have a lot of blooms to look forward to this year.

I haven't bought any locally, least not yet, anyway ! But 'Nadia Ruth' just arrived in the mail today. I guess I will have to pot it up this weekend & just for earlier flowering, will go ahead & get it started indoors in a pot.

btw I happened to notice that one of the smaller tubers in the clump, isn't attached very well, like the others. Since it is likely not going to produce an eye, to form a budding stem, ought it be removed, prior to potting it up, so as not to rot away ?

Hmmm..... it is a good thing we are going through our orders. I could have sworn that I had Crazy Love ordered and I do not. Now, I will need to get that one.

Dahlias have been difficult for me the past 2 years. 2 years ago, I had rotator cuff problems and spent the summer in PT. I was told specifically no gardening Then last year, all it did was rain here (we flooded locally 3 times). I lost almost everything last year to rot. I was able to save a few though.

I have ordered:
Aztec Dahlias
Tyler James
Hot Tamale

Swan Island
Spoiled Rotten
Tartan

Eden Bros
The Cafe Au Lait collection: Cafe Au Lait, Rose Au Lait, and Royal
An Anemone collection
Caribbean Fantasy
Lake Ontario
Bohemian Spartacus

My sister is sending me a tuber of Karma Choc that I had sent to her a couple of years ago

And I picked up Lady Darlene at Lowes.

I am going to have to go looking for Crazy Love

Carolyn, Hope you're healed and ready to go! Gardening time is just around the corner!

I've seen Crazy Love in every Walmart and Home Depot I've been in.

Something (?) is up with many of the packaged dahlias I've seen this year. So many look dried out already (think driftwood LOL) and I've seen blue mold in packages in several stores. I hope your Lady Darlenes look better than the ones at our local Lowes. I have 2 LDs in storage. Hope I won't need any more.

Tartan is a beauty!

Dan

Tartan was one of the ones that I lost last year and had to replace. I am now wishing that I replaced Santa Claus as well. Maybe that is something to put on my want list for next year.

I just ran out to the store with my husband and picked up Crazy Love, Mero Star and Painted Madame. I really thought I had Crazy Love until I went up into the attic where I store my dahlias and checked them all.

Yes, they are looking dried out, but with a spritz of water, I am hopeful. I know one year, we had received cold weather late and many of the dahlias, caladiums and such were just mush in the bags.

I am more than anxious for the gardening season to begin. My shoulder should be fine at this point!

Hi guys. I lost probably 75% of my storage to rot. My own fault. I bagged them in shopping bags put them in three totes and left them til middle of March. A real mess. I really thought they would do better. I have maybe 15 potted with no sign of growth. I let them lay out to air out for about a week to make sure they were dry (some weren't rotten but were really wet). I had previously ordered some shorties and of the six, four have sprouted after about two weeks. I placed an order for Rebecca's World as it is D's favorite and I am not sure it survived. I had added 15 peonies last fall so am really cutting down on space for large dahlias. Hence the shorties for the front rows.

I am of a mind to simply order each year. I don't have that much room, would not have the work spring and especially fall, and could pick and choose what I like. After a few years of storage, the strongest survive and I end up planting the same colors every year.

We have a Mary sighting! Glad you're back! Don't feel alone regarding rotten tubers. I have pitched over 100 so far. Many were covered with nasty mold. I assume I wrapped them before they were dry enough. I've also thought about the warning of fertilizing after mid August and honestly can't remember when I stopped. I've missed my last few Dahliaholics Anonymous meetings and have ordered enough new ones to keep the USPS busy. LOL

I ordered Rebecca's World, too. Haven't grown that one in years. The Ohio Dahlia Society is having a tuber sale next month. I might talk myself into going but "just to look", of course.

Welcome back, Mary. Just today I mentioned to someone that I, too, have thought about giving up digging and just planting new each year. I'd save anything I love too much but keep the number reasonable - like 20.

I've only lost three so I consider myself lucky.

Yes, 20 seems about right for me. I had tubers turn to absolute mush. Really all my fault. Stacked in the bins as they were, if one or two on top rotted, they dripped down. The bottoms of the tubs were very wet. I assumed the bags would protect them, but all I did was just tie the handles together so plenty of opportunity for wet to come in.

I got antsy and up ended some small pots from last year and two show tiny little pips so I hastily repacked, gave very little water. I need to be PATIENT!!
Lol. Hard for a dahlia lover. And the idea of ordering new each year is to have the variety that provides. You and Dan have the most lovely varieties. Course when Dan has a gazillion potted he is bound to have a great spread. Lol. It's good to be back.

Storage doesn't always work the way we wish it would. Patience has to be the most difficult virtue.

While I do enjoy the variety of new arrivals it's hard to think of dahlias without our most favorites. The ones that grew best for me were those planted in compost bins!

I remember that. It was funny as I think you were surprised to see them grow and grow outstandingly

I did an indepth (upending pots) look at my dahlias. I pitched several and am down to about 12 from last year. All the newly ordered are about 1-2" tall. I reordered Rebecca's World as I wasn't sure it would survive and sure enough it has. Several stems have popped up in a 1 gal pot. Well, at least they won't be crowded in the garden space I have left. lol

I've always grown a few Dahlias, but never had any luck saving them through winter storage, so grew them as "annuals". I have grown Daylilies for years, but this year will be my "Year of the Dahlia". My son bought a house with a Michigan basement (no heat, dirt floor and stone walls), so I'm hoping they will store well there ... I'm sure going to give it a try, I went a little crazy.

From Old House Gardens : (I wanted some that are considered Heirlooms)
Jane Cowl
Prince Noir
Andries Orange
York and Lancaster
Wisconsin Red
Dixie's Winedot

From Swan Island
Bumble Rumble
Hootenanny
Pooh
Twilite
Gitty Up
Clearview Daniel

From a local grower, Summer Dreams Farm
Aljo
Chimicum Katie
Diva
Emory Paul
Jessie G
Midnight Moon
Linda's Baby
Penhill Watermelon
Wizard of Oz
Tempest
Brown Sugar
Dad's Favorite
Take Off
Chimicum Julia
Sea Nugget

Here is where they will be planted ........

For me the best way to store Dahlia is with the soil which I mist about once a month during the winter. Can't seem to keep them alive in bags in a "cool corner".