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When and how to plant dahlias


A Beginner’s Guide To Growing Dahlias

Everything You Need To Know To Successfully Plant, Grow, and Care For Your Dahlia Flowers

If you are thinking about growing dahlias, you’ve come to the right spot! I’ve created this beginner’s guide to dahlias so that you too can enjoy gorgeous dahlias in your cut flower garden this summer.

To say that dahlias are my favorite garden flower, that would be an understatement. I fell in love with dahlia flowers at a very young age. These beautiful flowers have always been a favorite of mine! My mother grew dahlias in our backyard garden and my uncle also had a huge dahlia garden in Seattle. One of my favorite childhood memories was seeing fresh cut dinner plate dahlia flowers in the house. From the time I was very little, I was determined to grow my own dahlias someday.

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Table OF CONTENTS

Table Of Contents

  1. Everything You Need To Know To Successfully Plant, Grow, and Care For Your Dahlia Flowers
    • How I Got Started Growing Dahlias
      • Adding More Dahlia Tubers To My Garden
    • Are You Ready To Start Growing Dahlias?
  2. What Are Dahlias?
    • What Are Dahlias According to Wikipedia
  3. Types of Dahlias
    • Types of Dahlia Varieties
  4. Dahlia Tubers VS Dahlia Seeds
    • Growing Dahlias From Seed
      • Growing Dahlia Seeds
  5. Where To Buy Dahlia Bulbs
    • Where to Buy Dahlia Tubers In Canada:
  6. Planting Your Dahlia Tubers
    • Where To Plant Dahlia Tubers
    • Good Soil Is Important If You Want To Grow Beautiful Dahlias
    • When To Plant Dahlias
      • USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Finder
    • How To Plant Dahlias
      • How Deep To Plant Dahlias
      • Spacing Dahlia Tubers: How Far Apart To Plant Dahlias
  7. Dahlias Need Water: How Often To Water Dahlias
    • Water Dahlias Once They Have Their First Set of True Leaves
  8. Support Your Dahlia Plants: How To Stake Dahlias
  9. How To Pinch Dahlias
    • Knowing When To Pinch Dahlias
  10. Weed Control
    • Get in the know.
  11. Diseases and Pests That Can Affect Dahlias
    • Combating Pests and Diseases When Growing Dahlias
    • Applying Neem Oil To Your Dahlia Plants
    • Beneficial Insects for Pest Control
  12. Do I Need To Deadhead Dahlias
  13. How Long Do Dahlias Bloom
  14. Growing Dahlias As Cut Flowers In Bouquets
    • When to harvest your dahlia flowers
      • Keep Your Cut Dahlia Flowers Out Of Direct Sunlight
  15. Do Dahlias Come Back Every Year
    • Get in the know.
  16. When To Dig Up Dahlia Tubers
  17. How To Clean Dahlia Tubers For Storage
  18. Multiply Your Tuber Stock: How To Divide Dahlia Tubers
  19. Growing Dahlias: How To Store Dahlia Tubers Over Winter
    • Periodically check your dahlia tubers for signs of rot
  20. Join Your Local Dahlia Society
  21. It’s Time To Start Growing Dahlias!
    • How To Plant & Grow Dahlias
  22. Other Dahlia & Garden Posts You Might Enjoy:
  23. Shop Some Of My Favorite Garden Finds

How I Got Started Growing Dahlias

I first started growing dahlias in my own backyard in 2014. That summer of 2014, I bought 16 dahlia bulbs at Costco and online to plant in my flower garden. Little did I know back then that I was just beginning my journey in growing dahlias. The next summer I grew 64 dahlia plants!

Fast forward to now and I am currently planning out our 2021 flower farm where I will be growing somewhere between 700-900 dahlia plants. For me, it’s like the old saying with potato chips, you can’t have just one. 

Adding More Dahlia Tubers To My Garden

Every year since 2014, I’ve been able to multiply my dahlia tuber bulbs by dividing them. It’s amazing how single tubers multiply in the course of one year! These tuberous roots can multiply and create on average 3-10 new tubers for the next growing season. Of course I’ve also added many dahlia varieties along the way. In 2020, I grew close to 40 varieties of dahlias (not including the ones I started from seed). This year (2021) I will be growing over 60 different varieties of dahlias.

While I may be growing almost 1000 dahlias, I actually have several thousand dahlia tubers! You can actually find some of my favorite dahlia tubers for sale in our online shop by clicking here.

Holding a freshly harvested bouquet of dahlias from our garden.

“Don’t wait for someone to bring you flowers. Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul.”

— Mario Quintana

Are You Ready To Start Growing Dahlias?

Hopefully you’ve found yourself here today because you too have a desire to learn how to grow dahlias. Keep reading and I will do my best in this beginner’s guide to dahlias to guide you in the right direction so that you can successfully get started with planting, growing, and caring for your own dahlia flowers. Whether you are a beginner in the garden or an experienced gardener, I hope you will learn something new about growing dahlias in this post.

What Are Dahlias?

Close-up of Frank Holmes Purple Pom Pom Dahlia.

Dahlias originate from Mexico and would you believe that they were once eaten just like a potato plant. Can you imagine growing gorgeous dahlias to eat the tubers? Crazy, huh? In my wildest dreams I can’t imagine growing dahlias just to eat their tubers.

What Are Dahlias According to Wikipedia

According to Wikipedia, a “dahlia is a genus of bushy, tuberous, herbaceous perennial plants native to Mexico and Central America.” Dahlias are a member of the Asteraceae family. They are closely related to sunflowers, daisies, chrysanthemums, and zinnias. There are hundreds of different varieties of dahlias. All dahlia plants produce single stem flowers ranging from 2 inches in diameter to a foot wide. Most dahlias do not produce any scent and they attract pollinators to the garden through their bright colors. 

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Types of Dahlias

There are hundreds of different varieties of dahlias. All dahlia plants produce stems of single flowers ranging from 2 inches in diameter to a foot wide. Most dahlias do not produce any scent and attract pollinators through their bright colors. Dahlia plants also range in height with some as little as a foot tall and others growing to upwards of 6 or 8 feet in height.

