We all wish we could have more of the most coveted varieties! However, if you have at least one viable tuber- You Can! This is the first in a multi-part series on dahlia cuttings. Part 1 is all about getting your tubers sprouted. There are of course many ways to do this but here’s my take.
I take a 1020 tray with a webbed bottom insert. I like to double layer my tray like this because this means I can drain off any extra water. It’s easy to rot tubers during this process so you want to keep a close eye on how much water you are using.
Fill the tray with moist but not wet potting mix or a seed starting mix— either will work. You just need a medium that will hold moisture. I’ve seen some people use sand. I like it moist enough that just a little bit of water comes out when you squeeze a clump in your hand.
Inspect your tubers for any signs of leafy or crown gall. Ideally you would have gotten rid of those tubers in the fall while digging but we all miss things sometimes. Also I tend to separate tubers from my farm and those that are new from other farms for the year. You definitely want to have some viral and disease awareness at this stage and separating your stock helps a lot. At the end of you season, if you know you want to take cuttings of a variety, it’s a good idea to virus test it before you frost out for the season.
Insert your tubers with the necks facing up. You want at least an inch or two of the tuber bottom covered with dirt. Make sure you can see your label or add a label in the tray. Arrange them so you can get to the neck/crown area easily to pull your cuttings when they sprout.
You can get a fair bit of tubers in one tray. If you aren’t needing to root a lot, you can pot them into individual pots. Anything that drains and holds soil will do!
Now place your trays on a heat mat set to 65-70ish. It’s also helpful to go ahead and set up your grow lights so that as soon as they begin to sprout, they’ll have the light they need. If you don’t have heat mats, bring the tubers into your house. Most homes are warm enough during this time of year to get them sprouting. I’ve also put them in a small room with a space heater to get the temp to 70. This gets them started to sprout fairly quickly. Within 3-4 weeks, you’ll begin to see the first sprouts. Some varieties can take 6-8 weeks, so don’t give up on them. Keep the soil moist but on the dry side of moist. I let mine get pretty dry before I water again.
This is Rock Run Ashley— one of my greatest rooting successes! I started with 2 tubers several years ago. Grew those out and then multiplied those into well over a hundred within 2 years via cuttings. Cuttings are an easy and fun way to multiply your stock.
I’ll be back soon with the next steps in the process!