If you are wondering how to grow dahlias, You have come to the right place. After being out of fashion for a while, these pretty flowers have made a huge comeback. After all, these plants are so varied that there is bound to be at least one for you.
Dahlias are also very versatile – you can plant them in flower beds, more compact containers or treat them like flowers for cutting and indoor display. Plus, they can be cost-effective – a single dahlia tuber can produce flowers in both spring and summer.
Whether you’re looking to fill in your dahlia beds or just try out a type or two, we’ve put together a bunch of tips below.
How to grow dahlias: a step by step
Dahlias, which grow fresh from tubers, are not very good in the company of herbaceous plants.
Therefore, if you grow them in a seedbed, it is better to give them a space of its own. However, some also adapt to cultivation in vases. They look stunning along a walkway or in a courtyard garden.
The garden specialist Tamsin Hope Thomson shares his top tips for growing dahlias:
- Choose a location that receives plenty of sun (especially important if you want to leave the tubers in the ground for the winter), with well drained soil.
- If you are using a vaseuse a rich land.
- Dig a square hole about 30 cm wide and deep and space the tubers about 60 centimeters from each other.
- Then refill with soil. Keep the compost on the dry side until signs of growth appear, then water more frequently.
The most lush dahlias also have a good supply of garden manure around the base right after planting. And the plants should be fed every few weeks during the growing season. switch between one seaweed fertilizer and potassium-rich NPKs.
When is it best to plant dahlias?
Dahlias are delicate plants, so it’s important to keep them protected from the cold. Therefore, it is better to start cultivation in greenhouses in September or early October. Then plant them when temperatures are at their highest. Remember to weatherize them before planting by leaving the pots outside in the garden for a week or so.
How to care for dahlias
An advantage of dahlias is that they are not overly demanding, so they can be part of a low maintenance garden. However, they require specific care at the right time to remain happy.
You need water them regularly during periods of drought. Remember to feed them too. don’t be afraid of cut flowers, because this will help your dahlias. Regular harvesting encourages them to continue producing flowers. Prune regularly and check for pests and signs of other diseases.
How to Stake Dahlias to Stakes
Some dahlias are taller than others, which means they’ll need a little more support to keep from tipping over. If you want to know how to grow dahlias, these tips are worth knowing:
- Dahlias can be very fragile at their base, meaning entire stems are easily broken if it’s windy.
- Ideally, plants should be staked at planting time, from late spring to early summer.
- Use bamboo stakes to support the plants and tie the stems with twine at 12-inch intervals. If you haven’t already, make sure you do it as soon as possible so your dahlias are taller.
- Be careful not to damage the root when inserting the stems, and make sure the root is as close to the base of the plant as possible.
- Larger plants may need multiple stakes. Continue to tie the stems together as the plants grow to lengthen the support.
How to take seedlings from dahlias
Gardening expert Ruth Hayes of Amateur Gardening, shares a step-by-step guide to taking dahlia seedlings. It’s a way to get new plants – ideal if you’re looking for cheap garden ideas.
- Mix seed substrate with perlite in a four-inch clay pot, then add a little water to moisten it.
- Using a clean knife, remove a few strong shoots from your dahlia, each about four inches long.
- Remove the lower leaves, otherwise they may rot when you plant the seedlings.
- Dip the tips of the seedlings into rooting soil – this will help promote strong, healthy root growth.
- Insert the cuttings into the compost and perlite mixture and carefully firm them.
- Seal the newly potted seedlings in a plastic bag and place in a bright, warm place – a greenhouse or a sunny window. Soon, new roots will begin to develop.
What types of dahlia can you choose?
The amount of dahlias available is enormous. To make it easier, they are grouped into categories depending on the type of flower:
1. Pompoms
These are easily recognizable by their resemblance to pompoms. Its flower heads are perfect spheres made up of layers of petals that curl inward.
2. Cactus
This type, as you can imagine, is pointy – like a cactus. Its petals are narrow and slightly curved outwards.
3. Unique
Single varieties are less dramatic but still beautiful. They have only one layer of petals that can be slightly rounded or pointed.
4. Anemone
They resemble underwater creatures. The inner petals are smaller and more closely clustered and become larger and flatter on the outer edges. They are sometimes referred to as «bread powder» dahlias.