Types of Dahlia Varieties

There are hundreds of varieties of dahlias. However, all varieties are broken down into specific types of dahlias. Within each of these types, many different varieties exist. Now, let’s take a look at the different types of common garden dahlias. These pictures show different dahlias ranging from pom pom to decorative dahlia to dinnerplate dahlias to cactus dahlias. The flower form and flower size can vary greatly from variety to variety. There are over 50,000 classified dahlias in the world!

Dahlia Tubers VS Dahlia Seeds

While many garden flowers are planted by seed, most dahlias are planted as a bulb referred to as a dahlia tuber. If you see a variety of dahlias that you like and you want to grow the same plant, then you must start with a dahlia tuber. By planting a dahlia tuber, you will grow an identical plant from the mother plant. 

Clump of dahlia tubers.

Dahlia plants produce tubers that grow in the ground. Each year the mother tuber (the original bulb) typically produces anywhere from 5-20 new tubers. By dividing these tubers in the winter, you can multiply the original plant and grow identical dahlia flowers.

Growing Dahlias From Seed

Close-up image of dahlia seeds.

Growing dahlias from seed is very different from growing dahlias from tubers. When you grow dahlia flowers from seed, no two plants will ever be the same! That’s right, by growing dahlia flower seeds, you are actually creating a new variety of dahlias that’s never been grown before. Whereas when you plant a dahlia tuber, it will grow an identical plant from the mother tuber.

Growing Dahlia Seeds

Dahlia flower seeds get their genetic makeup from the seed parent as well as the pollination of bees. That’s right, the bees and other garden pollinators actually play a huge role in determining what your dahlia seeds will eventually grow. The bees carry pollen from one dahlia plant to the next and actually modify the genetic make-up of the dahlia seeds. Most dahlia seeds will grow single or semi-double blooms with an open-center.  You can learn more about growing dahlias from seed by clicking here to read my in-depth post on growing dahlias from seed.

Where To Buy Dahlia Bulbs

Nowadays it seems that you can buy dahlia tubers (sometimes referred to as bulbs) almost anywhere. I do however recommend that you choose to buy your dahlia tubers from a reputable grower or wholesaler. Reputable growers are less likely to have disease or viruses present in their tubers.

Dahlia tubers of various shapes and sizes. All viable and ready for planting.
Some of my favorite online dahlia tuber sources:
Where to Buy Dahlia Tubers In
Canada:

Planting Your Dahlia Tubers

Flower beds are amended and ready for dahlia planting.

Where To Plant Dahlia Tubers

To begin, you will need to decide where to plant your dahlia tubers. Your dahlias need full sun with at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Choose a sunny spot with morning sunlight. If possible, try to find a wind protected spot to plant your dahlia tubers.

Good Soil Is Important If You Want To Grow Beautiful Dahlias

Dahlias will also benefit from being planted in well drained, sandy soil. If you do not know the Dahlias are heavy feeders that benefit from being planted in well drained, sandy soil. If you do not know the fertility of your soil, I recommend getting a soil test. A soil test will provide you with important information so you can amend your soil accordingly to have rich soil to feed the dahlia root system. Doing so will reward you with more dahlia flowers this summer. Dahlias do best in slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.

When To Plant Dahlias

To get started, you need to know when to safely plant dahlias outside. Planting time varies from Most people plant dahlias in early spring. To get started, you need to know when to safely plant dahlias outside. Planting time varies from growing zone to growing zone, but is always after danger of frost has passed. While it can be tempting to get an early start on growing dahlias, your dahlia tubers should not be planted until the ground has warmed and all dangers of frost have passed. The ground soil temperatures should be above 60 degrees before planting out your dahlia tubers. Depending upon your growing season, most areas can plant dahlia tubers outside around mid April through May. 

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Finder lets you check your last average frost date for your growing zone.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Finder

If you do not know your growing zone, you can use the USDA Hardiness Zone Finder to check when your last average frost date is for your growing zone. As a general rule, this will tell you when it’s safe to plant out your dahlias. Of course, be sure to also check your local forecast for any late forecasted frosts. I typically wait a week or two after our last frost date before planting out in the garden.

How To Plant Dahlias

For detailed instructions for planting your dahlia tubers, be sure to check out my detailed post: “A Beginner’s Step By Step Guide For Planting Dahlia Tubers.”

How Deep To Plant Dahlias

Once it is time to plant your dahlia tubers, begin by finding dry areas with good water drainage. Start by a planting hole that is 4-6 inches deep. Next, place your dahlia tuber on it’s side with the eye of the dahlia tuber facing up. Gently cover up the dahlia tuber so it has 4-6 inches of soil covering it. Now the waiting game begins. Some dahlia tubers can take as long as 4 weeks before you see sprouts above the ground.

Spacing Dahlia Tubers: How Far Apart To Plant Dahlias

Most dahlia tubers need to be spaced at least 12-18 inches apart. This allows for air flow to move freely through your dahlia plant. If your dahlias are spaced too closely together, air can not flow through and you will be more likely to have pest or fungal problems on your dahlia plants.

Dahlias Need Water: How Often To Water Dahlias

How often you will need to water your dahlias depends a lot on where you are growing your dahlias. Most soil has enough moisture that you do not need to water your dahlias until the first set of true leaves appear on your plant. Watering too soon can cause the dahlia tubers to rot. 

Water Dahlias Once They Have Their First Set of True Leaves

Once your dahlias have sprouted their first set of leaves, you should give your plants a deep watering 3-4 times per week. I prefer to use a drip line to provide a good, long soak. With a drip line, I water my dahlias for about 30-60 minutes. During hot periods I will water my dahlias daily, checking to make sure the soil is not too wet. You do not want your dahlia tubers to rot.

Support Your Dahlia Plants: How To Stake Dahlias

With large blooms, tall dahlia plants can become top heavy and need to be staked. If you are just growing a few dahlia plants in your garden, you can either use garden stakes or tomato plant cages to support your dahlia plants.

