Tuber care

Once your tubers arrive, it's important that you care for them properly so they can grow into the beautiful plants you are hoping for.

Dahlias thrive in full sun, requiring at least 8 hours of sunlight daily for abundant blooms.
Choose a sunny garden spot with well-draining soil, or consider raising the garden bed to ensure proper drainage.
Before planting, it's recommended to enrich the soil with 5 to 10 cm of high-quality compost or well-rotted manure.
Dahlias must be staked to prevent them from toppling over due to the weight of their flowers and strong winds.

After you receive your tubers, store them in a cool, dry place indoors or under cover until all danger of frost has passed.
Do not plant tubers in waterlogged soil, whether in the garden or in pots; they will rot! If your area experiences excessive spring rains, it may be best to delay planting until the ground is not soaked.
When it's time to plant, dig holes or trenches that are around 10-15cm deep. Place the tubers on their sides, with the growing eye or shoot facing upwards. Leave a space of 30cm between tubers, then cover them with soil.
Do not start watering until the first green shoots appear.

Remember to water your Dahlias consistently throughout the growing season, and water the plants at the soil level, avoiding the foliage.
Once your plants have 3 or 4 sets of leaves, it's time to pinch them. This means snipping out the growing centre to encourage low branching, which increases flower production and overall stem length.
Keep an eye out for slugs, snails, earwigs, and nematodes, as they can damage young plants, flowers, and tubers.

Dahlias don't need a lot of water; if in the ground, you can water every two or three days over the summer. In containers, they will need more regular watering.
When you cut off flowers, cut down to above the next set of leaves, this will stimulate more flowers to grow.
Regularly deadhead to ensure the plant's energy goes into new flowers, not seed production.