Dahlia Growing Guide
On our farm we have built up a collection of over 20 different varieties and each year I seem to add a few more. This year I’m so glad to be able to offer a few of our “tried and true” varieties to customers to now enjoy in their home gardens.
Dahlias are one of the most elegant flowers you can grow in a home garden. With a little care, you will be rewarded with luscious vibrant blooms from August until first frost. They’re excellent for cutting (in fact the more you cut them, the more they pump out the blooms!) and can be saved from year to year, making them both beautiful and economical.
Here’s a quick “how-to” guide on planting, growing and storing dahlia tubers.
🌱 Planting Dahlias
To get started, plant your dahlia tubers in the spring, after the last frost has passed and the soil has warmed. Choose a location that receives full sun—at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Dig a hole about 4 to 6 inches deep, and place the tuber horizontally with the eye (a small bump where growth begins) facing up. Cover it with soil, but hold off on watering until you see green shoots break through the ground. This helps prevent the tuber from rotting before it starts growing.
🌸 Growing Tips
Once your dahlias begin to sprout, regular care will help them thrive. Water a few times a week, depending on rainfall and your soil’s drainage—dahlias prefer consistent moisture but don’t like to sit in soggy soil. Tall varieties over 3’ will need support, so add stakes or cages early to avoid damaging the plant later on. Now the next step is pretty important so don’t skip it! When the plant is a foot tall, cut the center shoot to encourage bushier growth and more blooms. If you don’t cut the middle stem down (called pinching) you end up with a middle stem that is thick like a broomstick and the plant will not have as many side shoots or flowers. Throughout the season, deadhead spent blooms regularly to keep new flowers coming. Dahlias will continue to bloom until the first frost, giving you fresh flowers late into the fall.
❄️ Storing Dahlias (After the Season)
After the first frost blackens the leaves, it’s time to dig up your tubers. Carefully lift them from the soil, brush off excess dirt, and let them dry for a few days in a cool, dry place. Once dry, store them in a breathable container surrounded by peat moss, wood shavings, or vermiculite in a cool, frost-free space until spring. A cold cellar or insulated garage make the perfect storage rooms. Just be sure to not let the temperature drop below 4C as tubers will rot if they get colder than this.
I hope this guide was helpful! With a little care dahlias will reward you with beautiful blooms from midsummer to fall—and you can enjoy them year after year. Happy planting!!
Stacey
