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Dahlias may look exotic, but they are similar to our other flower bulbs in many ways. Only Dahlias are not bulbs, but tubers. The difference between a bulb and a tuber is that bulbs store the reserve food in the underground leaves and tubers do this in the root or the stem. Tubers are therefore full of moisture. This means that they are much more susceptible to frost than flower bulbs.
Dahlias are summer bloomers, they bloom from summer to autumn. You should therefore plant dahlias in the spring, when the night frost has disappeared and there is no longer a chance of the tuber freezing. The sooner you start planting, the sooner you will be rewarded with the colourful flowers of the dahlia. Better too early than too late, is also a good saying here.
Planting dahlias in the garden
Dahlias thrive in sunlight, which is what they need to develop in the best possible way. Dahlias do not like soil that is too wet. Ensure good drainage of the soil, so that the tubers do not rot. Loosen the soil and mix it with a special type of manure or soil improver if necessary.
Plant the dahlia tubers a few centimetres deep in the ground, with the point upwards. You only need to keep a few centimetres of distance between the tubers, then you will get a beautiful dense field. Cover the tubers with a thin layer of soil and give them some water immediately. Keep the soil moist regularly, even after the dahlias have blossomed.
Planting dahlias in pots
It is also possible to plant the dahlia tubers in a pot first and take them outside from May. You must have access to a greenhouse, so that the dahlias get enough light. Here too, of course, you must keep a close eye on the tubers and check at least twice a day that the soil is not too dry.
You can plant dahlias in the open ground from May, or simply place the pots outside. This is especially useful if you have a balcony or terrace, or a garden with little space. So you see that you can go in many directions with dahlias.
Caring for dahlias
When the dahlias are eight inches tall, cut the tips from the buds so that the dahlias branch out and more flowers develop. More information about caring for dahlias .
Types of dahlias
Dahlias come in different shapes and sizes. There are the well-known, geometric-looking balls, but also a number of varieties with fragile flowers. There are dahlias with bright, warm colours, but also less striking dahlias, which are beautiful in their simplicity. From mid-March you can buy dahlias at Fluwel.
