Dahlias
are one of the easiest and most spectacular flowers you can grow in your
garden. From mid-summer to first frost, they will flower almost continuously.
Dahlias
are available in a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes, including ball
dahlias, decorative and dinnerplate dahlias and cactus dahlias.
All told, there
are fourteen distinct groups of dahlias. Dahlias are planted from tubers, generally
in late May through early June. This is the when the soil temperature is warm enough
to safely plant your tubers. Dahlias love the sun, so pick a place in the
garden that gets the most sun during the day. Dahlias will grow in an area where there is
some shade, but the plants will be taller and you’ll typically get fewer
flowers.
When you open the package your dahlias came in, you’ll find one or two
eyes on the tuber. Sometimes you’ll find the tuber has begun to sprout. That’s
okay. It’s still good to plant. Prepare the site by working in some compost and
peat most. Dahlias do best in slightly acidic soils. Since our soils tend to be
higher in pH or more alkaline, adding organic materials will help make the soil
more acidic and improve the drainage.
Add 3" to 4" of organic
material such as peat moss, compost and work it into your existing soil 8"
to 10".
Once you’ve prepared your soil, add a handful of Bone Meal and
work it in a little before you plant your tubers. The package your dahlia tubers came in can
provide valuable information about your dahlia, including height. Large
dinnerplate dahlias can easily reach 4' in height. Flower stalks this tall need
to be staked. It’s best to place the stake when you plant your tubers.
Set the
tuber in the hole with the “eyes” or stalk pointed up. Next, set the stake near
an eye or the stalk. Cover the tuber with soil and water deeply. As the
stalk grows, tie it loosely to the stake to give it support. To do their best,
dahlias need to be fed and watered regularly. Dahlias don’t need a lot of
Nitrogen, but they do need Phosphorous and Potash, so select a fertilizer with
numbers like 5-10-5 or 3-8-8. Fertilize your dahlias about 30 days after you
plant them and again in another 30 days. Water your dahlias deeply, twice a
week. Dahlias will not survive our winters, so you can elect to dig them up in the fall
and store them or simply treat them as annuals and plant new tubers every
spring.
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