Dahlias are extremely fashionable, having now shaken off their old image of being grown in straight lines on allotments. They come in a huge range of flower shapes and colours. And they produce loads of flowers from late summer to the first frosts.
Plus, the more you pick the flowers, the more they produce. So, it’s well worth growing them yourself this year, and now’s a great time to start them off.
How to plant dahlia tubers
- Check each of the dahlia tubers, cutting away and discarding any parts which are soft, shrivelled or rotting.
- Choose pots for your dahlia tubers that are just a little larger than the tubers themselves. Each tuber will need one pot.
- Fill the pot approximately two-thirds full of peat-free, multi-purpose compost.
- Then, place each dahlia tuber horizontally on top of the compost with the old stem facing upwards.
- Carefully spread the individual tubers out and add more compost around the tuber.
- Tap the pot to settle the compost, which does not have to completely cover the tuber.
- Lightly water the pot, and don’t forget to label it.
- Dahlias originate from Mexico and are frost tender. Therefore, they’ll need to be kept in either a frost-free greenhouse or in the house until all risk of frost has passed.
- Place pots somewhere light and frost-free but not too warm to avoid soft, leggy growth.
- Avoid watering again until the first shoots appear, at which point water regularly.
Top tips for growing dahlias
Placing pots on a heated mat can bring the tubers into earlier growth.
Pinching out the tips of growing stems encourages bushier growth and ultimately more flowers.
Plant outside once all risk of frost has passed, adding well-rotted organic matter to the planting hole.
Feed regularly during the growing season with a high-potassium fertiliser.
Pick and deadhead flowers regularly to encourage the production of more flowers.
For more great gardening advice, make sure you head to my YouTube Channel. Make sure you’re subscribed with notifications on so you don’t miss any of my new videos.
David Domoney is a Chartered Horticulturalist, Broadcaster, and Author. David has worked with a number of the UK’s leading garden retailers as a plant buyer and strategic consultant. With more than 30 years experience, in horticulture, David is as passionate about plants now as he was when he bought his first plant at a village fete.
Leave A Comment