Hello! My name is Bethany and I grow things in my rooftop container garden in Chicago, zone 6a. In this video, I’ll be planting four more dahlias in plastic pots.
Other Dahlias Videos
How I Stopped Killing My Dahlias: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-cMQ_OdCKA
Planting Dahlias in Grow Bags: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK7uOJ5d2Vs
For daily updates, follow me on Instagram @chicagogardener
18 Comments
Would you believe that I just finished watching your recent dahlia video? This is back to back entertainment 🤗
Super tip
I have container garden and definitely agree regarding getting more compost never seem to have enough lol
Hi Bethany, I forgot about the temps and left my dahlia outside last night. Do you think one night caused any harm? I just potted it up a couple of days ago.
I’m wondering about the decision not to water the dahlias in if you’re keeping them inside. They might be fine, but I always heard that people didn’t water them in because there would be enough moisture from rain, but that obviously isn’t a possibility inside. Has anyone been able to sprout them without any moisture at all?
Do you do any preventative spraying for bugs/diseases? My dahlias got decimated by spider mites last year, so I'm thinking of spraying this year.
Nice! I’m keeping my fingers crossed that you have success with your newly planted dahlias. You always do such a great job with them.
Have you thought about presprouting and growing on a bit in smaller containers? I do it in gallon containers and transplant into the bigger pots once they can go outside.
Pots with Automatic Irrigation LifeProTip: install the drip line thru one of the bottom hole first before filling up the planter with soil. Just make sure you cap both ends of the drip line to prevent being clogged with dirt. Then slowly fill up with potting mix and plant but don't bury/FORGET the "outlet" end of the drip line. Install the rest of the irrigation system on the pot. This way, the irrigation line is nowhere to be seen or hanging on the side of the pot.
Hi Bethany, I hope you can provide guidance for me 🙂 This is my first time growing dahlia tubers. Got two packs Red, 1 pack Cream (dollar store, generic no name; thought I'd try my hand at bargain priced ones first). Used plastic container per dahlia tuber (approx 1.5 gallons), buried approx 2 inches deep in MG potting mix (9 mos fertilizer), watered heavily (too much), put under grow lights (first year with those too).
They are growing *gangbusters*: each container of red dahlia has 5 'shoots' each 12' to 20' tall. (Yikes). Leaves are flopping, stems are starting to tilt (because I didn't put any supports).
The cream dahlia container has 2 shoots' that are more stout (8" tall), huge rounded leaves (5" long, 3.5" wide).
Seems to me just crazy….it's only April 24. My Question(s): when weather is predictably warmer (here in Toronto we're somewhat similar to Chicago), can I take each container and simply 'pot up' to huge ones? (Add supports). I have been watching all these videos on Dahlia cuttings to increase one's stock but these mutants are massive (i.e., already 5 ?sprouted eyes? per tuber), so I don't need more stock (I only have three 20-gallon fabric grow bags, as is). Hope I'm understandable to you. I am just astonished at the growth. 20 days from tuber to 20" tall…and growing! [Maybe this is all about the MG growing media, or the 16 hrs/day of grow light.] Any feedback much appreciated!
Erin, The Impatient Gardener has gotten me hooked on Dahlias. I ordered one called Emperor which thr pictures say is purple, but the ones I got were white. Still Beautiful but I ordered the Emperor again to get a purple one. I have a yard so I start them inside and move them out into the ground end of May or 1st of June. ❤
P.S. Love your dress. ❤
Don’t forget the stakes when you put them out permanently.
Why is it I can't stop growing dahlias lol …I ho hum abt them ..most are in containers too ..the best one I have is an old heirloom I got from my sons garden…I find the new ones do not produce as much and some are just plain disappointing . I grew quite a few from seeds I had and they actually performed the best – but are singles and here where I live they ALL get powdery mildew 🙁 Dahlias and Tulips are addictive 😅 Someone gave me a Lilac Dinner plate flower for my birthday – it was HUGE and absolutely stunning.
I’d love an update on the dahlias you started already! How big are they, and how do you care for them? I’m also in the Midwest growing in containers, and this is my first year trying dahlias. You have been so helpful! ❤
Hii dr 💗
How are you 💗
i always watch your video's, so good and helpful your video's
i always support you dr❤
i want to talk with you
Hi Bethany, I'm trying Lilac Time for the first time as well! Such a gorgeous, unique color. I'm also using lg. square tomato cages that I spray painted black for my dinnerplates. For the medium dahlias I purchased some round tomato cages from HD that were already black. I will be making a modification that one dahlia society recommended. They advise turning the round cages upside down, wider ring on the soil, and then using bolt cutters to cut off the stakes. I'll then use many landscape staples to secure the cages into the soil. I hope this method works better in the long run, although I'm more partial to the English garden look of the bamboo stakes with jute. I'm still trying to research ways to make the tomato cages look better, painting them black works for now. Good luck and thank you for sharing your gardening journey with us!
It’s freezing here how are they doing with this cold spring?
I really like square pots for some reason. Those are nice