Dahlia Planting & Care Instructions

Preparation

Keep tubers in a cool and dry environment (40-50º) until ready to plant.
Wait until the threat of frost has passed and ground temperatures are at least 50ºF.
Choose a place that gets full sun 8+ hours each day and has well-drained soil.
Prep the soil - compost and bone meal are good options.

Dig a hole around 4-6” deep and at least a foot apart.
If your tuber has sprouted and the sprout is 3” or less, go ahead and plant it. If it’s longer than that you can cut it either 1/4” above the tuber or right above where a set of leaves are forming. Sometimes sprouts end up breaking off too. Not to worry, your tuber will send up new sprouts!
Lay the tuber on its side and if there is an emerging eye or sprout, allow it to face up. Then fully cover the tuber with soil.
If planting a cutting, remove the bottom set of leaves and plant the cutting deep, with those nodes below the soil level. Water thoroughly right away and water 1-2 times a day to keep the soil moist until the plant is well established.

Do not water your dahlia until green sprouts or leaves have emerged. Rain is ok, but too much water can rot a tuber.
After a full set of leaves have emerged, provide your dahlia a good deep soak, 2-3 times a week.
Providing some support is necessary for most dahlias. Loosely tying the stalk to a stake or corralling a group of dahlia plants together with string can help prevent the plants from bending or breaking.
The more you cut back blooms, the more the plant will produce. You definitely want to deadhead!