Ophelia Farms Co.
April 27, 2024
HOW TO GROW DAHLIAS
PLANTING AND SOIL PREPARATION
Dahlia Tubers can be planted from Mid-April until Early June, depending on your location and your climate. Dahlias love to be in a sunny location— an area that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight is preferred. Dahlias will also grow in shady areas but generally will be taller and require more staking and care.
Dahlias love to be in the dirt. The dirt is a friend to Dahlia Tubers. They prefer loosened and well drained soil. If you have clay or thick/heavy soil, loosen it well, and you can add sand or peat to help with drainage.
Dahlias do not like mulch or store-bought garden soil, as many of these products can possibly harm the tubers.
Once soil is loosened and dry and about 12-15 C (55-60F) you are ready to plant! Plant your tubers about 10-15cm (4-5in) deep.
Space plants between 45-60cm (1.5-2ft) apart. Do not water your tubers after planting—wait until the sprouts appear, unless you are in extremely hot and dry conditions in which case you may water them immediately.
Otherwise, the rain will generally be enough.
If you wish to grow your dahlias in containers be sure to use large ones. Potted dahlias will require more care, more staking, more water and more fertilizer.
CARING FOR YOUR DAHLIAS
After 4 weeks you should begin to see dahlia shoots. Staking dahlias will allow for a straighter, more beautiful plant that can withstand winds and heavy rains.
You can stake with tomato cages or wooden stakes with string or twine. There are a variety of ways to stake dahlias, just take care not to drive the stake into the tubers.
As dahlias become established, regular watering and fertilizing will help them grow, bloom vigorously and continue to put on a show until frost!
Dahlias respond well to fertilizer, but they don’t need too much Nitrogen. A 5-10-10 fertilizer blend is best, or any blend where the nitrogen content is about half of the potassium and phosphorous content. Too much Nitrogen will lead to lots of green growth and less blooms. Apply fertilizer monthly—beginning when sprouts appear and continuing once a month until the end of August.
Follow each fertilizing with a heavy, deep watering. During dry, hot weather dahlias should be given a deep watering at least twice a week.
WEEDS AND OTHER PESTS
Dahlias need to be weeded the old-fashioned way…by hand. Herbicide will kill your dahlias! Some bugs/insects feed on dahlias. Snails and Slugs can be the biggest bother to your plants. It is wise to bait them beginning at planting time and, continually, all season long.
For other pests, please use care if applying insecticide soap or any chemicals. Be sure to follow all local rules and regulations. Mildew will attack some varieties in the late summer and into the fall. Some years, there will be more pests than others—this is Nature.
TO PINCH OR NOT TO PINCH/TO TOP OR NOT TO TOP
Either way is fine. Pinching will give you a shorter/bushier plant and if you choose to pinch them back, it should be done when plants are just under 60cm (2ft) tall.
CUTTING FLOWERS
Enjoy the flowers during the prime season of August/September. If you are cutting the flowers, the best time to do so is in the morning while it is cooler outside. Be sure to remove old blooms from your plant to keep it growing and blooming all season!
Happy Gardening!
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