If you are growing rows of dahlias, then you will want to use posts to corral your dahlias. I use t-posts spaced every 10’. Then, I use heavy duty polypropylene twine wrapped around the t-posts to support my dahlia plants.

How To Pinch Dahlias

After your plants start growing, you will eventually need to pinch your dahlias. Pinching your dahlias will encourage the plant to branch out and produce more stems. It is important to note that pinching dahlias can delay blooms by a couple weeks, but in the long run you will be rewarded with more blooms.

Knowing When To Pinch Dahlias

When your dahlia plants reach 12-18 inches in height (or have 4 pairs of leaves), you will want to pWhen your dahlia plants reach 12-18 inches in height (or have 4 pairs of leaves), you will want to pinch your dahlia plant.  Find the center stem and cut out about 3-4’’ of the center stem. Your dahlia plant should have at least 4 sets of leaves at this point, so when you make the cut, you should be left with at least 3 sets remaining. By cutting out the center stem, you will encourage the plant to branch out and grow more side buds. Pinching is a good guideline if you also want your beautiful flowers to grow longer stems.

Weed Control

It is important to stay on top of weeds around your dahlias. You want the area below your dahlia plants to remain clear to prevent any pests and disease from affecting your plants. To avoid injuring your dahlia plants, hand pull or gently weed around your dahlias.

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Diseases and Pests That Can Affect Dahlias

There are many diseases and pests that can affect your dahlias ability to grow. Keeping your dahlias weeded, watered, and fertilized can all help your plant to stay healthy and ward off pests and disease.

Slugs and earwigs LOVE dahlias. There are different ways you can keep both away and prevent them from devouring your beautiful plants! After planting you can put down Sluggo or SluggoPlus around your dahlia plants. This will need to be reapplied throughout the growing season. 

Combating Pests and Diseases When Growing Dahlias

Powdery mildew is also something that can easily affect your dahlia plants. Powdery mildew is a fungus that can be treated with neem oil, a fungicide. Neem oil is used as both a fungicide and pest control. You can spray your plants every 7-14 days with neem oil to combat powdery mildew, spider mites, and aphids.

Applying Neem Oil To Your Dahlia Plants

Make sure that you do not spray neem oil when the bees are active. While a great, natural pesticide, neem oil is toxic to bees. Some gardeners prefer to spray their plants with compost tea. A good compost tea can help you grow stronger and healthier plants that are more disease resistant. Compost tea can also help to improve your soil’s fertility.

Beneficial Insects for Pest Control
We release ladybugs every summer to help naturally combat the aphids.

Releasing beneficial insects is another way you can combat pests in the garden. I love to release ladybugs several times during the growing season. Lady bugs devour aphids and are a great, natural pest control solution.

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Do I Need To Deadhead Dahlias

If you want to be rewarded with lots of dahlia flowers, you will want to deadhead your dahlias. Deadheading spent blooms will encourage new growth on your dahlia plants. To deadhead your dahlias, simply cut off the spent blooms.

How Long Do Dahlias Bloom

Once planted in the ground, dahlias take typically about 8 weeks to start blooming. For most growing zones in the U.S., you will typically see your dahlias start to bloom in July. Your dahlias will continue to bloom until your first hard killing frost. 

Growing Dahlias As Cut Flowers In Bouquets

A mixture of freshly cut dahlia flowers from our cut flower garden.

Dahlia flowers are exceptionally gorgeous in bouquets! Many people grow dahlias in their cut flower garden to fill their homes with fresh cut dahlias in the summer. While dahlias are a gorgeous cut flower, they do not have a very long vase life. With proper conditioning though, you can expect a vase life of 3-7 days for your dahlias.

When to harvest your dahlia flowers

When harvesting dahlia flowers, be sure to cut the flowers in the early morning or late evening. Start with a clean pair of garden shears to make your cuts. I like to bring a cool bucket of water into the garden with me so I can immediately place my dahlias in water.

After harvesting, boil a pot of hot water. Make a fresh horizontal cut in your dahlia stem and dip your stems in hot water (water should no longer be boiling, but still hot). Dahlias have a hollow stem and this will help your dahlias to start drinking water and hopefully prolong their vase life. If possible, place dahlias in a cool location for 12-24 hours to rehydrate (do not place in a fridge with fruits and vegetables).

Keep Your Cut Dahlia Flowers Out Of Direct Sunlight

Dahlia flowers are extremely sensitive. While it can be tempting to display your beautiful dahlia blooms in the kitchen, keep your dahlia bouquet away from direct sunlight and fruits and vegetables. Your bouquet will also benefit from fresh water, change out your water daily for longer vase life.

Do Dahlias Come Back Every Year

Growing dahlia starts have emerged from the ground with their first true set of leaves.

Depending upon your growing zone, dahlias may come back every year. In zones 8-10 you can actually leave your tubers in the ground over winter. Below zone 8, it is recommended that you remove your tubers from the ground to protect them from freezing and rotting over winter.

Even if you live in growing zones 8-10, it is recommended that you dig up your dahlia tubers every few years to divide the tubers. 

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When To Dig Up Dahlia Tubers

A garage full of dahlia tubers recently dug up and ready to be washed for winter storage.

Dahlias can be a tender perennial in certain growing zones. In a colder climate, you will know when it is time to dig up your dahlia tubers. In late fall, once you’ve either had your first frost OR your dahlia tubers have been in the ground for at least 120 days, you can safely take them out of the ground. You will know when you’ve had a killing frost because you will sadly go out into the garden and your dahlia plants and flowers will all be black.

I have the best garden helper! Here is my 6-year-old daughter helping me clean up the dahlias. This images was captured when we were preparing to remove the tubers from the ground for winter storage. Although we had not had a killing frost, our dahlias had been in the ground for over 120 days. Because we had so many dahlias, we decided to get a head start.

For detailed instructions on removing your dahlias, check out my blog post: “Everything You Need To Know to Successfully Store Your Dahlias Over Winter.”

