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Annuals/Dahlias
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Question
Why didn't my dahlias bloom this year? I did not remove the tubers and they survived and spread through my entire flower bed. They have very little flowers or buds but no big blooms.
Dahlias self-dividing are a wonderful predicament. But when they fail to blooom, it is a big disappointment.
Dahlia season however is now over. I've cut my last bouquet, and once we get a hard freeze, they'll be up and out of the ground again. It is critical that you figure out what went wrong this year, but it is going to be difficult because all the evidence has been lost.
Were there any symptoms on the leaves? Any mottling or curling? Were they the expected vivid green, or were they pale instead? Were they mottled, or striped - a symptom of a virus?
What about the petals? Did they show any damage, any brown marks as they opened? Did you see any insects burrowing into the bud?
Then, there is the most common error: Lack of sunlight. Not getting enough light is why many plants fail at the bloom stage. These are full sun plants with full sun appetites. They need rich Soil and, well, full sun. Then there's the bugs: Spidermites; Corn Borer; something else. Think back, and let me know -- along with a description of the sun exposure and your care regimen. And we can get to the bottom of this. The small tubers, by the way, are capable of growing Dinnerplate blooms.
Please get back to me about these symptoms and other red flags. Dahlia season is approaching its height and we should all be enjoying our Dahlias now. RSVP,
THE LONG ISLAND GARDENER
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Answers by Expert:
Long Island Gardener
Expertise
Decisions, decisions... If you can't make up your mind which Annuals to grow, you're not alone. Problem with your new flowering Annuals flats? I`ve been there, done that. Petunias, Sweet Alyssum, Larkspur, Marine Blue Lobelia -- they all grow here at my house on Garden Street on Long Island, N.Y.. Cutting and Cottage Gardens, Sun and Shade Gardens, White Gardens and Night Gardens, I`ve done them all. Annuals are the perfect summer flower, bursting with color June through fall's first frost. I can`t speak on Cactus or tender Tropical Plants -- they don`t grow outside in my Zone 7. I`m no Farmer, so I cannot guide you on Fruits and Vegetables. But whether it`s an Annual you want to start from seed, mail-order or pick up at your local garden center, I can help you grow amazing blooms this Summer. Yes, together, we can turn your neighbors green with envy.
Experience
I have a lifetime of gardening behind me here on the North Shore of Long Island. While I have degrees in related fields, there's nothing like hands-on work to build real knowledge. I stay on top of current science -- there's a boom in research, and Kingdom Plantae is filled with surprises. By the way, I really do live on Garden Street.
Publications
Gannett newspapers, The New York Times, and hundreds of others - but not on Annuals.
Education/Credentials
B.A., botany; graduate credits in European Intellectual History and Political Science; minor coursework in related fields, docent training at our local botanical gardens (required for volunteers). I'm currently working on an advanced biochemistry degree.
Awards and Honors
I could tell you, but then you'd know who I am.
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