Welcome to this year’s Dahlia Tuber sale!

Dahlias have been—and continue to be—a learning curve for me as I grow them solely for cut flowers. The variety of colours, forms, and petal counts feels endless! These blooms are usually the star of the show, standing bold and beautiful in any bouquet or garden bed.

Whether you’ve grown dahlias before or this will be your first time growing these lovelies, I’d like to share a few tips for the best results in your garden.

Dahlias are late bloomers.

Each variety has its own blooming schedule, but overall they don’t bloom until late July or early August here in Manitoba (Zone 3). Each plant requires about 12 inches of growing space, and staking is highly recommended.

There are two planting options: Direct planting or potting up.

Direct planting:

Dig a 5-inch hole, add a handful of bone meal, and lay your tuber horizontally in the ground. Cover it and mark the spot. Do NOT water until you see growth. Let nature do its thing—there is usually enough moisture in the soil to grow a healthy plant. Watering before growth appears can cause the tuber to rot in the ground.

Potting up:

If you want earlier blooms, you can start your tuber in a container at least 5 inches deep. Place the tuber horizontally and cover it with potting mix that is just barely damp. As tempting as it is, avoid watering until you see growth, since watering too early increases the risk of rot. If the soil becomes extremely dry, add a small amount of water to the base of the pot or give the soil a light mist. Covering the pot with a clear lid or plastic wrap can also help hold moisture in.

Once all chance of frost has passed, plant your dahlia in the garden with the tuber about 5 inches below soil level, along with another handful of bone meal.

When your plant has six or more sets of leaves, snip the center stalk just above the lower sets. This encourages the plant to branch out and can reward you with triple the blooms! I know this step can feel wrong, but trust me—dahlias are tough, and you’ll love the extra flowers for bouquets or gifts.

I also highly suggest staking your dahlias, especially the taller varieties that grow five feet or more. This greatly reduces the risk of broken branches or crooked stems.

And there you have it—my personal recommendations for growing dahlias to enjoy all season long!

Note: Dahlias do not tolerate frost. When that first frost warning arrives, grab your snips and bring those blooms inside to avoid the disappointment of frozen flowers. Don’t ask me how I know this!

Happy gardening, friends!