Frosted Dahlias <sigh>

[Jenny]

For the past fives weeks I've been raising 6 flats worth of dahlias, half from seed, half from last year's roots which I've saved and the rest new ones I bought this year. I've been taking them out onto my deck in the morning and bringing them in every night. Sad to report, a major family crisis flared up yesterday right before dinnertime and the dahlias got forgotten outside. Naturally, we had our first frost in weeks.

Now three quarters of the dahlias of both types have limp leaves.

My question is this: is there any hope for the frosted plants or do they go into the compost? And what about the ones that don't seem to show obvious damage. Are they goners too?

I'm way more bummed out than I like to be. I've put SO much energy into these plants and they were huge and gorgeous until this morning.

[Merle O'Broham]

Clip off wilted leaves, deadhead sagging blooms, water and keep your fingers crossed. The exact thing happened to me last week. I brought them into the garage next to a window and they're doing just fine. Good luck.

[BetsyB]

[alice]

Your foliage just got frosted but the roots and tubers didn't freeze.. Around here, a lot of perennials got hit too like the hosta but they will come back. Just be sure not to root rot them now. Betcha they come back just fine. If you had had a hard freeze maybe not.

alice Zone 6 western NC

[sue and dave]

Jenny, don't despair

cut 'em back and continue the TLC.

Last year we used Dahlias in ornamental gardens at the foot of Mt Washington NH, and despite waiting until June 15 to set them, they still suffered a few frost perils. All we did was cut back the damaged leaves and stems.

Truly, unless the roots are frozen, at this time of year it is simply a set-back, not the killzone.

The plants that don't look damaged aren't damaged.

Don't start the compost pile yet!

Sue Western Maine