Dahlia Growing Guide
 
What's Included:
3 dahlia tubers
Plant Type: Tender perennial
Sunlight: Full sun
Flowering Season: Summer until the first frost
Spacing: Plant 45 cm apart
Support: Taller varieties benefit from staking.
 
Each dahlia is shipped as a single tuber with at least one visible eye, so it's ready to grow. If you're not planting straight away, simply keep your tubers in a cool, dry, dark place until you're ready.
 
Planting Your Dahlias
Wait until all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed to at least 15°C before planting.
Choose a sunny spot with well-draining, fertile soil, or plant in a container with good drainage. Loosen the soil to about 30 cm deep and mix in plenty of compost along with a balanced granular fertilizer.
 
How to Plant
Dig a hole and place the tuber with the eye or sprout facing upward.
Position the top of the tuber about 10 cm below the soil surface.
Cover with soil, firm it down gently, and water well to settle the soil around the tuber.
 
If you're planting in a pot, make sure it has drainage holes to prevent the tuber from sitting in water.
 
Caring for Your Dahlias
💧 Don't overwater at first
After planting and giving your tuber its first good watering, wait until you see new shoots before watering again. Too much moisture before growth appears can cause the tuber to rot.
🌿 Water wisely
Once your dahlia is actively growing, water deeply once or twice a week. Allow the top 2.5 cm of soil to dry slightly between waterings, and try to keep the leaves dry to help prevent disease.
🌸 Feed for beautiful blooms
Feed every 3–4 weeks with an organic, water-soluble fertilizer until March. After that, stop feeding so the tubers can prepare for winter.
✂️ Remove spent flowers
Regular deadheading encourages your plant to produce even more blooms. Simply snip off faded flowers just above a leaf node using clean, sharp scissors.
💐 Pick flowers often
The more you cut your dahlias for bouquets, the more flowers they'll produce. It's a win-win!
🌱 Want more dahlias?
Dahlias don't grow true from seed, so the best way to grow more of your favourites is by dividing the tubers once they've matured.
❄️ Winter Care
After the first frost, tubers can be lifted and stored over winter if you prefer. However, in most parts of South Africa, they're perfectly happy staying in the ground and will return the following spring.