Where to Plant - Dahlias love the sun! To help them thrive and bloom abundantly, choose a spot that receives at least 8 hours of full sun per day. A location with some protection from strong winds is ideal, especially for tall varieties.
When to Plant - Dahlias are not frost-tolerant, so don’t plant them too early. Wait until all danger of frost has passed. For us in Zone 6b, that’s around May 1st.
How to Plant - We put a couple inches of compost on the top of the beds in the fall. Then in the spring, we dig the holes 6-8” deep, 12” apart. We put an organic fertilizer in each hole and mix it into the soil at the bottom of the hole, then lay the tuber on its side with the “eye” (new growth) facing up and cover with dirt. DO NOT WATER until you see green growth peeking up or your tubers may rot.
How Much Water - Once peeking up through the soil, you can start to water regularly (2-4 times a week, deeply). Aim to soak the roots, not just the surface.
Pinching - When the plant reaches 8–12 inches tall, pinch or snip out the center growing tip — removing about 1/3 of the plant’s height. This encourages more branching, which means more side shoots and more flowers!
Support - Once they get 1-2ft tall, you’ll want to set up support (before they get too big and fall over or grow crooked). This can be a tomato cage if in a home garden, or if growing a larger amount, we use a corral method by pounding in stakes along the sides and then using string/twine all around the edges to make a corral around the entire flower bed. Set up support before your plants fall over or start growing crooked.
Fertilizer - Apply a balanced organic fertilizer or foliage feed every other week throughout the growing season. You can spray it directly onto the leaves and water it into the soil.
When to Harvest - Harvest flowers when they are almost fully open. Unlike some flowers, dahlias do not open much more once cut, so pick them when they look how you want them to look in a vase. The best times to cut are early morning or evening, when temps are cooler. Check your plants every 2–3 days and cut anything that’s ready to avoid over-ripening or the need to deadhead.
How to Harvest - Bring a bucket filled with cool water to the garden. Use sharp, sanitized scissors or snips to make clean cuts. Cut stems deeply, just above a leaf set, to encourage longer stems. Remove any lower leaves from the stem (below the waterline). This helps the plant conserve energy and extends vase life. Tip: Keep your bucket in the shade while harvesting to prevent wilting.
Care of Your Cut Dahlias - You can get about 5-7 days of vase life out of a dahlia bouquet. To get the most out of them, change the water in your vase daily. Also, keep the arrangement away from sunny windows, hot stoves, or ripening fruit. To really extend your bouquet, place it in a cooler spot temporarily at night.
Happy growing & harvesting! We will you tons of blooms!
❤︎ Dave & Sarah
