How to Grow Beautiful Dahlias
Don’t be surprised if your dahlia tubers look different: some are fat, thin, long, short, etc. All tubers, regardless of shape or size, will produce equally good plants. If your tubers are a little wrinkly, that’s fine too. It will plump up nicely once it is tucked away in the earth. It’s shocking but true!
When you receive your package of tubers, open the box or bags and leave loose at the top so air can circulate. Store in a cool, dim spot until you are ready to plant. 40 to 50°F is ideal, but warmer – even room temperature – will work too. Just don’t let them get too cold or freeze. If your tubers sprout while waiting to be planted, no problem… just go ahead and plant it! If a sprout breaks off, don’t panic because several more will emerge at the base of the broken one.
I know you’re eager to see your dahlias bloom, but hold off on planting until the soil is at least 60° and all threat of frost has passed. If you are unsure of your last frost date, you can Google “last frost date” and several sites will pop up. Enter your zip code and it will tell you your average last frost date. Again, regardless of your last frost date, please make sure the soil is at least 60° or your tuber will be in danger of rotting.
Firmly Rooted in health:
Dahlias love the sun and the more sun they get the more they will bloom. If you live in a particularly hot area in the South, some afternoon shade would be appreciated.
Plant dahlias a minimum of 12 to 18 inches apart. Dig a hole roughly 4 to 6 inches deep. (I plant larger tubers closer to 6 inches deep and smaller tubers about 4 inches deep). I like to add a handful of compost and bone meal to the bottom of the hole. Place the tuber in the hole horizontally with a growing eye facing up (you should see a tiny freckle along the upper neck/crown of the tuber). Your tuber may have already sprouted if it was in a warm area. No problem! If the sprout is longer than a couple inches, snip it back to 1 inch using sharp, clean scissors or a knife.
Insert a strong support stake before covering the tuber. Adding the stake now helps prevent damage to your tuber later when it’s time to stake them. Cover with soil and press firmly but gently to release any air pockets.
Finally, sprinkle some Sluggo or other slug bait/repellent at this planting site. Slugs will devour your tuber sprouts. Apply and repeat according to package directions.
As your dahlia starts to grow, you can add support twine every 12 to 18 inches. You will most definitely want to stake your dahlias because they can be knocked over by a strong gust of wind or during a heavy rain storm. If you are only planting a few Dahlias, tomato cages work well.
There’s no need to water your dahlia until it sprouts, unless your soil is bone dry. In that case, water them slightly. Be careful though, watering too early and too much can cause a dahlia tuber to rot. Once you see your dahlia sprouts begin to emerge from the soil, begin to water deeply 2 to 3 times per week, depending on your climate. A light rain will not cut it. When your dahlia is about 12 to 18 inches tall, you have the option of pinching out the top 3 to 5 inches of growth in the center. I highly recommend pinching at this will create a bushier plant with more stems and blooms. If you do not pinch, the stems can get very large and are difficult to cut for flower arranging. It will slightly delay blooming, but you will be happier in the end.
Don’t forget to label your Dahlia if you know the variety.
Again, if you have any questions or need any additional information, please feel free to reach out!