How To Clean Dahlia Tubers For Storage

Before you can divide or store dahlia tubers, you need to clean them first. This is a messy process. I suggest wearing clothes that are waterproof and that you don’t mind getting wet. To begin, I like to also wear a waterproof pair of heavy duty gloves. You will need a hose and a good hose nozzle to spray off the dahlias. Be careful not to spray at too high of a setting as you can break or damage the tubers. Watch my YouTube video below to see how I clean my dahlia tubers.

Multiply Your Tuber Stock: How To Divide Dahlia Tubers

Dahlia tubers are expensive. One of the best ways to multiply your stock is to dig up your tubers at the end of the growing season and divide them. One healthy dahlia plant will typically give you anywhere from 5-20 new tubers for the following season! Just imagine how many dahlias you can grow the following season if you divide your tubers!

Dahlia tubers that have been cleaned and are ready for storage.

To begin the process, I like to start by dividing my tuber clump in half. This allows me to get in and divide the tuber clump into individual tubers. To see this process, be sure to watch the YouTube video below as I show you how I divide a clump of tubers.

Growing Dahlias: How To Store Dahlia Tubers Over Winter

You can store dahlia tubers over winter either divided or in clumps. Once your dahlia tubers are clean and dry, it’s time to put them in your storage containers. I line plastic bins with about 2” of vermiculite. (Some people prefer to store their dahlia tubers in peat moss). Then I place my tubers in the container (with the eye side facing up). Once you have a layer full, cover it in vermiculite and repeat. Your plastic bins should be stored in an area that has temperatures between 40-50 degrees. These steps are important as you do not want your tubers to freeze.

Periodically check your dahlia tubers for signs of rot

You should periodically check on your dahlia tubers over the winter. When you do inspect your tubers, check for any signs of mold or rot. If you find any, immediately remove those tubers from the container.

Join Your Local Dahlia Society

If you want to get more involved or learn more about growing dahlias, I recommend that you join your local Dahlia Society. The American Dahlia Society website has a list of various dahlia groups throughout all parts of the country. There’s lots of great reading material on their site that can help you to become a dahlia expert. You can also find and learn about new dahlia cultivars through the American Dahlia Society.

It’s Time To Start Growing Dahlias!

Well, I hope that after reading this far you feel inspired and motivated to grow your own dahlias! If you do decide to grow dahlias, I’d love to hear how it goes. Below you’ll also find a FREE printable step by step beginner’s guide to dahlias that I’ve created to help you plant your dahlia tubers. Soon you’ll discover that there’s nothing better than having fresh cut dahlia flowers from your own garden in the summer. 

If you found this beginner’s guide to dahlias helpful, I’d also love to hear from you in the comments below. And don’t forget to PIN any of these images to Pinterest. Thanks for reading and happy gardening!

How To Plant & Grow Dahlias

 

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Fundamentals of Growing Dahlias – The American Dahlia Society

Everybody loves dahlias

 

Dahlias are easy plants to grow and yield beautiful blooms from mid-summer through fall. In many respects, “dahlia culture” is similar to “tomato culture.” If you can grow tomatoes in your garden, you can successfully grow dahlias. The following notes will help you to add spectacular blooms and brilliant color to your garden!  

 
Choosing your plants

There is a huge range of colors and forms of dahlias. You will find many examples on this website. You can make your choice from the pictures you see here or from the pictures on the bags or from a dahlia friend’s recommendations. Just pick a couple and get started! You will enjoy spectacular color, variety and abundance of blooms from mid-July through the end of the growing season.

 
Getting your plants

Dahlia Society of Ohio getting ready for their plant sale  – Photo by Robert Leonelli

There are several ways to get your first plants. Most major garden centers now sell dahlia tubers; that can be a very convenient way to get started.

Virtually every dahlia society has tuber and plant sales; they also welcome guests to those events. There are a number of advantages to this approach if there is a club near to you (see list on this site). Perhaps of greatest benefit of that source of tubers or plants is the availability of expert advice on your choices! That expert advice can continue through the season; a regular feature of many of our local society meeting is a Q&A session! The tubers at a society auction will also likely be locally grown and of good quality.

Of course, there are also small businesses that specialize in selling dahlias and dahlia materials by mail order or internet (see supplier list on this site). These suppliers are real experts on dahlias and their products are reliable and of good quality.

 
When to plant

Your tubers can go directly into the ground in the spring when the ground has warmed and there is little chance of frost. One good guideline is to plant in the same time frame as you would a tomato. If you want blooms as early as possible, you can start the tubers indoors in good light about a month before planting time. You will then have a small plant ready at planting time. Dahlias can be planted as late as mid-June in most parts of the country.

 
Where to plant

Planting at Canby Trial Garden  – Photo by Larry Smith

Dahlias require a site with good drainage and partial to full sun. Pots are also increasingly popular way to grow dahlias. See other articles on this site for more information on growing dahlias in pots.

 
How to plant

Most dahlias need to be staked and you may want to plant a sturdy stake before you plant the dahlia. If you put the stake into the ground after the plant is growing, take care to avoid damaging the tuber or the root system. Tomato cages can also be a simple approach to staking.

Put the tuber in a hole several inches deep with the “eye” (like a potato sprout) on the tuber facing up. The eye is the point on the shoulder, or crown, of the tuber from which the plant grows.

If you are planting a number of dahlias in the same location, they should be separated by about 2 feet to give each plant room to grow.

 
Protecting your plants from pests

Small dahlia plants are susceptible to slug damage. It is a good idea to manually remove slugs early each morning or to protect them with a commercial slug killer.

Japanese beetles seem to enjoy eating dahlia blooms just when they are ready for a bouquet. One of the best methods of control is to manually remove the beetles into a bucket of soapy water.

Other insects can become a problem if you would like your blooms to be “perfect!” If that is the case, you might want to consider using an insecticidal soap or a commercial pesticide. Follow label directions carefully if you choose to do that.

 
Organic Approach

Dahlias take well to an organic approach to gardening. They are strong, robust growers with lots of blooms, including very large blooms. They do well in soil with lots of organic content even in the absence of chemical fertilizers. Pest control is not essential and can be reasonably well accomplished without resorting to chemical pesticides.

