Forcing tubers, and cutting sprouts from them?

8 years ago

I have been growing Dahlias for years, overwintering them each year by just throwing the clumps into plastic bags. Darwinian selection being what it is, I have 4 varieties that seem to survive this treatment. After several years of this, I bought a few new varieties last year from Swan Island, and I decided to split up my old clumps and cut apart the new varieties, so I divided the clumps into individual fingers last fall. Now in March, they look pretty good, so I started them early indoors in trays filled with a mix of peat, vermiculite and sand. I planted them out in the trays and put the trays on the floor in my great room in front of the west-facing windows. Three questions:
1. When forcing Dahlias, is it too much sun to place the tray in direct sunlight? I live in Michigan so at this time of year we get around 12 hours of daylight a day, about 6 of it direct in that room. Should I put some kind of screen over the window (plastic film or something) so the sun isn't so harsh on the new shoots?
2. I'd like to take some cuttings, especially of the new varieties. Most of the videos with people taking cuttings show them starting with a big clump of tubers, which yields several stalks to cut. But I already divided mine. If I have 1 tuber with one visible eye, will cutting off the stalk to make a cutting be the end of that tuber? Or will another stalk grow if I cut the first? And will the cuttings survive the direct sunlight or do I need to be careful of them?
3. If I order new tubers this year, can I take cuttings from them, or should I wait until they've had a chance to grow a season?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

cicivacation
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
So sorry your questions didn't get answered by anyone. I had neglected to check this forum for a while, myself. While these answers are late for you, perhaps they will help others wondering the same things.

1. Sun is good, and can be effective in waking up dormant tubers. No need to screen the amount of sun. Normally growers run two shop lights a few inches above new shoots to encourage bushy growth, simulating the sun.

2. Depending on the size of the tuber, it can put out 2-10 cuttings before exhausted. Most certainly, the average dahlia tuber should be fine for 3-5 cuttings before leaving the final sprout on and planting out into the dahlia bed. Just make sure to slice the cutting a touch above the surface of the tuber, and 2-3 sprouts will form around the edge of that cut.

3. You have new varieties? Cut, cut, cut! I always try to have a couple backup cuttings, especially those expensive varieties I splurged on! It is my insurance policy... Even if the cuttings are taken too late to bloom, I am saving that genetic material in case the tuber fails during the season. I just store the cutting in the cellar, still in its pot and original potting mix. Then, I lightly water in early spring and take cuttings from the sprouts.

More info can be found on cuttings here: Dahlia Cutting for Beginners
Jennifer Pruette
7 years ago
Thank you for the reply! I guessed on everything and I think I did ok except for the cuttings - I took them much from higher up but they seem to have rooted fine. We'll see if they grow. I forced the tubers the third week of March, and I calculated I could put them out the beginning of May. Well, its now May 19 and it was almost freezing last night so the tubers are still in pots in my living room. 50 of them. Most of them about 3 feet tall. I take them out during the day to harden them off, and then I bring all 50 back in at night. Someday, it will be warm enough out to plant...
Related Discussions
getting tubers to sprout eyes before planting
Q
Comments (7)
We use milk cartons because I don't like the taste of milk from plastic jugs--Bletch! That being said- staple the top shut so the soil doesn't fall out. Lay the carton on it's side & cut out what is now the top. You then have a flap that you can cut down to about 1-2" & write the name of the dahlia on. You plant the dahlia on it's side- the milk carton is long enough to accommodate all but those WAY huge tubers. The neck end is left out- probably so if we want to we can take cuttings- haven't really thought that one out but it's the way we've always done it & so have all the other growers we know that start their dahlias early. By the time I get around to starting tubers, I've also started about 800 seedlings so they all go in the 70* greenhouse with lots of light & a nice warm bottom- the heat pads are set at 70*, too. After they're well on their way to growing they can be popped out of the cartons & planted- after being hardened off, of course. Do you still need a picture? That means I have to brave the dreaded "RED BOX" aaarrrggghhh!!! Or maybe I'll try to get my computer & camera to talk to each other & put a couple of picts. in our seedling album...... Will let you know which it turns out to be.
...See More
Would you take sprout cuttings from a newly received tuber?
Q
Comments (11)
I have a hard time making cuttings from the single AA tubers, as I dread delaying it and missing blooms in my short season. But if I force myself to do it, it's amazing how quick two new sprouts pop out, outperforming the cutting. Out of the original 28 cuttings I made at the start of the growlight season on 3-18, only Northlake Pride cutting has failed to make roots, but its still green and perky, so I'm leaving it in the large closed container to see if it decides to come around. I have enough plants of that variety, so no loss, but its fun! (Edited to say- that loner cutting finally rooted on 5-11-13! By now, dozens of cuttings have come and gone from the cutting container!) I use no growth hormone, and keep the individual pots sealed in a bag or larger clear container with lid until rooted before pulling them out under the lights without the extra humidity. This is an excellent well-written article that might assist those who have not tried cuttings yet... Here is a link that might be useful: Cuttings from a Pro This post was edited by CCvacation on Mon, May 13, 13 at 14:47
...See More
Sprouted tubers - cut the stalks?
Q
Comments (4)
This is common question and many people have tubers that have long sprouts on them. According to Phil Mingus(only 60 years experience growing dahlias), if the sprout is longer than an inch or so and there is another smaller sprout, remove the long sprout and let the smaller one grow the new stalk. Long sprouts are skinny and do not thrive. However if it is the only one, you may have to plant it with the long sprout. I have planted tubers with 12 inch long sprouts and the resulting plants were not very good. I was trying to get more tuber production but even though there were a few more tubers, it was not worth it.
...See More
Do I cut off pale sprouts from tubers?
Q
Comments (2)
dahlia 45. If you are looking for information on growing dahlias, go to either one or both of the postings above by "corgicorner" that say LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ! ! ! ! or a similar posting with ? ? ? ? ? . This will lead you to the article which you should download and keep for further information and use. Good Luck.
...See More
cicivacation
7 years ago
Putting plants out too early is such a temptation, as is starting the tubers too early. Been there, done that... And will probably do it again, to my chagrin. ;-)

Do you top your plants to encourage bushiness?
Jennifer Pruette
7 years ago
Yes, I do. And I usually try to disbud, I think the term is, where I take off the side buds and leave the middle, at least until September and then I lose track. I've gotten a little obsessed with the dahlias - I saw there was a sale at Swan Island and I ordered a few more tubers today. Because I apparently don't have enough! So I can try the cutting technique you sent the link to. Thanks!!
cicivacation
7 years ago
I think I've finally capped out the total number of varieties I can grow, which is around 300, with four long beds and several smaller ones. More then that would be too hard to maintain/dig/divide by myself. I'm not sure how many tubers I actually plant... I guess around 6-8 hundred, as I try to plant 2-3 of each variety.
Jennifer Pruette
7 years ago
Thats a lot of plants. I'm thinking I may have to top out sooner than that.

Forcing tubers, and cutting sprouts from them?

Comments (6)

cicivacation

Jennifer Pruette

Related Discussions

cicivacation

Jennifer Pruette

cicivacation

Jennifer Pruette

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US