Growing Dahlias
Growing dahlias is a rewarding and wonderful experience. Take it from us, our family represents a spectrum of experience and interest in gardening and every one of us would say that dahlias are amazing and easy to grow. Do not be intimidated! Seriously, if we can do it, you can too!
When choosing your dahlia variety, you can’t go wrong. Dahlias are so unique with such a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Find a dahlia that speaks to your personal preference and style. From a big, fluffy flower to a tiny, cute ball, from bright orange to a soft blush bloom, you can find an amazing dahlia from our collection to showcase in your own garden.
Finding the perfect spot for your dahlia to grow will be key to its health and success. We recommend planting it directly into the ground. It is possible to grow your dahlia in a container, but you’ll need to make sure it’s a large enough container (at least five gallons). Dahlias thrive in full sun, so choose a location that receives at least six to eight hours of sunlight per day. However, if you live in a warmer climate, your dahlias would appreciate some late-afternoon shade as a break from the heat. They also prefer well-draining, fertile soil. Incorporate organic matter, such as compost, into the soil to improve its fertility.
Dahlias are very sensitive to frost. We will ship your tuber at the optimal time for planting, after the last frost. In the growing season, if the temperature might drop below freezing, you should cover your plants in a lightweight fabric (like Agribon).
When you receive your tuber in the mail, don’t wait too long to plant it! We recommend planting within 24 to 48 hours. Look toward the top at the crown of the tuber to see a very small growth … you will notice that like a potato your tuber will have an eye. That eye is VERY important, that’s where your plant will sprout and grow!
Once you have your location chosen, soil ready, and precious tuber in hand, it’s finally time to plant your very own EarthSpoke Farms dahlia! When you plant your tuber, dig about 4-6 inches deep into moist (but not wet) soil and lay the tuber in the ground parallel to the earth with the eye facing up. If you have difficulty finding the eye, do not fret because the plant will grow just fine no matter where the eye is facing. If you have more than one tuber, space them at least 18 to 24 inches apart. They are going to grow big and wide! You will likely need to install stakes or other support structures early in the growing season to keep your plant from bending and breaking. Tomato cages are often used for this purpose in home garden settings. Rest assured that the plant will grow up and hide the structure in no time. Lastly, make sure to mark where you planted your tuber.
This is very important: wait and do not over-water your tuber until the plant starts to sprout above ground (in most climates, no water is necessary at this stage, but in hot climates you will want to keep the soil moist but not wet). Tubers will rot if they get too much moisture. When the plant sprouts, that means that roots are established and will drink up that water for the nourishment of the new plant. Do not worry if it takes some time for your tuber to sprout (many will take as few as three weeks, but others will take up to 10 weeks to sprout). After your tuber sprouts you will want to keep the soil moist, watering every 3-4 days depending on your climate. When the plants are actively growing you will need to add fertilizer. Use a balanced fertilizer or one higher in phosphorus. Fertilizer high in nitrogen will promote plant growth in its early stages, but if you apply too much nitrogen after the first month or so, the plant will invest too much energy in bulking up and not enough in producing flowers.
Slowly but surely your plant will grow big and beautiful! When your dahlia plant is at least 12 inches tall you will want to snip off the top of your plant leaving about 4-5 sets of leaves. Don’t skip this very simple step – this is called pinching and will cause your plant to grow more stems and thus more blooms for you to enjoy! Pruning is an important part of keeping healthy plants. Regularly remove spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming.
Dahlias are truly amazing plants. Those blooms are extraordinary to behold and each plant can produce three to five blooms a week, and in some climates even more (we get about seven blooms per week in Mendocino)! Harvesting dahlias and arranging them in bouquets is probably our favorite part of our job, and it’s no wonder when it feels a lot more like play than work! Don’t be afraid to cut as many blooms as you want from your garden and play around with arrangements too: the more you cut the more your plant will grow.
We hope you fall in love with growing dahlias the way we all have; we truly believe anyone can grow dahlias. We feel blessed to be able to spread this wonder and beauty to the world.