Dahlia Care

Dahlia Tuber Care

Plant your dahlia tubers after your last frost date and once the soil warms to 55-60 degrees. A good rule of thumb is to plant when you would plant your tomatoes and peppers.

Choose a location that receives at least 8 hours of full sun.

Plant your tuber in fertile soil that is well draining. We like to add compost and a slow-release pelleted fertilizer.

Plant your tuber horizontally 4-6 inches deep with the eye/sprout facing up. Dahlias can get tall and will require some kind of support so they don’t fall over. If you wanted to add a stake, insert it in the hole next to your tuber during planting time.

Plant your tubers 18-24 inches apart.

Do not water until the first sprout emerges above ground.

Once green shoots appear we start to water regularly and apply Sluggo Plus to protect the young plants from slugs, snails, and earwigs (as they develop hiding places).

Once the plant reaches about one foot tall, pinch out the stem above a set of leaves. This will encourage the plant to send up more stems and blooms!

Cut blooms and remove dead ones to encourage your plant to send up more blooms and also put energy into making tubers.

 

Dahlia Cutting Care

Immediately remove cuttings from the package upon arrival. Our cuttings have been hardened off in a greenhouse but will need to acclimate to your growing environment.

You may choose to pot up the cutting into a larger container with good quality soil upon arrival. In this case, remove any wrappings from the root ball and then place into soil and water in well. Ensure that the soil is well draining. Place in a shady location outside for 24 to 48 hours before moving it to the final full-sun location.

If transplanting straight into the ground, we recommend resting the cutting in a shady outdoor
location for 24 hours prior to planting. Lightly water the root ball while waiting to transplant.

Once planted make sure that plants receive regular watering. Unlike dahlia tubers that are newly
planted, cuttings require watering daily to ensure new roots are properly established into your soil.

Once established, dahlia plants grown from cuttings and tubers are cared for the same. When the plant reaches about 12 inches in height, pinch out the middle growth point just above a set of leaves. This encourages the plant to become bushier and produce more flowering stems.