 
Deer resistance

Our suburban shrubbery and gardens are increasingly susceptible to damage by deer. The good news for dahlias is that they are low on the deer’s list of favorite foods. While dahlias are not “deer proof,” they are considered to be so in some parts of the country – probably those areas where deer find enough other plants they prefer to eat!

 
Watering and fertilizing

Young dahlia plants do not need a lot of water; in fact, excessive water can lead to rotting of the plant. For larger plants, a good rule of thumb is to water if the rainfall is less than one inch in seven days. Pots require more regular watering.

The best strategy for fertilizing is to begin with a soil test to determine pH and the specific soil needs. Lacking that information, the plants will generally benefit from regular treatments with a water soluble or granular fertilizer. Traditional wisdom for dahlias is to treat with a high nitrogen fertilizer through the middle of the season but minimize nitrogen at the end of the season.

 
Maintaining your plants

There is a substantial regimen that can be used for maintaining plants for show blooms. For the simple enjoyment of spectacular dahlias in your garden, there are two relatively simple actions that will enhance the appearance of the plant. First is tying the plant to the stake several times as it grows. The first tie should secure the lower portion of the plant’s stalk to the stake. Subsequent ties should secure the branches. A simple alternative to tying is to use a tomato cage to support the plant. Then, no tying may be required.

Second is disbudding. Remove the outer two buds from the three that develop at the end of each branch. While that reduces the total number of flowers, many flowers remain and those show up well on the plant. If all three buds are left on the stem, the blooms will tend to be covered up and can be lost in the plant. You can also remove some of the shoots that form along the branch to have stems that can be used in tall vases for elegant bouquets.

 
End of the season

Your dahlias will continue to bloom prolifically right up until frost. A heavy frost will kill the plant and leave you with a decision on your next step. You can do nothing with the plant. You will then need to plan on a visit to the local auction in the spring for the following year’s plants. Or, you can dig and discover that the plant has produced a half a dozen or more tubers like the one with which you started. If you wish, those tubers can be stored and grown by you and a couple friends next spring! Go to Dahlia University for information on harvesting and storing your tubers and for other topics mentioned on this page.

 

When and how to plant dahlia tubers outdoors

If the rose is considered the "Queen" of flowers in many countries, then the dahlia is without a doubt their "King". Very few ornamental plants can boast such a wealth of shapes, sizes and colors!

In addition, the dahlia is very undemanding. Content with the most minimal care, he pleases the gardener with his bright, lush flowering from early July until late autumn.

About the history of the appearance of the dahlia, how to care for it, how to dig it up and store it in the winter, we have already told in our article: "How to grow dahlias".

In this article we will tell you when and how to plant dahlias in spring. In addition, we will tell you the best varieties of the numerous species of this regal flower.

COMMON TYPES OF DAHALHINS FOR THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL REGIONS

The timing of planting and preparation of dahlia tubers depend on their type. Most often, Russian gardeners choose the following:

Large-flowered. In height they grow up to 80 cm, and the diameter of the flowers of the newest varieties can reach 30 cm! nine0003

Decorative . These are large bushes up to 1 m high with numerous flowers up to 25 cm in diameter. This species is distinguished by the richest palette of colors and variety of forms.

Cactus . The tallest bushes - can grow up to 1.5 m. Flowers with a diameter of up to 20 cm are distinguished by the most bizarre shapes and unusual colors.

Pompoms . Plant height - 80 - 90 cm, diameter of flowers - up to 15 cm. Flowers of bright, saturated colors look like mesh balls. They look very beautiful and last a long time in a vase after cutting. nine0003

Semi-cactus . Tall, sprawling bushes (up to 1.2 m) are covered with holly, bright flowers, up to 18 cm in diameter and a variety of one-, two- and three-color colors.

Miniature . The most elegant dahlias, up to 40 cm high, are literally strewn with large flowers, up to 15 cm in diameter. They bloom earlier than others and do not crumble during the first winter frosts.

WHEN TO PLANT DAHALAHS

Planting time for dahlias depends on the region where you live. The main condition is that the earth should warm up well, because the plant is a tuberous plant. nine0003

In the Middle lane, North-West region, dahlias are planted in the third decade of May. If the spring turned out to be early and warm, then it can be a week earlier. However, when return frosts appear, a flower bed with dahlias should be covered with a non-woven covering material.

If you come to the dacha only on weekends, then it is better to move the planting date to June 25-27. After May 25, spring frosts usually stop.

In the Urals and Siberia, the spring is later and more humid. Therefore, dahlias are planted there in late June - early July. And it’s better to first germinate them in a pot, and plant the seedlings in a permanent place after July 10. nine0003

In the southern regions of the country, dahlias are usually planted in April, as the land there quickly dries up and loses moisture. Therefore, it is impossible to be late with the deadlines.

All varieties of dahlias that tolerate cold climates will grow well in the south. This is a versatile and very unpretentious flower.

HOW TO PLANT DAHALHINS FOR EARLY FLOWERING

If you bought tubers in March-April, you can germinate them in advance and get early lush blooms. To do this, fill some container (box or basin) with a moist substrate, consisting of purchased soil for flower seedlings, sand and sawdust in equal amounts. nine0003

Make drainage holes in the container to drain excess water and build some kind of drip tray.

Wet the substrate well and place the dahlia tubers in it, sprinkling them with a 10 cm layer of soil. Place the container in a warm place and cover with a transparent film on top.

Very soon the plants will grow. After the first shoots appear, move the box to the window. Water your plants regularly. At the end of May, transplant them into a flower bed.

This planting of germinated dahlias will ensure that they bloom 2 to 3 weeks earlier. nine0003

PREPARATION OF DAHALH TUBES FOR SPRING PLANTING

All gardeners know how to plant dahlias, but not everyone correctly understands how to prepare them for this operation.

Before planting, we recommend treating even healthy tubers in three different solutions, dipping them there sequentially and holding for 30 minutes.

