Growing Resources

 

Here are our recommendations for having success with growing dahlias!

Directions for planting in a flower bed:

Select an area that gets at least 6 hours of sun a day. Make sure bed is weed free. Amend bed with well rotted compost, 1-2 inches for heavy clay soil, 3-4 inches for sandy soil. Sprinkle a few hands full of an all purpose fertilizer around the area where you want to plant. ( Check for fertilizer at your local garden center)  Work the amendments into the soil with a broad fork, pitchfork, or shovel. If you find manure from a local farmer, be sure to age it for at least a year before using.

Dig a hole about 4-6 inches deep for each tuber. Plant them 18"-24 inches apart. Lay tuber horizontally in the hole with the eye (s) facing upward. Cover with soil. Don't water until you see the dahlia poking out of the soil. THEY DONT NEED WATER UNTIL THEN. If you give dahlias too much water they will rot. We've had them rot just from getting lots of spring rains. Water only once a week when the plant is small. In the heat of summer, give them a good soaking twice a week. This is only IF you haven't had much rain. Once the dahlia is about 12" high, pinch (cut) about 4 inches off the top of the plant. This is hard to do! What happens is the plant will branch out at the base, look nicer and give you more flowers. This will not hinder they're growth height! Make sure to push a sturdy stake near the center of the plant before its too large. Its important to tie them to their support as they grow. The varieties we sell can get 5-6 feet tall and a strong wind can topple them over. 

How we plant in the garden for cut flowers and tuber production.

Spread area with about 2-3 inches of well rotted cow manure and sprinkling of granular all purpose fertilizer. Till into soil. We use 5 feet per double row. To be more precise, one bed will have two rows of dahlias. The two rows are 18 inches apart. 3.5 feet for each pathway between beds. In the row, the tubers are placed 12 inches apart. So if you have a 50 ft. bed, 100 tubers should fit in that space.

Dig two deep trenches 4-6 inches deep, 18 inches apart. Place tubers horizontally with eye(s) facing up. Cover with soil. Don't water until you see the dahlia poking out of the soil. THEY DONT NEED WATER UNTIL THEN. If you give dahlias too much water they will rot. We've had them rot just from getting lots of spring rains. Water only once a week when the plant is small. In the heat of summer, give them a good soaking twice a week. This is only IF you haven't had much rain.

Once the dahlia is about 12" high, pinch (cut) about 4 inches off the top of the plant. This is hard to do! What happens is the plant will branch out at the base, look nicer and give you more flowers! They will still grow to 5-6 ft! Next push a sturdy post in every ten feet all the way around each bed. As the plants grow, string baler twine tightly all the way around the perimeter every 12-14 inches. This will keep them from toppling over. 

If you have any questions please reach out to us!

Enjoy growing dahlias!