Dahlia care for tubers

🌸 Caring for Your Dahlia Tubers

Thank you for supporting Makayla’s Meadow! To help your tubers wake up happy and grow into strong, blooming plants, here’s everything you need to know:

1. 📦 Upon Arrival

Your tubers arrive dormant and ready to plant.

  • Inspect for firmness and eyes (growth points). A healthy tuber should feel solid—not mushy or shriveled.
  • If you notice any concerns (e.g., mold, rot, or missing eyes), please take a photo and email makaylasford@gmail.com with your order number.

2. 🌡️ Temperature & Timing

  • Do not plant outdoors until soil temperatures are consistently above 10°C (50°F).
  • Dahlia tubers are not frost-tolerant. A hard freeze (below 0°C or 32°F) will kill them.
  • In Victoria, BC, planting typically begins in late April to early May (or, as they say, "when the lilacs bloom", depending on spring weather.

3. 🌱 Pre-Sprouting (Optional)

If you’d like a head start:

  • Place tubers in shallow trays (I used ziploc baggies!) with slightly damp potting mix in a warm, bright spot. 
  • Sprouts usually appear within 2–3 weeks to as long as 8 weeks. Once sprouted, you can pot them up or wait to plant outside or plant directly in your garden.

4. 🌿 Planting Instructions

  • Choose a sunny spot with well-draining soil.
  • Dig a hole 4–6" deep and add a handful of bonemeal or compost.
  • Lay the tuber horizontally with the eye facing up. Cover with soil and water lightly.
  • Since dahlias can grow to such a large size and they have a relatively shallow root system, it is often required that you should stake them. When only growing a few dahlias most people either tie them to a bamboo stick as they grow taller or use tomato cages. When planting in a row, you can also run strings on either side of the row supported by anchor posts at the end of the row to prevent the plants from tipping over.

5. 💧 Watering & Feeding

  • Wait to water deeply until sprouts emerge—overwatering dormant tubers can cause rot.
  • Once growing, water regularly. 
  • Use a balanced or low-nitrogen fertilizer, like 5-10-10 or 10-20-20, 2 to 3 weeks after planting and again every 3 to 4 weeks to encourage strong roots and bushy growth without excessive foliage.

6. ☀️ Protecting Young Growth

  • Young shoots are tender. If a late frost is forecast, cover with frost cloth or a bucket overnight.
  • Foliage can be damaged below 4°C (39°F), even if the tuber survives.

🌸 Dahlia TLC: Tips for Healthier, Happier Plants

Whether you're growing from tubers or cuttings, these simple practices will help your dahlias flourish all season long:

✂️ Pinching for Bushier Plants

  • When: Once your plant has 3–4 sets of leaves.
  • How: Snip the top growth just above a leaf node.
  • Why: This encourages branching, leading to more stems, more blooms, and a fuller plant.

🌼 Disbudding for Bigger Blooms

  • When: As flower buds begin to form.
  • How: Remove the smaller side buds near the main bud.
  • Why: This channels energy into the central bloom, resulting in larger, stronger flowers—especially helpful for show blooms or bouquets.

🍃 Leaf Removal for Airflow

  • When: As plants grow tall and bushy.
  • How: Gently remove lower leaves that touch the soil or crowd the center.
  • Why: Improves air circulation and helps prevent powdery mildew, especially in humid or rainy conditions.

🐛 Aphid Control

  • When: At the first sign of tiny green, black, or white bugs on new growth.
  • How: Spray them off with a strong blast of water from a hose—no chemicals needed!
  • Why: Aphids are soft-bodied and easily dislodged. Regular rinsing keeps populations low and plants stress-free.

Wishing you a joyful growing season from Makayla’s Meadow! 🌼