Dahlia Growing Tips, Expectations and Policies

Thank you for purchasing dahlia tubers from Lou Girls Flower Co. We are so excited to see these beauties bloom in your garden! Here are some tips to ensure you get some beautiful blooms:

When your tubers arrive:

Inspect each one to make sure nothing was damaged in shipping. I have inspected all tubers multiple times for eyes, remember some are the most dormant when they arrive because the have been stored all winter. If you think you got a tuber without an eye please reach out within 10 days and I will do my best to replace it or refund you. Tubers come in all shapes and sizes, but they all will make a beautiful strong plant. 

Storage:

Dahlias like to be stored between 40 and 50 degrees. Do not let them get to a freezing temp. They need a dark and dry space. You can keep them in the storage medium as you received them and place them in a cardboard box to get them into the dark. If the eye starts to make a shoot and it breaks off, don’t worry another will grow in its place!

When to plant your tubers:

You can start to plant your tubers after the risk of frost is gone, (for me this is the end of April or the beginning of May). You can look up the last frost date for the year before in your area to get an idea of this timing.

Where to plant your tubers:

Dahlias will do best in fertile soil that has good drainage and a minimum of 8 hours of sun per day. They love compost and when I plant mine, I dig a hole 6” deep and a minimum of 12” apart. Once the hole is dug, I sprinkle in a little bone meal in the bottom of the hole and lay the tuber down on its side. Make sure that the eye is facing up! Taking note of where the eye is, this is also a good time to add a tall stake for support, this way ensuring that you aren’t putting the stake into the tuber. Cover the tuber with the compost and dirt and patiently wait for a sprout. Remember some grow faster and bigger then others. Do not water until you see a sprout!

Dahlia care:

Begin watering once the first green shoots break through the soil. Once the dahlia has three sets of leaves, usually about a foot tall, you will want to pinch it. This means cutting the center stalk right above the top set of leaves. It can be scary, but it will help promote more branches, longer stems and more blooms! Once dahlias are larger, I increase my watering to daily or every other day, in the morning is best for about 30-60 minutes depending on the weather.  Slugs love dahlias, especially when they are baby plants. There are many ways to battle the slugs, sluggo is a great and there are some other options as well.

Time to harvest! The best time is to harvest in the morning when the buds are almost fully open. Place them in cold water, you can cut 1/4” off the bottom of each stem and replace the water every couple of days for a longer vase life.

Thank you so much for supporting my dream and my family, it means the world! I would love to see pictures of your blooms! Tag me on instagram @meaghan_lougirlsflowerco