We have been taking cuttings for many years now and wish to share some of our methods with you. One tuber can produce 3,4 or as many as 5 to 10 plants from cuttings. If you only were able to save one tuber or paid lots of money for a new variety, taking cuttings is very cost effective. They will flower weeks ahead of your dahlias grown from tubers. A tuber will have been in the ground for as much as a month before you can see the leaves.
Slugs are a real problem in our area.
After planting, you can immediately see any damage from slugs and bait accordingly. A tuber sends up its sprout and slugs eat them as they come through the soil. You may not even realize that the slugs ate your prized dahlia. Also slugs often dig into the ground and eat the sprouts right on the tuber. Cuttings do not have a tuber that can affect the plant.