How to Grow Dahlias
- Dahlias love sun, but will also thrive in partial shade so choose an appropriate loction for planting .
- Dahlias require plenty of water in well-drained, slightly acidic soil(pH6.5). Soil can be prepared as soon as weather permits.
- Enrich soil with aged manure and an application of 6-8-6 or 20-20-20.
- Allow approx. 3 feet between staked plantings.
Buying Tubers ( Dahlia Club Tuber Sale–April)
- Look for size of blooms(AA is largest), colours and forms suitable for your personal garden.
- Look for a firm tuber with an established eye.
- Store tubers in opened package in a cool dry place or plant in pot until ready to tranplant into prepared site.
Set out tubers in the Spring in a well prepared site after all danger of frost.
Dig a 4 – 6 inch hole about 1 foot in diameter and position a support stake in the center(rebar works well for this).
Place the eye of one or two tubers close to stake and cover lightly with soil leaving eye visible.
Add more soil filling in the hole as the stalk grows.
Remember to label plant variety at this time.
Begin tying the plants to the stake when they are approx. 2′ tall.
- Slugs, earwigs, aphids may be interested in the new growth.
- Use traps around the base of your plant as needed. (see club display)
Watering and fertilizing
- Dahlias love to be watered deeply in well-drained soil.
- As flowers begin to show add a fertilizer specially formulated for blooms and strong stems.
Pinching and disbudding
- Pinch out the center stem when the plant has reached about one foot tall to produce a bushier plant with more flowers.
- To produce a larger flower, pinch out the two side buds (laterals).
End of Season (mid October to beginning of November)
- Cut plants to about 6 inches from ground. Dig and lift clumps.
- Wash tubers well and store either as a clump or divided into individual tubers.
- Try to retain a piece of the stem on each tuber when dividing. This is where the eye will form.
- Store in a cool dry place.
Nanaimo Glad and Dahlia Club invites you to our club meetings on the first Tuesday of every month from February – October to learn more about Growing, Showing and Enjoying this amazing flower. For more information see the Club Website.