All dahlia bed__how close (on average) would you plant?

19 years ago

My new beds for dahlias will be 4'6" by 11'6" long. I figure to put 3 plants across or 3 rows. I find a lot of info about planting but little about how close to place tubers. Have 40 new tubers coming. Need your advice!!

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Comments (8)

jroot
19 years ago
Some gardeners suggest 20 - 22 inches, but I prefer massed gardening effects, and I would recommend 12 - 16 inches apart. Make sure you pick off the lower leaves once established, so as to avoid mold and mildew.

Good luck. Post pictures when you have them bloooming. I'd love to see them.
Poochella
19 years ago
I plant mine no closer than 2 feet, more like 3. this year I'm going to cram them in closer, in a few places, to see if I can get away with it without mildew- had none last year whatsoever.

I'd be interested to hear what experience people have had with closer planting-say 18 inches apart.
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flowerfarmer
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Two acres of field grown for cutflower production. We plant 12-18" apart down the row. Our rows are 36-38" apart.
Not an actual flower garden, but beautiful nevertheless.
Absolutely no problems with mildew.
Noni Morrison
19 years ago
Poochella, I can't plant mine any closer then that either. Last year the new ones I added just got smothered by a huge wave of dahlias planted the previous year. At 30 " they inter-twine. MY beds are 6' wide and with paths on both sides, so I Plant them in two rows down it. All I add is a little osmocote and a pinch of mixed minerals. Maybe it is our longer growing season?
jamlover
Original Author
19 years ago
LISA LILY AND FLOWER FARMER, Are you able to leave yours in the ground year round or do you dig in the fall? Jean
flowerfarmer
19 years ago
jamlover,
We have to dig and store our tubers every fall. They are not hardy here in our zone. They would not be hardy in your z4 either.
I am envious of LizaLily because I don't think she has to dig hers :(
Noni Morrison
19 years ago
jamlover Jean, I leave mine in the ground. I lost only 1 out of 65 last year, (Kasasagi) and doubt if I will loose any this year. EVery so many years we will hve a winter where I might loose them but then I would get to start with all new ones! Worth the risk to me! Especialy when it is labeled an el Nino year that means we prbably won't have any deep freezing. I do put a straw mulch over mine if the weather is going down into the mid twenties. NEver got there this year.
alex_z7
19 years ago
LizaLily, I was looking at your member page and am encouraged to read that you too have both fibromyalgia and arthritis yet still have a business that requires so much physical effort. I too have both and have wondered what that prognosis means for the future.

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All dahlia bed__how close (on average) would you plant?

Comments (8)

jroot

Poochella

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All dahlia bed__how close (on average) would you plant?

Comments (8)

jroot

Poochella

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