Dahlia Tuber Planting Guide

PLANTING YOUR TUBERS:

At Rosewood Cottage, sustainability is at the heart of what we do. In our continued efforts to reduce waste, we've decided to offer our comprehensive tuber care and planting guide exclusively here, rather than including a printed copy in your order.

Thank you for supporting our mission towards a more sustainable future.

GUIDE TO PLANTING YOUR TUBERS AFTER RECEIVING THEM IN THE MAIL.

Step 1: Unpacking the Dahlia Tuber

  1. Inspect the Parcel: When your tuber arrives, carefully open the parcel and check for any signs of damage or rot.
  2. Examine the Tuber: The tuber should feel firm, without any soft spots. If it looks a bit shrivelled, soak it in water for a few hours to rehydrate it.

Step 2: Storing the Tuber (if planting is delayed)

  1. Ideal Storage Conditions: If you’re not ready to plant straight away, store the tuber in a cool, dry place. A temperature of 10-15°C is ideal.
  2. Storage Material: Keep the tuber in a breathable bag (like a paper bag) or wrap it in newspaper. Avoid plastic, as it can retain moisture and lead to rot.
  3. Avoid Direct Sunlight: Store the tuber in a dark place, away from direct sunlight, to prevent it from sprouting too early.
  4. Waking up a Tuber: if you want to get cuttings from your tubers before you plant them out, or will be wanting to plant out early if you live in a frost free area, we recommend planting in potting mix, placing in direct sunlight and lightly watering. You must avoid frost and cold nights so a propagator or green house under a grow lamp is the best way to stimulate late Spring tuber growth. 

Step 3: Choosing the Planting Spot

  1. Sunlight: Dahlias need full sun, so choose a spot that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight each day.
  2. Soil: The soil should be well-draining and rich in organic matter. Sandy or loamy soils are best, as they prevent water from pooling around the tuber.
  3. Space: Ensure there’s enough space, as dahlias can grow between 60 cm to 1.2 metres tall, depending on the variety. Space them 60-90 cm apart.

Step 4: Preparing the Soil

  1. Soil Preparation: Dig a hole about 30 cm deep and mix in some compost or well-rotted manure to enrich the soil.
  2. pH Level: Ideally, the soil pH should be between 6.0 and 7.5. You can test the pH using a home testing kit. Adjust with lime (to increase pH) or sulphur (to decrease pH) if necessary.

Step 5: Planting the Tuber

  1. Planting Depth: Dig a hole about 10-15 cm deep. Place the tuber horizontally with the “eye” (a small bump where the sprout will emerge) facing upwards. The hole should be deep enough to cover the tuber with about 5 cm of soil.
  2. Spacing: If planting multiple tubers, space them at least 60 cm apart to allow room for growth.
  3. Covering the Tuber: Gently cover the tuber with soil, leaving the sprout (if visible) just below the surface.

Step 6: Watering

  1. Initial Watering: After planting, water the area lightly to settle the soil. Don’t overwater, as tubers are prone to rot if kept too wet.
  2. Ongoing Watering: Once the sprout emerges, water regularly, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged. Deep watering once or twice a week is better than shallow, frequent watering.

Step 7: Mulching

  1. Mulch Application: Apply a 5 cm layer of mulch around the plant, keeping it a few centimetres away from the base. Mulch helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.

Step 8: Staking (Optional)

  1. Staking for Support: If you’re growing a tall dahlia variety, consider placing a stake in the ground at the time of planting to provide support as the plant grows.
  2. Tying the Plant: As the plant grows, gently tie the stem to the stake with garden twine, ensuring it’s secure but not tight.

Step 9: Fertilising

  1. First Application: About 3-4 weeks after planting, apply a balanced, slow-release fertiliser. Nitrogen and growth stimulators are your best friends when it comes to the early stages. 
  2. Subsequent Applications: Fertilise every 4-6 weeks throughout the growing season, following the manufacturer’s instructions. When the plants are in bud, swap to a potash style fertaliser to promote healthy flower production. 

Step 10: Monitoring Growth

  1. Pest Control: Keep an eye out for common pests like slugs, snails, and aphids. Use organic pest control methods or insecticidal soap as needed.
  2. Disease Prevention: Ensure good air circulation around the plants to prevent fungal diseases. If any signs of disease appear (such as powdery mildew), treat promptly. We use a non chemical approach in our patch and find milk an excellent alternative to harsh chemicals. 

Step 11: Enjoy the Blooms

  1. Cutting Flowers: Dahlias make excellent cut flowers. To encourage more blooms, regularly cut flowers as they open.
  2. Deadheading: Remove spent flowers to promote continuous blooming throughout the season.

Step 12: End of Season Care

  1. Frost Protection: In regions where frost occurs, lift the tubers after the first frost. Cut back the stems to about 15 cm, carefully dig up the tuber, and allow it to dry before storing.
  2. Storage for Next Season: Store the tuber in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to plant it again next season with a good medium that will remain damp, but not wet or mouldy. We use a mixture of potting mix and vermicuite and store our tubers in styrofoam boxes. 

This guide should help you successfully plant and grow beautiful dahlias in your garden!