Dahlia - Nick's Cousin

PLANTING

Plant your tubers in nutrient rich and freely draining soil in a full sun section of your garden. Dahlias are cold sensitive and should be planted after all danger of frost has past in the spring and the soil has warmed up to 15°C.

Place the tuber on its side, horizontally, with the growing eye facing up in a 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) deep hole. Dahlias get quite large, so allow at least 12 to 18 inches (30 to 46 cm) of space between plants.

 

GROWING

Water your dahlias generously in season and fertilize with water soluble organic fertilizer. In your home garden, we recommend adding sturdy posts next to each tuber at planting time so you can tie stems to them as they grow.

 

Give your young dahlias a hard pinch by snipping out 3 to 4 inches (7 to 10 cm) of the growing center to encourage low basal branching, which increases flower production and overall stem length.

 

HARVESTING

If you are growing dahlias for cut flowers, you can expect 5 to 7 days from stems cut at the proper stage. Avoid cutting them in the heat of the day. Harvest them either early in the morning or late afternoon/early evening or on overcast days. Cut them when their blooms are about 3/4 open. Since dahlias don't open much after they’ve been harvested, it’s important to pick them almost fully open, but not overly ripe. Check the back of each flower head, looking for firm and lush petals; papery or slightly dehydrated petals are a sign they won't last. Cut a longer stem than you think and put them in lukewarm water right away for them to drink. 

 

STORAGE

In winter, it is recommended to dig your dahlia tubers out of the ground and storing them into vermiculite, peat moss or wood chip just above freezing temperature  to protect them from rotting and freezing and from sprouting too early.