How to plant Dahlia tubers
Dahlias have long been one of my favourite garden plants. Available in a seemingly endless array of colours and shapes, they are an easy garden plant, flower for a long period, and can even be used as cut flowers. On today's 5 Minute Friday, we are showing you how to plant dahlia tubers (similar to bulbs) for the best results.
When should I plant my dahlia tubers?
There are two answers to this. If you are starting your tubers inside to get a head start, you can plant them in pots in a frost-free area from the middle of March. If you plan on planting the tubers straight outside, whether in a pot or the ground, you must wait until the frosts have passed. This will be late April to late May, depending on which part of the UK you live in.
Planting your dahlia tubers
The tips for planting in this guide are the same for both planting in a container or the ground. The only difference is where to position the dahlias. When planting in a pot inside, you only need to find a frost-free spot, as you will be planting outside later. If you are planting straight outside, we are looking for a spot that gets a lot of sun, ideally around 6 hours a day.
Preparing your compost or soil
When choosing your compost, drainage is key. A good quality multi-purpose compost is ideal. You can also mix in some well-rotted manure. This will help with drainage and enrich the compost. When planting straight in the ground, it is a good idea to dig in some well-rotted manure as well.
Lets plant our tubers
The first thing to do is have a look at the tubers. You will find some "eyes" on the tubers. These are small bumps on the tuber where the new growth will come from. Now dig a hole in the compost a little bit bigger than the tuber to a depth of around 20cm. Next, place the tubers with the eyes pointing upwards into the hole. Now cover with some more compost. If you are growing more than one tuber, repeat the process for all of them.
Caring for your dahlia tubers
Once you have planted the tubers, keep them in a frost-free spot. While the dahlia is sitting dormant and has not sprouted through the ground, you do not have to water them. Once you start seeing growth come through the ground, it is time to start watering. Keep the compost moist but not too wet.
