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To Pot Or Not to Pot? Too Wet To Plant Outdoors

18 years ago

Hi:

Since I am new to planting Dahlias, I need some help!

I got overly enthused and ordered 16 new tubers before I even had the bed ready. Now the bed is ready, but it

has rained for two weeks and the ground is too wet to plant. I am going out of town for 10 days. Should I pot them in pots now, and wait to plant until I get back, or will they be OK until I return on the 17th? Any help would be appreciated.

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Comments (8)

linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
18 years ago
If you have time to pot I'd do it now. Mine sprouted so fast as soon as they were potted it was unbelieveable. I feel like I've gained 3 weeks. I'm in Zone 5 too. I enjoyed them so much last fall I was wishing then that they had started blooming earlier, so that was my motivation. I think it depends on whether the time and trouble of planting them is worth 10 days of growth to you. 16 is not too many to pot up, but only you know how busy you are. I lined the pots with newspaper, as described on this forum, to save on soil and make them easier to transplant later. That took longer than the actual potting up.

Can someone water them while you are gone?
wje630
Original Author
18 years ago
Dear linnea56: I appreciate your advice. Which question were you referring to about the lining the pots with newspaper? I looked for that topic, but didn't see it. Thanks for your help.
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linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
18 years ago
H'mmm. I don't remember where I saw it except that it was on this forum. One of the expert dahlia people here posted that she lined her pots with newspaper to both reduce on soil needed (since they were going in the ground as soon as it was warm enough) and to lessen transplanting shock. The dahlia with the newspaper lining, could be popped right out of the outer plastic pot and planted straight into the ground. The newspaper would rot quickly,

She had a whole tutorial with pictures. Did you try searching for "newspaper"? I'd do it now but I'm about to leave the house for the day..
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
18 years ago
The poster was jroot. Try looking for her postings.
Poochella
18 years ago
Hee Hee- it was indeed Jroot, but he's a HE.
Here is the link courtesy of Pitimpanai who located it once before. I've never had any luck with using the "search" function on this forum. Not once.

Here is a link that might be useful: Newspaper pots courtesy of Mr. Jroot.
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
18 years ago
That's the problem with pseudonyms! I tend to assume all posters (unless they use a forum name that seems male) are women because I am. I call all cats and plants "she" too, unless labelled otherwise!
plantlady2
18 years ago
We call all our seedling babies she, too-- except for EEEKK!!-- & HE'S definately a HE! >:)
The year the ADS show was held in Seattle, they brought a tour bus full of dahlia growers from all over the world to our place. One of the guys from back east came up to me & said, "You're a girl!!" (I'm a little past the "girl" stage but who's counting??)
"Yup", says I "At least the last time I looked I was!" I guess dahlias, in the past, have usually been hybridized by the menfolk & they just don't think "Girls" are capable of the chore!-- fooled them!
jroot
18 years ago
Yup, I'm a he, at least the last time I looked. LOL

Cookie_ks, mine have been in pots for several weeks, and are now outdoors in the pots. They love the sun and are "growing gangbusters". I agree with linnea56 that you definitely gain a few weeks with potting early. Mind you I am not potting up 8000 like plantlady.

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