Dahlia jobs in March

For those of you that are propagating from your tubers, they were, in  February, set down and by March should have shoots long enough to begin taking cuttings (75mm - 100mm).  Cut the stem a leaf axil or two above the "heel", or point where the shoot emerges from the crown; this will encourage further shoots to sprout from the leaf axils.

Before and After images; the cutting will then be trimmed below the leaf axil, the leaves removed, dipped in hormone rooting compound and "dibbed" into the John Innes Seed compost in the trays.

Avoid taking hollow, "pipey" shoots for cuttings as they tend to be more difficult to root.  The shoots that follow from the leaf axil will be of much better quality.  If you do wish to use these cuttings ensure that  when you trim the stem below the leaf axil it is solid with no hollowness at all; this will give the cutting a better chance of growth.  Water as necessary to keep from drying out but do not over-water as this will only encourage damping off.

Start dahlias from seed towards the end of the month in a heated greenhouse or propagator.

If you do not have a greenhouse March is the time to start off the tubers in trays as described in February and the time to prepare the growing area ready for planting out the divided tubers in April.