First, treat the dahlias with a pink solution of potassium permanganate, then with Fitosporin M, and finally, dip them into the Zircon solution. nine0003

The first two preparations will disinfect the tubers from any bacteria and pathogens of fungal diseases. The third - will accelerate the process of germination of sprouts on the tuber.

Then place the tubers on a dry, clean cloth or paper and let dry. After that, you can start landing.

HOW TO PLANT DAHALAHS CORRECTLY

Dahlias like quiet, sunny places with light shade during the midday hours, well protected from wind and drafts. But if the plants are exposed to the sun less than 6 hours a day, then they may not form buds. nine0003

Dahlias prefer loose, fertile soils with a neutral reaction. It is better to choose “native” soil from the planting pits and fill them with a soil mixture composed of a fertile layer, compost, sand and leafy soil.

Add phosphorus-potassium fertilizer, wood ash (1 bucket for 4 plants) and a glass of dolomite flour (in acidic soils) to each hole.

Dig planting holes with a depth equal to the diameter of the bulb plus 10 cm. Of these, 5 cm is a drainage layer of coarse sand or perlite, which is laid on the bottom of the hole. nine0003

Distances between plants depend on the species and variety. Low-growing dahlias are planted at a distance of 40 cm from each other, tall ones - 70 cm.

Mulch the flower bed well with sawdust or freshly cut grass. The mulch will retain moisture in the soil and discourage weed growth.

For more information on how to care for dahlias, when and how to dig them up and store them, see our aforementioned article "How to Grow Dahlias".

THE BEST DAHELHIN VARIETIES FROM OUR COLLECTION

Now that we have told you in detail when and how to plant dahlias, it remains to choose the most beautiful types and varieties. We can help you with this.

We offer you the best and most popular varieties of dahlias from our collection.

LARGEFLOWERS:

Latest innovations: Avignon, Sir Alf Ramsey, Arthur Humbley, Almond Joy, Big Brother.

Our collection: Vancouver, Flood Light, Sensation by Otto, Fleur, Spartacus.

DECORATIVE: Passionate, Mero Constellation, Gypsy Girl, Tartan, Cream Peach.

POMPON: Sunny boy, Lipoma.

CACTUS: Freequolet, Aloha, Silent Folly.

SEMI-CACTUS: Firebird, Favorite, Kennemer.

MINIATURE: Salvador, Pablo, Riviera. nine0009

You can buy all these dahlias from us right now. We have no doubt that they will bring you many pleasant moments and decorate your garden in an unusual way!

Growing dahlias from tubers is a fairly simple and affordable process for every grower, so even beginners do not have to worry, as can be seen in the video below. It provides simple and understandable information for everyone, so that anyone can please themselves and loved ones with beautiful lush flowers in the middle and end of summer, when other plants can no longer boast of such violent and abundant flowering. nine0003

cultivation, planting and maintenance, winter storage

Author: Elena N. https://floristics.info/en/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=19 Category: Garden Plants Returned: Last amendments:

Content

  • Listen to Article
  • Planting and Care for Georges
    • 0003

    It only takes a few simple tricks to make dahlias a signature feature in your flower bed or garden!

    • Should I buy tubers with tall sprouts?
    • Is it true that dahlias are not afraid of acidic soil, but the earth must be allowed to rest from this plant?
    • Why can't you plant dahlias and asters side by side?

    A lot of small or a couple of luxurious flowers on a bush - you decide! Do you love dahlias, but don't have the opportunity to mess around with annual digging-disembarkation or organize storage? There is an exit! Telling…

    Listen to article

    Planting and care of dahlias

    • Planting: from the second half of May to the second half of June.
    • Digging: in autumn, after the first frost.
    • Storage: at 3-5 ˚C and 60-70% humidity.
    • Flowering: summer and autumn.
    • Lighting: bright sunlight.
    • Soil: any, but greasy garden loam of slightly acidic or neutral reaction is preferred.
    • Watering: abundant, 1-2 times a week.
    • Top dressing: organic and mineral every two weeks alternately.
    • Tying, hilling, pinching: required for tall varieties.
    • Propagation: seeds, tubers.
    • Pests: slugs, earwigs, slobbery bugs, flower beetles, aphids. nine0170
    • Diseases: powdery mildew, bacterial canker, growth, smut, gray mold and virus mosaic.

    Read more about growing dahlias below

    Flowers Dahlias (lat. Dahlia) of the Aster family are one of the most beautiful and long-blooming garden flowers, represented by the widest palette of colors and variety of forms. They bloom from July to the very frosts, and this is the most important thing, besides beauty, the dignity of dahlias. The first dahlia tubers were brought to Europe from Mexico at the end of the 18th century. The dahlia received its name in 1803 from the botanist Karl Wildenau, who named the dahlia plant in honor of the famous botanist, ethnographer and geographer from St. Petersburg, academician Johann Georgi. There are about thirty species and about 15,000 varieties of dahlias. nine0003

    Cultivation features

    Forms, colors and varieties of dahlias are so diverse that they can be used to decorate not only flower beds, but also border lines, as well as solo, even pot plants. Dahlias are dazzlingly beautiful, but at the same time completely unpretentious. The main thing that is required for their successful growth and lush flowering is to choose the right planting site, provide the necessary soil composition, timely watering and top dressing.

