Dahlias

[veggiechicken]

They're "Due to be delivered today"
Anyway like to pop round for a dahlia/gladi planting party?

[Scarlet]

Oh, that is exciting VC! A few bags of composts and use your compost bins and it shouldn't take long. .....I'm jealous!
What varieties have you got?

[Scarlet]

I may have to get some more

[veggiechicken]

They've arrived

This what half the unnamed dahlias look like!! Haven't unpacked the other box yet.



4 giant amaryllis/hippeastrum




800 named gladioli.

[bikermike]

Are everyone elses' flowering? I started mine in the greenhouse (they got destroyed by slugs last year), I've got tow in the ground, and they are a bit spindly, but look OK. No flowers yet. Any thoughts?

[Thelma Sanders]

Mine only started flowering last week, so yours should be along soon

[Thelma Sanders]

They've arrived

You are going to be very very busy for a while m'thinks

Give the dahlias tubers a soak, for a couple of hours before potting - any that don't feel plump after that will likely already be dead. Good luck!

[veggiechicken]

Thanks Thelma.
All dahlias are soaking - in buckets, trays and the dog's bed! Its big, shallow and doesn't have drainage holes. Don't worry, they have other beds.
At least 80% had living shoots and look healthy. Some are very plump. They'll have a few hours to drink as I have to go out this afternoon. It'll give me time to think about what to do next too.

The glads are 8 varieties - 100 of each.:-
Performer,
Red Balance,
Fiorentina
Traderhorn
Purple Flora
Espresso
Jester
Red.
All look firm and raring to grow.

(I need another )

[nickdub]

You definitely got a bargain there VC. I bought some dahlia seed this year and now have over 100 plants about 1' high in 3 large containers - I'm going to have to clear some ground next year from my wilderness to plant them in - absolutely no non-weed infested space left now.

[rary]

VC if you can find space for them in the garden plant them 6 to 8 inches deep and there won't be the same need to dig them up for storing over winter I note that pots have been recommended MOBs are ideal for them but if you have a large plastic or wooden box you can plant more in less space and when they flower you can pick what you definitely want to keep and eat the rest but you must remember that if you want to grow for show they can be a lot of work, or you can do as I do just plant them and let the do their own thing

[rary]

And the has a great bargain, wish I had seen it earlier

[veggiechicken]

Have you checked if they're still available, rary?

Or are you hoping I'll send you some.

EDIT _I've checked and they're still on offer . Go on, you know you want to
Keep this nutty chicken company.........................please?

https://www.gardeningexpress.co.uk/s...mega-box-16326


PS - I've just ordered these too https://www.jerseyplantsdirect.com/M...eid=04aebe19b9

[rary]

^^^^^^Will you STOP THAT you got me to buying some plants last year, so don't do it again, now I need to find room for 50 dahlias and 400 gladioli where will I put them

[veggiechicken]

You only bought one pack!! Didn't you notice how much cheaper they were if you bought 2.
I've "planted" about half of the dahlias. I have lots of pots/troughs of dead geraniums so I've spread the dahlias out on the compost and covered them over with more old compost. I can move these into the GH to overwinter.
I'm telling myself that if 20 survive they will still be good value!

[rary]

I don't have room for one pack let alone two, need to try squeezing them in somewhere