Dahlias are gorgeous prolific bloomers, flowering from May to November in the bay area. For the best selection visit your local nursery from late January through mid-March and choose from many varieties and colors.

Plant tubers inside the house in a well-lit (sun or grow lights) area and transplant outside in mid-March or April when they are about 8” tall or plant the tubers directly in the ground in mid- March in a hole 4-6 inches below the soil surface about 30”apart. Place the tubers flat with eyes facing up in a location that gets about 6 hours of sun or some afternoon shade in the hottest areas. As they sprout allow only one shoot per tuber, cutting off the extras. It is best to stake your dahlias when they are planted as they need support. Generally speaking, the larger the flower the larger the stake needed.

Dahlias are heavy feeders so before planting amend the soil with your home made compost or a commercial soil amendment with a large component of composted chicken manure and add a balanced fertilizer such as 16-16-16. Change the fertilizer to a higher phosphorous content such as 10-30-20, as buds form and feed once a month from June to September.

After planting in the ground, water thoroughly once and then don’t water the tubers again until the shoots appear in two to three weeks because excess water (sometimes it is rain) will cause the tubers to rot.  During the growing season water deeply every three or four days, depending on the weather, at ground level and not on the leaves.

Protect young plants from slugs and continue tying the center stem to the stake as the plant grows. To lessen the potential for disease, take off the bottom leaves which increases air flow.

Encourage bushier plants and more flowers by clipping off the tip of the center stem after the plant has three sets of leaves. If you want to enjoy the largest flowers possible allow only one central bud on each branch to develop by removing smaller side buds.

Enjoy the beautiful flowers all summer long and to stimulate more growth and more flowers cut some to bring inside.  Once you have grown dahlias you will always want to include them in your summer garden for no other reason than they are simply dazzling.