On 23/09/2013 23:42, Bertie Doe wrote:


"David Hill" wrote in message ...

On 23/09/2013 20:47, Bertie Doe wrote:

Just 2 duplicates (comet) the rest are different. Q. If you had a clump
with say, 6 tubers, would each tuber produce a new plant?


Not every tuber will produce a new plant, it depends on the eyes that
form at the top of the tuber where it joins the stem.
I was going to say if you had several of each variety lift some of
each and leave the others in the ground, covered as you described.
It's mostly the wet that kills off the tubers, though they wont take
the tubers getting frosted.
As for lofting and dividing, there are a lot of clips on google that
show you what to do, mostly with first year tubers, this American one
shows a clump that is a little larger, and despite her American
pronunciation of Dahlia it is quite good.
http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/...g-dahlias.aspx

The Americans split their dahlias down to "Chicken Legs" that is
single tubers with one or two eyes, in the UK we tend to grow from
cuttings or from clumps of a few tubers.
if you have more questions I will try to answer them.

Thanks David I will hit the sack now and look at that clip tomorrow. The
idea of removing single tubers (with eyes) sounds great. I have some
sulphur dust, I guess it's ok for dahlias?

It'll make loft storage a lot easier. I'd have no trouble in getting rid
of duplicates to neighbours and/or allotmenteers.

You may find this of interest as well.
I wouldn't divide down to single tubers till the spring,
In the US they have a lot of different methods for over wintering and
many people loose a lot of their tubers over winter.
I over winter my tubers in boxes covered in almost dry potting compost.
I store them upside down till the new year then turn them the right way
up and cover them with compost.
I propagate by cuttings, and divide those that I am short of before
planting.
David @ a sunny Swansea Bay