With the stake in place at planting, you can continue to tie them in every couple of weeks. You will need a stout stake (not just a bamboo cane) to support each plant and it is a good idea to knock this in first and then place the plant by its side.Īs they grow, pinch out the growing tips once three pairs of leaves have grown to encourage branching. Insert a stake when planting as they can make sizeable plants when fully grown. Place the dahlia in the hole with the tubers just below the soil surface and fill in around the rootball. On heavy clay, add grit to the planting hole. Add plenty of organic matter to the hole. The hole needs to be at least 30cm (1ft) square, 30cm (1ft) deep and the plants should be spaced approximately 75cm (30in) apart, depending on variety. Dig a planting hole for each plant in a sunny, sheltered position. If you have a dahlia in a 2 or 3 litre pot that you’ve grown from a tuber or bought as a plant, you can plant it outside once the risk of frost has passed in spring. You can use a sharp knife or a squeeze between your thumb and forefinger, and pinch out down to the top pair of leaves. Whether you have raised your dahlia tubers outside in the garden or undercover, you need to pinch out the tips of the main shoot once three pairs of leaves have grown. This is particularly important if the foliage appears before the frosts are over. Mulch over the top of them or protect them with a cloche or horticultural fleece. Insert a stout stick to act as a stake when planting as they can make sizeable plants when fully grown. Plant the tubers just under the soil surface and ensure they are approximately 75cm (30in) apart, depending on variety. If you don’t have space to plant the tubers in pots first, you can put them straight into the ground in spring – just make sure the frosts are nearly over. This will feel harsh, but by having only five stems, this will allow each stem to develop, grow strong and vigorous, and the result is lots of flowers! As these shoots grow, pinch out the tips of the main shoot (you can use a sharp knife or a squeeze between your thumb and forefinger), down to the top pair of leaves.Īs the plant starts to grow further, remove all but five shoots sprouting from the tuber. Don’t water again until they start to shoot, and even then only water lightly.Īfter 2-3 weeks, shoots will start appearing – some varieties may take a little longer. Don’t forget to label and lightly water the pot, then place it somewhere warm and frost-free – a greenhouse is ideal.
Place the tuber in the pot with the central stem upwards and cover with more compost. Start by half-filling a 2 or 3 litre pot with peat-free multi-purpose compost. Dahlia tubers can be started into growth in March or April in pots undercover, and then planted out in the garden in late May and June.
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