Dahlia Tuber Planting and Care
If you receive your dahlias before you are ready to plant, store them in a cool place. The recommended storage temperature is between 41º-47ºF to maintain dormancy.
Tubers can be planted in the ground, in raised beds, or in containers. If you plant in a container, select one that is 10”-12” wide and at least 12” deep. Use well-draining soil.
Dahlias should be planted after your last frost date. Select a site with full sun and well-draining soil. The soil should be moist when planted and not watered again until you see growth above the soil. Tubers should be placed 4-6" deep and 12" apart.
Your dahlia should sprout within 4-6 weeks after planting. The time varies on variety and growing conditions.
The varieties we grow and sell are meant for cutting so they grow between 30” - 48” so they will need some sort of support. If you are planting individual tubers you can use something like a tomato cage or bamboo stake. If you’re planting in rows use t-posts and twine to corral them.
The plants can benefit from pinching to produce more stems and blooms. This means when the plant is about a foot tall, pinch or snip out the center stem leaving 3- 4 sets of leaves on the plant. You’ll then get two new stems sprouting from that point.
Although Dahlias are considered a Summer flower, they start to show off in Fall. So if you’re only seeing foliage for a few months, give it time!
When you cut to bring flowers indoors, cut deeply into the plant. This will give you a long stem and also create a stronger plant for more stems and flowers to grow from.
We are not responsible for plant performance or loss due to adverse growing conditions, improper storage or care, or crop failure. All tuber dahlia sales are final. Tubers cannot be cancelled or returned.
Other Resources
Numerous online and print resources dive deeper into growing dahlias, you will find the general information the same but each grower may have their tricks that work best in their location. Below are a few websites as a starting point -