5. Collars
It has this name because it has two rings of petals, a larger one on the outside and a smaller one that is on the inside and resembles a necklace.
6. Waterlily
They have shallow flowers and look stunning in a flowerbed. cottage. Petals can be curved, slightly curved or completely flat.
7. Decorative
These dahlias have the largest flowers of all varieties. Its double flower heads feature wide, slightly flat petals, often with a rounded end, with no central disc. the classic Cafe Au Lait is a good example.
If you’re looking for dahlias to use in flower arrangements, opt for longer-stemmed varieties. The more you prune, the more the plants produce!
How to get bigger flowers?
For nice, long dahlia stems and bigger (but fewer) flowers, cut off all the side shoots. 60 cm below the growth tip. This leaves a long stem for cutting if you want to pot them indoors. It also allows the lower shoots to continue to grow to produce replacement stems.
Another tip to ensure magnificent flowers is to keep only the top bud and pluck all the ones immediately below.
See too
What to do with dahlias in winter?
Cut the plants and apply a layer of dry mulch or substrate to the crowns for extra insulation.
It’s good to be aware
As with most plants, some pesky problems can arise. Here are some to watch out for:
- Dahlias can be subject to pests including snails and aphids, so check regularly for signs of infestation. Catch snails or catch them in beer traps. You can use chemicals to get rid of aphids, but a greener option is introduce natural predators such as ladybugs.
- Earwigs (or earwigs) can also be a pest to watch out for when growing dahlias. You can collect them in simple paper traps. Crumple up newspaper and place in an upturned flower pot that can sit on top of your cuttings. This attracts the earwigs and keeps them away from the plants.
- Diseases like powdery mildew can be a problem for dahlias. You can improve your chances of prevention by removing dead and damaged foliage before it starts to rot and by creating good airflow around the plants.
13 dahlias to try in the garden
We’ve rounded up some of our favorite dahlias so you can experience them in your own garden.
1. art deco
The compact ‘Art Deco’ dahlia is great if you are dealing with a small garden, as it only grows to around 40 cm in height.
It is perfect for growing in pots and has orange petals that gently twist, showing the pink underside.
two. cafe au lait
the dazzling dahlia Cafe Au Lait It is popular for use in bridal bouquets in summer.
The delicate flowers can reach 25 cm in diameter, so they are true protagonists. They look just as spectacular in the flower bed as they do in a vase. Plants grow to a height of about 1.2 m.
3. Chocolate
Originally bred for cut flowers, the Chocolate Dahlia’s long-lived blooms are lush for up to 12 days. So if you’re after one of the best cut garden flowers, these are an excellent choice.
In a deep plum-red hue, the flowers make a romantic and dramatic addition to any garden. They grow to a height of about 90 cm.
4. otto’s thriller
Otto’s Thrill it is a beautiful dahlia with giant and decorative flowers. The elaborate pink flowers measure up to 25 cm wide, so it’s definitely the one to go if you want your gardens to turn heads.
The beautiful petals also have a slight undulation, evoking a romantic touch. The plants grow to about 120 cm in height.
5. Bishop of Canterbury
If you’re after one of the bees’ best friends, then the dahlia Bishop of Canterbury it’s a classic.
A single-flowered variety, it has bright red-magenta flowers and brings joy to the garden. These plants grow to a height of 90 cm.
6. hs wink
part of series happy singlethe dahlias HS Wink bear bright pink flowers with deep mid-purple. They are another type that don’t grow very tall, only about 76cm tall and 40cm wide. A good choice for vases.
7. black narcissus
The dahlia “Black Narciso” is a kind of double flowering cactus. The deep burgundy petals and spiky appearance create instant garden drama – ideal for modern gardens.
They bloom in spring. At around 99 centimeters tall, they’re another good choice for slightly smaller spaces.
8. Cassis cream
A Cassis cream it offers water-type flowers with two-tone petals – light pink on top and deep plum on the bottom. Each flower head reaches about 10 to 15 cm, making them a standout choice in the garden.
The plants themselves grow up to 91 cm tall and measure 46 cm wide.
9. small world
The discreet but prolific pompom flowers of the small world offer an elegant cream-white tone to the garden. These flowers may be smaller than many other types of dahlias, but they are beautifully shaped. Again, they are a favorite of brides –…