Dahlias are one of the most delightful and popular flowers to grow, whether in the garden or the field—and we’re rapidly approaching the season for getting dahlia tubers in the ground.
Here at the farm, we’re preparing tubers for planting. We’ve removed them from storage and are giving them a good look over. Those that we have pre-sprouted are already showing foliage.
Unfortunately, no matter how careful we are, some tubers die or rot during storage. As a result, we might have fewer numbers of our prized varieties to plant this season. Those that remain must be given extra care so they’re available for the next growing season. Three dahlias that are highly valued among flower farmers are Giant Dinnerplate Dahlia Fleurel®, Café au Lait and Café au Lait Royal.
To have early blooms, we plant our prized varieties in crates and containers. All the other varieties go directly into the field, often during the first week of May if soil conditions are right.
A word of caution: When pre-sprouting tubers in crates or containers, avoid overwatering. Tubers can easily rot from too much moisture.
Divide your dahlia tubers before planting them. This encourages more tuber growth. It also gives you a chance to check for damage or disease. If damaged or diseased, the mother tuber will eventually start to decay, producing fewer blooms. So, don’t neglect this task.
Dahlia tubers are best planted after the soil has warmed up to at least 60 degrees, sometime between the middle of April and the middle of May, depending on your garden zone. Choose a sunny location with well-drained soil. I like to work in a good amount of compost, which encourages tubers to start rooting and producing growth as soon as possible.
When planting a tuber, lay it on its side with the eye pointing upward. I’ve tried several different ways of planting tubers, and this method has proved to be the most successful here at the farm.
The next two photos show the planting positions of tubers of different sizes.
Dahlias add color and drama to your garden or field. From a single tuber, a beautiful plant grows and yields gorgeous blooms that you can harvest and sell from your farm stand or at the market.
It’s growing season, so let’s get planting! Happy Gardening!
Pamela Anthony
Beehind Thyme Farm & Garden