Planting Dahlia tubers in Spring

I like to have a few dahlias in pots around my veggie patch as they are great as cut flowers, are a tortoise favourite and are great for wildlife, especially amphibians. There are 3 gardens surrounding us that have ponds. Amphibians such as frogs however, seem to seek refuge in my garden in one of the dahlia bushes I keep in the ground overwinter. This in turn means fewer pests such as aphids who like to feast on my veggies.

Caring for Dahlias in Pots

I find dahlias don’t need any special treatment. I plant them in pots end of winter, keep them in the greenhouse until any danger of frost and put them outside in decorative pots for the Summer, around April. Depending on the variety, they begin flowering June/July.

Dahlias in the ground

In order to keep dahlias flowering for longer, you have to keep dead-heading and picking them. I like to have a few fresh as cut flowers for the home and pick them for afternoon snacks for Lenny the tortoise. Regular picking will have the plant producing bright and healthy blooms right through the summer sometimes to late October and if it has been a particularly mild fall, November.

Once the plants stop producing new blooms and begin to go over, I leave the tubers in the ground over winter. The Dahlia bushes in the ground are in a protected position in beds near the house so I tend to let the foliage wilt and die in position and leave them like that to overwinter. The bush will then provide cover and protection for the tuber and hibernating wildlife. I wont cut back until Spring to prepare for the growing season.

Mulching

Mulching with woodchip further helps to retain moisture and feed and protect the tubers in the ground. I add a fresh layer to my beds every Spring.

Staking

In my experience, Dahlias benefit greatly from being staked. they tend to have heavy-set flower heads so to keep stems upright and looking their best, stake the main stems of the plant.

Planting dahlias in pots