dahliaplanting
Planting Dahlias in the Garden - how to best plant dahlia bulbs in your garden?
Time to plant dahlias! When planting dahlias in a pot or in the garden, there are several things to consider and a few important steps to follow. Here you'll learn what those are. There are various variables involved in planting dahlias to achieve a beautiful flower. Ensure yourself a blooming garden with the most beautiful flowers. Take your time to read through all the advice and tips from dahlia growers. Learn gardening with the confidence of a grower and make your green fingers even greener.
1. Planting Time – Planting dahlias is recommended between April and May
We plant dahlias in spring, between April and May. This is because they are summer bloomers. When it comes to planting dahlias, you should wait until the last frost has definitively passed (usually around mid-May).
TIP 1: The earlier we plant dahlias during the planting season, the earlier they will bloom (often with slightly larger, more beautiful flowers).
TIP 2: Enjoying your dahlias for a longer period? You can do so by forcing them. Forcing means planting the dahlias in a pot indoors before the official planting season begins. This is often done between February and March. Forcing dahlias – planting them in a pot indoors – has the biggest advantage of giving your plants a head start in growth and preventing slugs from reaching the young shoots. Yay! No slugs. Read the article 'forcing dahlias' if you want to learn more.
2. Location – they love the sun!
When planting dahlias, it's important to consider the location. They thrive in the sun, so choose a sunny spot. Make sure that a hedge, trees, or other plants don't block the sunlight. Always check the location on the product cards that you receive with each order from us.
3. Drainage – you must plant dahlias in well-draining soil
When planting dahlias in our gardens, it's crucial to pay attention to this aspect. Look for a spot in the garden where you're sure water can drain away. Loosening the soil (as you'll read shortly) will help with this. Bulbs can rot or freeze more easily in overly wet (soggy) soil.
TIP: Are there heavy rain showers and the water isn't draining away from your garden? Try to drain the soil. Drain the soil as soon as possible (within a few hours after heavy rainfall) to prevent your bulbs from rotting. It's guaranteed, unfortunately... So ensure yourself a blooming garden!
4. Soil Preparation – first loosen the soil, then you can plant your dahlias
Planting dahlias in your garden, and any flower bulb for that matter, is best done by first loosening the soil. This allows more air into the soil and makes it easier for dahlia tubers to develop roots. Generally, they thrive in any type of soil.
TIP 1: Remove any weeds and pebbles.
TIP 2: Planting dahlias in clay soil? You may choose to mix in some sand and/or potting soil with the clay soil.
5. Nutrition – you may plant dahlias with fertilization
When planting dahlias, it's beneficial to add some fertilizer. Do this by sprinkling the fertilizer into the dug hole. Your tubers will benefit most from organic material and fertilization that enriches the soil structure.
TIP: What nutrients can you use when planting dahlias? Dahlia grower Peter suggests three options: 1. Sprinkle 10 to 20 granules of fertilizer NPK 12+10+18 ('12+10+18' is a product name) 2. Calcium ammonium nitrate (a type of fertilizer suitable as nitrogen fertilizer) 3. Natural manure (helps improve soil structure. Good for more biodiversity!)
TIP: You can purchase natural manure from various outlets, such as tuindirect. Alternatively, you can plant dahlias with manure from a farmer near you. Avoid using fresh manure as it contains too much nitrogen. Visit milieucentraal for more information on fertilization.
6. Plant Spacing - plant large dahlia tubers approximately 50 cm apart and small ones 40 cm apart
If they grow taller than 70 cm, you may plant your dahlias 50 cm apart. If they remain smaller than 70 cm, you may plant them approximately 40 cm apart.
TIP: Don't always strictly adhere to this. If your dahlias grow much taller or shorter, feel free to adjust the plant spacing accordingly.
7. Planting Depth – plant dahlias 5 cm below the ground
You may plant dahlias at a depth of approximately 5 cm. Try not to deviate from this depth.
TIP: When planting dahlias, consider the tubers (a tuber is one of the stems that collectively forms the bulb), as they can be damaged. Therefore, gently place the dahlia tubers in the hole.
8. Placing the Tubers in the Hole – plant dahlias with the cut stem facing upwards
Dahlia tubers have a top and bottom. You should plant dahlias with the cut stem facing upwards. The new stem of your dahlia will grow upwards from that side as well. If you don't do this, your dahlia will have to work harder to grow upwards, which ultimately won't benefit its blooming.
TIP: When you've dug a hole to plant your dahlias, make it lightly moist.
9. Watering – give your dahlias sufficient water after planting
These plants do enjoy a drink... Give your tubers sufficient water after planting until the soil is moist. Also, ensure there is no dry soil visible.
TIP 1: When you say ‘moist’ in this case, you can think of about a cup of water per dahlia tuber.
TIP 2: The best way to plant and care for dahlias is with rainwater. You can also consider using natural water, such as water from the ditch or canal. Your dahlias will be happier with this! Tap water is often too ‘’hard’’ because it contains calcium and minerals (just look at the white residue on the soil of your indoor plants). However, don't worry, tap water is still fine to use.
10. Extra tips to make planting dahlias more enjoyable and easier
You may plant dahlias at a depth of approximately 5 cm. Try not to deviate from this depth.
TIP 1: If there are (many) mice or other small animals in your garden, don't worry. You can still plant your dahlias and then cover them with mesh.
TIP 2: Slugs love dahlias. Planting dahlias without slugs requires some effort. Be aware that if there are slugs, you'll probably have to remove them by hand. So, planting dahlias requires your attention if you want to do it sustainably without using chemicals… To take preventive action, you can sprinkle coffee grounds or crushed, fine eggshells or shells around each plant. This makes it more difficult for slugs to reach them, and importantly, you're being sustainable. If you choose to do this, don't be too generous with the sprinkling.
If you saw planting dahlias as a complex task, then the growers and we hope we have dispelled those doubts. If you want to learn more, see the articles at the bottom of this page.
Meet Peter
Meet the dahlia grower who accompanies you on your journey from bulb to flower.
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