Thankyou so much ci ci!!! I was hoping u saw my post & replied! :) :) :) I already went ahead & planted them. I went ahead & covered up all the leaves & stem & said a quick prayer hoping they'll grow just as well with an application of root stimulator & some tlc . Thankyou so much - I feel a lot better now :)

Glad you went with your gut and planted them. They'll be much happier now!

I would have probably stripped off any leaves or side branches that would have been underground, but it should be good regardless.

The concern is that the covered leaves will decay, and draw underground critters that might not stop at just the extra decaying leaves. Like the underground plant stem or tuber. However, it is just as likely that stripping the leaves/branches causes wounds in the plant, which opens it up to a bacterial infection once buried. (Shrug) There are numerous ways for your favorite variety to get destroyed, some totally out of your control. Do your best, and roll with the results until next season when you can choose another method, if needed.

I did what u suggested cc and all are doing great! Many blooming now - the only difference I see (the ones planted after being in pots WAY too long ) is, the bottom of the plants & the central stalks are thinner & lanky compared to the tubers that were planted on time w/little sprouts or none at all. But I know next spring when they grow back, they'll be starting fresh! The stalks will be much bigger, thicker & bushier :) Thankyou so much for all your help! Without your advice this year - my dahlia garden wouldn't be as nice as it is ! You've helped & advised me in the right direction more than ANYONE online or in person !! ☝I have to say from the bottom of my heart THANKYOU SOO MUCH!!

Oh - I did not cover the leaves - I meant to say I planted them deeper past the leaves & stems but my gut told me to cut the leaves off w/scissors almost flush to the central stalk- any plants that had thicker side shoots I didn't cut off the shoots Bc they're hollow so I just cut all leaves off & all did wonderful! None of them rotted!!!! Whohoo!! The older ones w/ thick side stalks, I didn't bury as deep in fear of rotting. However, there are a few dahlias I lost after planting as tubers. For some reason or another they just decided to rot at soil level so I pulled them up & replaced the soil in that area in fear of fungal infection I read ab. I also notice no matter where I buy tubers from sometimes they just want to rot! Wether I keep them dry until visible sprouting or not :( I lost 2 of my swan island tubers even after following directions to a T - I'm guessing Mother Nature just has her way of doing things sometimes- regardless of what us gardeners do to prevent these things ... sigh...

" the central stalks (of pre-started tubers) are thinner & lanky compared to the tubers that were planted on time w/little sprouts or none at all."

Yup, that is common with starting tubers TOO early without adequate light source... and nothing, aside from a very expensive setup pot growers typically use, comes close to comparing with the strength of the good ol' sun. It's a delicate balance of getting roots and sprouts started before planting, without ending up with towering behemoths that can topple too easily.

" I also notice no matter where I buy tubers from sometimes they just want to rot!"

You have hit upon a mystery of dahlia growing that many much more experienced growers have not yet come to understand. If you plan for loss and don't take it too personally, growing becomes much more enjoyable with the successes.

Yes ma'am! U hit it right on the money! I've learned not to let a rotten tuber bring me down! Funny, bc the ones that rotted on me this year, were my Very Fav ! out of all the varieties I bought! I learned rather quickly not to get too attached to any variety & if I'm truly obsessed than I might as well buy a few of the same-☝ just in case! I also learned not to keep the darn tubers in pots for long! Just long enough for some green sprouts & a few roots & in the ground they go! Ive been trying to experiment with laying them in the ground & only covering them enough to keep from scalding in the sun to sprout them this way - is this safe or does it affect overwintering tubers (In ground) Bc I'm not digging any tubers up-there's no point- we don't dip below freezing much & if so it's for just a few nights each winter I'm leaving my tubers in ground @ mother natures mercy & I'll have to dig them up and start fresh every couple years Bc we have root knot nematodes & I REFUSE to treat my soil with vapam after reading ab this crap- id rather let the nematodes have at my flowers than use such a caustic chemical ! Im trying to build the microorganisms in my soil not wipe out the populations! It sickens me to think I have to throw out all my tubers every couple years. I'm sure there's going to b certain varieties I had trouble finding to purchase so throwing out tubers is going to be nerve wracking when the time comes! I'm trying to mentally prepare myself for it now so I'm the next year & half or so it won't hurt as bad. I hope to build my soil up enough that there won't be anymore root knot nematodes in my garden beds- I'm doing all I can to learn ab deterring the bad & encouraging the good nematodes ☺️ I'm still ready to pack up & move tho but no one understands how much this means to me- ☝I'm so done being a Floridian !!

There's another option to losing your whole collection every couple years due to nematodes... you can take cuttings in the spring from clumps, then toss the clumps once the cuttings are well-rooted. You have to keep everything VERY sterile while the roots are forming, though. Cuttings are LOTS of fun once you get the hang of it.

Oh, I didn't even think of this! I already have a few cuttings that rooted!! ( Bc of an earlier response you made (ab sticking broken dahlia stems deep into the soil!!) to someone's broken dahlia question) they actually root pretty easily !! I was extremely surprised at how easily they do root ! I have 4 rooted - just now starting growing their first set of new leaves & 6 more I just potted up a few days ago! Out of these 6, one did die :( so I'll be taking another cutting from alloway candy ( her central cane is rotting Bc Irma busted her laterals off ) She has a gaping " peep hole," in the center of her cane and it's rotting but she hasn't wilted. It's only a matter of time before she rots :( I love her! Even tho she's all pink, up close she has cream streaking in her petals like she was painted w/water colors ! It amazes me how intricate the details are on a dahlia flower

And dahlia seeds! I didn't know they germinated to easily ! When I planted seeds I bought I ab did a back flip when they germinated within a few days! Bc of hurricane Irma -we went without power & water ( we'll pump) and I lost all my dahlia seedlings so I'll be sewing more come spring :)

I don't bother with seeds, as I'm pretty picky with what I grow. Most seedlings are 'junk' blooms with messy open centers and bad form, but lots of folks seem to enjoy them. Me? I'll stick with the named varieties that have a chance of being my 'favorite of the day.' I still have a few thousand named varieties to try in my garden yet.

Lol - I tried seed but Irma killed them and I haven't witnessed any seed blooms yet so I can't say but if they're what u say they are in pretty picky I prob won't like them either !

I'm going to post my dad dahlia garden I've been too busy to do so lately but hopefully I'll get it up soon under dahlia forums

Ooooh ! And I'm really liking some blooms when the centers open! They're so pretty and it gives them a whimsical look