Multiplying dahlias

J. Denys Bourque jdbourq@yahoo.co.uk
Sun, 14 Oct 2012 16:49:36 PDT
I've taken to gardening as an excellent exercise for my worn out neurons. 


Although I am progressing well as an amateur horticulturist I still am a neophyte in many respects. Last spring year I bought a very nice dahlia from a Canadian supplier. The flowers are huge and truly beautiful. So I hope to split it in two or three, and plant a new one of a different colour among them. I've been searching Internet on separating dahlias, but I'm not sure I fully understand what I read. 


All sites recommend to extract the plant, cut the stem off, keeping 6 in. = 15 cm of the stem; then, either in the or spring to split the tuber keeping a bit of the stem + at least one of the eyes with each resulting clone(?). 


I suppose this means cutting the stem vertically, because if I'm to keep a bit of the stem with at least one eye I see no other way how to do this.  Am I reading this right?  If so, I figure I should preferably wait until spring and use an Exacto-type knife or other very sharp instrument and proceed from the stem down through the lump of tubers. I will be thankful for any advice on whether or not this is the right way to split the tuber.

Sincerely,

 
J. Denys Bourque
Saint-Jacques, NB   CANADA



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