    It is necessary to buy seedlings not earlier than the middle of spring, and the tubers should be fleshy and strong, with already visible, but not tall sprouts. Soft or dry tuber is better not to take. nine0003

    How to grow dahlias

    Growing dahlias involves labor-intensive digging and responsible storage of tubers, but if these chores scare you, you can grow annual dahlias from seed. Annual dahlias are as beautiful and unpretentious in cultivation as perennials, and their choice is quite wide: Coltness Hybrids up to 50 cm high with abundant non-double flowers of various colors; bronze leaf Redskin; terry small Rigoletto; early Figaro ... You can buy seeds and sow them in open ground in mid-May, but then they will bloom only by mid-August. If you want to achieve earlier flowering, you will have to germinate the seeds. nine0003

    To do this, in early April, you will need to sow dahlia seeds in greenhouses or plastic containers, using calcined sand as soil: seeds are poured onto a layer of sand, which are again sprinkled with sand on top, moistened well and covered with transparent polyethylene. It takes about ten days to germinate the seeds at a temperature of 25-27 ° C, then the sprouts need to dive into separate pots. The soil mixture should be moisture-intensive and loose, you can buy it, or you can cook it: one part of peat and sand and two parts of leafy soil. Three days before picking, the soil must be treated with a hot solution of potassium permanganate (70 °) of a dark pink color. After picking, the seedlings are watered as the soil dries. In mid-May, it can be planted in the ground. nine0003

    Planting dahlias

    Where to plant

    You need to start preparing with choosing a planting site . The dahlia flower hates drafts, but requires a well-ventilated and lit place, so you need to plant dahlias in a sunny area, protected from the wind. The soil on the site should be well-drained, permeable and nutritious. Dahlias can grow in soil with a lack or excess of acidity, but a slightly acidic or neutral environment will be optimal for them. If the soil on the site is too acidic (pH 5-4), add slaked lime to it, but if the pH is more than 8. 5, you can "acidify" the soil with peat. nine0003

    • Flower seedlings - how to grow

    Proper planting and care of gladiolus in the garden

    In autumn, when digging, enrich the area reserved for dahlias with humus and compost (3-5 kg ​​per 1 m 3 ). In the spring, before planting, again scatter mature compost (not leafy) and some wood ash on the site and rake it. To save dahlias from diseases and prevent them from degenerating, it is advisable to change the planting site every year, allowing the soil to rest from dahlias for at least three years. Do not plant dahlias where asters or plants prone to fungal diseases grew before them. nine0003

    In the photo: Reproduction of dahlias by tuber division

    Preparing tubers for planting

    In April, dahlia roots (tubers) should be prepared for planting: clean them from dry roots, remove damaged areas, treating all sections with brilliant green. Then the tubers are planted in a container with nutrient soil or peat so that the dahlia tubers protrude 2-3 cm above the surface, and keep them for two weeks at a temperature not lower than 18 ° C in good light. As soon as the buds appear, the tubers are cut into pieces so that each has a bud with a root collar. Sometimes one tuber produces five such parts. The tubers divided into parts need to be germinated for some time in a box, and then, after removing the side shoots that have reached a height of 10 cm, planted in the soil. Cut shoots can be used as cuttings: planted in the soil, placed in a dark place and watered well. The accustomed cuttings are planted in a permanent place. The division of tubers and cuttings is carried out to increase the amount of planting material and prevent the degeneration of the plant. If you do not have such a need, you can not divide the tubers. nine0003

    Planting dahlias in open ground

    Planting dahlias in the ground can be done when the ground warms up, usually in late May or early July. Holes for dahlias should be three times larger than a lump of roots (40x40x40) so that the roots of the dahlia sink into them completely and another 5-7 cm remain. Lay a layer of rotted compost or manure on the bottom of the hole, then sprinkle the manure with earth so as not to burn the roots of the dahlia , lay the germinated tuber and dig it so that there are several centimeters of the stem underground. If you have chosen a variety of tall dahlias, install and secure immediately a support for the future stem. After planting, water the seedlings abundantly with cold water, and mulch the soil around them with a five-centimeter layer of fine tree bark or sawdust, after mixing them with peat or compost. nine0003

    Caring for dahlias

    How to care for

    Mulching a plot of with dahlias, in addition to protecting plants from slugs, will give you the opportunity to abandon such tedious work as weeding and loosening the soil, and also will not allow the soil to dry out quickly on hot days. Watering dahlias should be plentiful 1-2 times a week (if it doesn’t rain), but do not let moisture stagnate in the roots: dahlia tubers are prone to rotting. In extreme heat, hilling after watering helps to retain moisture. Before the next watering, the soil from the stems must be raked, watered, and then spud again. nine0003

    Tips for growing asters - we get lush blooms

    Fertilizer

    During the growth process, dahlias need to be fed every two weeks, alternating mineral fertilizers with organic ones: ammonium nitrate (15 g per 1 m 3 ), mullein tincture 1:10 or bird droppings 1:20. With the advent of the first buds, superphosphate and potash fertilizers begin to be applied at the rate of 30 g per bucket of water (enough for 8 bushes).

    Dahlia support

    Since dahlias have a hollow stem and strong wind or rain can break it, tie dahlia to the support peg. If the stem is still broken, try putting a tire on it: attach a strong branch to the stem, secure it and support the stem so that it does not lean. Timely and careful care of dahlias can save even a broken shoot, which will reward you with beautiful flowering for your care.

    Pruning

    If you are not interested in quantity, but in the quality of inflorescences, do not leave more than three shoots in the bush, otherwise the inflorescences will be smaller and less decorative. On each peduncle you need to leave 1-2 buds. nine0007 Remove faded buds so that they do not delay the formation and growth of new ones. Throughout the season, try to remove the lower side shoots of high-grade dahlias, these processes can then be used as cuttings. In undersized (pompom, cactus) and single dahlia bushes, side shoots can not be removed.

    • Two obligatory autumn fertilizers - without them, the plants will not gain strength for the new season!

    Pests

    Young juicy stems of dahlias attract slugs, and buds attract earwigs, so when the first signs of pest aggression appear, treat the bushes in the evening with decoctions of wormwood or celandine about once a week. Spray dahlias with a systemic insecticide for thrips, aphids, mites, and caterpillars during hot weather. Most of all dahlia pests love aphids. Try the old-fashioned way to deal with it: spraying plants with soapy water.

