AboutLong Island Gardener Expertise Growing Tulips? Dahlias? Daffodils? Gladiolus? It doesn't get easier than bulbs and tubers. Once in a while, something goes wrong: The dreaded Narcissus Bulb Fly, which resembles a honeybee. Mosaic virus, which can ignite a field of tulips in a single season. Nematodes, lurking underground. Here on the North Shore of Long Island, the garden is full of surprises. If you live in the Northeast/Atlantic Coast, I can help you pick the right bulb for every season, indoors and out, and help you fertilize, bloom and harvest for home or work. How: I have degrees in related fields, but my best understanding is all learned from trial and error. For most of my 53 years I have been gardening somewhere. No matter what the problem, I've learned the best answers are always Organic -- Earth friendly, less expensive, healthier for people and pets, easier and cleaner than toxic liquids and powders that big chemical companies sell so smoothly.
Experience Besides degrees in related fields, and a few favorite horticultural societies, I work as a docent at our local botanical gardens -- but it's the years of work in the garden that's the real test.
Question I live in Revere Massachusetts. I planted dahlia bulbs around the end of April. How long does it take for them to come up? I planted them a few years ago and they were beautiful but I cannot remember how long it took for them to come up.Thank You very much.
Answer Patience, my friend.
Rome was not built in a day. Dahlias in Revere, Massachusetts, should not be planted until temperature of the top 6 inches of Soil hits 50 degrees F. Seed normally germinates in a week at 70 to 80 degrees F; tubers are similar.
Have you read Encyclopedia of Dahlias by By Bill McClaren?
He points out: 'Your garden Soil type determines the depth to plant the Tubers. The depth of the Tuber will depend on the Soil structure and temperatures.'
Charlene, what's your Soil like? How deep did you plant these?
Let us continue:
'Sandy Soil and high temperatures may require depths of 3 to 4 inches...Heavy Soils with low temperatures, depths of 2 to 3 inches.'
Still with me?
More from McClaren: 'Soil temperature needs to be 50 to 80 degrees F in order for the tuber to break its dormancy and begin growing. If the Soil temperature is too cold and wet, tubers can disintegrate. If the Soil temperature is too warm, the tubers break down and will not grow.'
Let's read that again:
SOIL TEMPERATURE NEEDS TO BE 50 TO 80 DEGREES.
Planting outside these parameters is simply asking for trouble.
As you can see, April is WAY too early to be putting these in the ground unless you live in, say, Georgia. What I would do now is NOT water them (this is routinely advised anyway; you should never water these until after they have broken through the ground AND they need it). Be patient. When the weather heats up, they will (hopefully) appear one morning, and then take off quickly like nothing ever went wrong. If they don't do this after a week of warm temps, however, it is time to dig up one, and make sure it is not diseased. If so, you will have to buy more and replant.
Patience, my friend. Good things come to those who wait.
