Re: dahlias

Agree, Claire.  I could never divide a clump.  By the time spring
rolls around, what's left of that main stem is so wizened, I have no
clue how you'd actually cut it apart and leave some for more than one
section of tubers.  BTW, for those new to dahlias, some of the tubers
will inevitably fall off the clump.  Discard them. They may look nice
and healthy, but they will do nothing without stem attached.

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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----------
> From: ECPep@aol.com
> 
> In a message dated 8/20/02 2:58:42 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
mtalt@hort.net 
> writes:
> 
> << If firm and healthy (a sort of light tan color), do not separate
from
>  the main stem - they will not bloom if they have no bit of main
stem
>  attached to the rhizome.  Cut back the stem to a few inches. >>
> 
> This is the part I found tricky.  You can clean off most of soil
left in 
> spring as they are quite dry and have a good look at the structure.
 No 
> matter how many pictures I have seen, I still have trouble dividing
a clump 
> of dahlia tubers so plant the whole thing intact, if I have one. 
There is 
> one stem up the center and the dividing point is never clear to me.
 If you 
> have a long season, you can root new shoots. Or if you have
greenhouse space 
> which most don't.
> 
> Claire Peplowski
> NYS z4
> 
>
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