    Harvesting dahlia tubers

    After the first frost dahlia tubers must be dug up , the remaining foliage and pagons should be cut off, leaving only five to ten centimeters of the stem. Some gardeners cut the stems and leaves a few days before digging up the tubers, but if moisture gets on the cut part, the base of the stem can rot, so immediately cover the dahlias with aluminum foil after cutting the stems. The neck of the tuber is especially fragile, so start digging up the tubers in the morning, in dry weather, so that they have time to dry in the air and become less "brittle". In addition, soil residues are more easily removed from dried tubers. nine0003

    Digging up the tubers

    Dig the plant on four sides at a distance of about 30 cm from the stem to cut off the long conductive roots, run a pitchfork under the earth ball and push it out of the ground. Carefully clean the clods of earth from the tubers and turn them over to dry. When all the tubers have been dug up, wash them with a garden hose to remove the soil that contains disease-carrying microorganisms. Do not be late with the harvesting of tubers, because after the first frost, warming may occur, and the buds sleeping in the tubers may wake up and begin to germinate, which is detrimental to plants at such a time. nine0003

    How to store dahlias in winter

    Proper storage of dahlias in winter is 90% of success in their cultivation. The tubers left for winter storage should not dry out too much, because in spring they give weak shoots. Insufficient drying leads to the fact that the roots rot during storage. If any mechanical damage is found on the tubers, they need to be cut, and then sprinkled with charcoal. Root necks, so that they do not rot during storage, are powdered with ash or chalk. nine0003

    Hyacinth Growing Considerations: When to Plant and Dig Up

    Dahlia tubers are best stored at 3-5°C and 60-70% humidity in a well-ventilated area. A dry basement is fine, but vegetables stored nearby can create high humidity, increasing the risk of rot and fungal diseases in the tubers. You can put the tubers in a box on a layer of dry peat and sprinkle with peat, you can use softwood sawdust or sand instead of peat. If suddenly the tubers begin to dry out or fade, the insulating material is slightly moistened. If there is no ventilation in the basement, you will have to turn on the fan three times a week for half an hour. nine0003

    Pictured: Storing dahlia tubers in plastic bags

    If you don't have a basement or cellar, and you have to store dahlia tubers in your apartment, place the boxes with tubers in the coolest place (next to the balcony). You can put the tubers in plastic bags with insulating material (sawdust, sand, dry peat) and tie tightly. Some flower growers, wrapping each tuber in a newspaper, put them in a plastic bag, which they put in a cardboard box and put in a cool place, for example, on a glazed loggia. Only in this case, you will have to monitor the temperature outside all the time so that a sharp cold snap or frost does not destroy your planting material. nine0003

    Dahlia tubers are least suitable for storage in warm and humid areas, but they can be stored even in such unsuitable conditions if the tubers are covered with paraffin. Melt the paraffin in a water bath, immerse the tuber in it for a second, let the film harden for a few seconds and again lower the tuber into liquid paraffin. After the waxing procedure, place the tubers together with dry peat, sand or sawdust in a plastic bag and tie it tightly. Before planting, these tubers will need to be rubbed lightly to crack the film. nine0003

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    During the winter, do not forget to inspect the tubers in order to be able to eliminate the likely appearance of rot in time. Affected areas should be cleaned to healthy tissue and treated with hardwood charcoal powder or brilliant green.

    Types and varieties of dahlias

    Dahlias are classified according to the shape and structure of inflorescences, in modern culture there are 12 main classes of dahlias, but as new varieties appear, new classes also appear. nine0003

    So, the most popular varieties of dahlias are:

    Simple

    Dahlias, having one row of flowers, reaching a diameter of 10 cm, a height of 45 cm to 60 cm. Simple dahlias include varieties Yellow Hammer yellow, pink Princess Marie Jose, reddish-orange Orangeade

    Anemone

    From one or more rows of marginal flowers, elongated tubular flowers in the middle. Inflorescences reach a diameter of 10 cm, a height of 60 cm to 90 cm. The most popular varieties are bronze-colored Vera Higgins, yellow-lilac Lucy, red Comet. nine0003

    Collared

    Dahlias of the same size, but taller - from 75 cm to 120 cm. They have one marginal outer row of flowers, on top of which there is a row of shorter and twisted flowers of a different color, looking like a collar: Chimborazo (red and cream) , La Gioconda (scarlet with gold), Claire de Luna (yellow with cream).

    Peony-shaped

    Dahlias are slightly larger - from 12 cm to 15 cm, flat marginal flowers from two or more, tubular flowers in the center. They reach the same height as the collar ones. Purple Fascination and crimson red Dahlia Symphonia are popular. nine0003

    Ornamental

    These include purple giant Jocondos, large yellow Thames Valley, miniature orange David Howard. All varieties have double inflorescences from 8 to 25 cm in diameter, up to 60 cm high. Doreen Hayes red, Esmonde yellow and Crichton Honey peach red.

    Pompoms

    Globular, double inflorescences 5 cm or more in diameter. Marginal flowers are folded, with a blunt or rounded end. In height they reach from 90 to 120 cm: pink Noreen, Hallmark lavender colors and pale lilac Willo's Violet.

    Cactus

    Dahlias have double inflorescences with a diameter of 8 to 25 cm or more, reaching a height of 90-150 cm. Marginal flowers are rolled up, narrow and sharp: giant pink Danny, miniature yellow Pirouette, large red Visit, small red Doris Day . nine0003

    Semi-cactus

    Double inflorescences 8-25 cm in diameter, 90-150 cm high, marginal flowers folded from the middle of the length to the ends: large yellow Nantenan, miniature yellow Yellow Mood, medium-sized orange Autumn Fire and white small White Swallow.

    Nymphaeaceae

    Similar to water lilies, terry, beautiful regular shape, 7-20 cm in diameter, 70-130 cm high: purple Brushstrokes, pale pink Gerry Hawk, snow-white Genette.

    Mixed

    Species of dahlia not resembling any of the other varieties listed.

    In addition to the variety of forms, dahlias are also distinguished by a variety of colors, and there is even a black dahlia, or rather, a red-black one, which appeared due to the accumulation of a large amount of anthocyanin pigments in the plant. But the cherished dream of all breeders is to bring out the blue dahlia, and although their efforts have not yet been successful, the hope of seeing this miracle someday is so strong that it resonated with writers and filmmakers.

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