[escapedtothecountry]

I think it was a wise move planting loads of Dahlias this year as it has kept Mrs Escaped To The Country very happy with a seemingly continuous supply of cut flowers!

[bangbang]

Aaaww! luvley...  

[Mammyshaz]

That looks great  . No chance of OH doing that for me  Would have tho plant them and pick a bunch for myself   

[Dan]

Great job! We're putting in a bed for growing cut flowers next year, might tap you up for some tips.

[Bionic]

Oh, they look lovely. No wonder your Mrs is happy
Sally

[goosepimple]

Wow, a riot of colour Escape - that looks great, get your pic blown up at a printers really big, full wall size and get it in your bedroom to waken up to - when the snow is half way up your house it will melt those winter blues away! 

[Blinkers]

Great job! We're putting in a bed for growing cut flowers next year, might tap you up for some tips.

Ditto Dan.    I love Dahlias and have a few this year, but would LOVE a display like that, so some tips would be very useful 

[escapedtothecountry]

I sound a bit nerdy - but I do love Dahlias! I think because you can keep cutting them and they just seem to keep blooming more and more.


Not sure I am expert enough to give tips, but for what its worth I spent a bit of money they year buying the tubers as I wanted loads of colour - so I planted about 100. I also had a go at growing some from seed and they seem really easy to germinate as opposed to other plants.


The raised beds you can see where put in I think last October to cover a problematic area from when we bought the place. I think the reason everything goes mad in the raised beds is there is alot of well rotted horse manure. I just makes things shoot up.


Lots of people suggest you should dig up the tubers to avoid the frost killing them. I did do that from some at our previous garden last year but I think i let them dry out too much over Winter.


I am tempted to cover the beds in fleece or something when the frost comes - but undecided yet as wouldn't want to lose them all.


What has pleased me is that even most of the dahlias grown from seed have produce lots of flowers which makes them dirt cheap!


Also when tubers start growing their first green shoots you can make quite a few cutting which give you even more plants.


Personally I would love to fill the two acres we have with dahlias and become known for growing them - but I can't see that happening ....... but who knows.

[Mel Rice]

When I was young, my Aunts garden was used by her neighbour to grow competition dahlias. Thew were very cosseted and often the flower heads covered in a paper bag .Ive only just started to appreciate them again especialy when they are in a mix such as you have. Think I might try some too.
 
 
The dahlia gardener used to dig up the tubas every year, pot them up in spring, then use the early growths for cuttings. (Im not sure that he didnt throw the old tuba away one the cuttings were going)
 

[happygolucky]

A late reply as I have been off for a while but that is stunning, I would love to have more flowers to cut, my husband loves me to do flower arrangements all around the house and so do I.....they look sooooo colourful and pretty