Dahlia Planting & Care

Receiving your Tubers:
Please inspect your tubers upon receipt. Make sure to email us within 48 hours of delivery if you have any concerns. Store tubers in a cool place, ideally between 45 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit, until you're ready to plant. Check on your tubers weekly to make sure they aren't drying out or shriveling. If this happens, we suggest spritzing a little water onto the storage medium.  If that doesn't appear to be helping after a couple of days, please reach out to us, and we can suggest some other alternatives.

Planting:
After the danger of freezing temperatures has passed and the soil temperature is approximately 60 degrees, plant tubers in a sunny spot that gets at least 6-8 hours of sunlight. Dahlias prefer rich, well-draining soil. Plant tubers 4 to 6 inches deep and space them 12 to 18 inches apart. Place the tuber on its side with the eye facing upward. At this time, it's ideal to put a tall support stake next to the crown; a stake around 4 to 5 feet high works well. Cover both the tuber and the stake with soil.

Watering:
Do not water your tubers until they sprout, unless your soil is very dry. Tubers can rot if there is too much moisture. When plants are 6 to 12 inches tall, you can increase watering according to your local conditions. Established and mature dahlias need regular, deep watering.

Protecting your Dahlias:
Slugs love to eat young dahlia plants. If these are in your garden, we recommend getting ahead of the game. We use Sluggo Plus early in the season; however, several techniques can be used. Sluggo Plus also has the added benefit of being effective against earwigs.

Maintaining:
Pinching, or topping, your dahlias when they are 12" tall and have 3-4 sets of leaves will promote lateral branching that results in more blooms.

Fertilizing and Soil Amendments:
Previous advice notes that dahlias should be treated with high nitrogen until midseason. However, we recommend testing your soil to determine which amendments are necessary. If your soil already contains high nitrogen levels, additional nitrogen may not be needed, while other amendments, such as phosphorus or potassium, may be needed.  Soil tests may be free through your local county or university extension programs. There are also companies that provide soil testing. The prices are relatively low and the turnaround time is fast.

As part of the soil test, understanding your soil pH is also helpful. Dahlias thrive in soil with a pH of 6.5-7.0. This range maximizes nutrient availability and uptake for healthy plants. Don't worry if your pH is too low; adding lime to your soil will help raise it. Organic, fast-acting lime products are readily available at most garden centers.