By Pancy
United Kingdom 
Hi every one.
The cutting garden is getting quite established, wish we had a little more sun and warmer days.
Dahlias.
How do I get longer stems on these dahlias.
Lots of buds the main middle stem gets to about 4/5inches.
Not good for cutting.
Lots of buds they are wasted as buds will not open once cut.
Help..
Also can you suggest good foliage plants, need lots for bouquet fillers etc.
Thanks
4 Aug, 2015
It is possible to grow dahlias for cutting, but only with real dedication, and the flowering stems are never terribly long. The link below is actually to an American site, but the middle part describes the performance they growers go to in order to achieve good dahlias for cutting, but ignore the part about heat and stuff, not relevant for the UK
https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/2906/2906-1384/2906-1384.html
Classic florist's foliage plants are Ruscus (Butcher's Broom), rose foliage, Viburnum tinus
4 Aug, 2015