How to plant and grow dahlia bulbs in your garden

Posted on December 19, 2017 at 7:12 am

There are a number of people who love planting dahlia in their garden and we’re going to run through the process for you. Before getting started you need to keep in mind that these plants are very much similar to tomatoes, roses or even hosta plants. So to grow them in your garden, you may need professional assistance and practice.

Bulbs or tubers

Bulbs are also the roots or tubers of dahlia. They can easily be identified as they look very similar to carrots that are brown in color. Thee tubers have sprouts named ‘eyes’.

Preparing the soil

Before you can plant dahlia bulbs, you need to remember that the soil should be rich in nutrients. The fibrous roots also need a lot of nutrients so you have to allow them with sufficient space to grow.

When digging hole always ensure it is deep enough for the root to grow to its full volume. You can add small mount of compost fertiliser and other organic manure or waste.

Planting and spacing

The moment you want to plant dahlia tubers, you have to ensure that you leave sufficient space in between two tubers. The plant needs sufficient space to grow and spread its branches. This is one factor that you need to consider even before you start planting.

If you have to plant dahlia tubers then you can also approach a professional gardener and follow his instructions. When planting also ensure that bulbs are always facing downwards and are organised in bunches. The soil has to be moist and rich in nutrients like compost.

Staking

Staking is also very much important when planting and grow dahlia bulbs. You need to understand that the stem is little brittle and can easily be damaged by rain or bad weather conditions. This means that you should try and plant at least two or three tubers together. You should also ensure that the stem is well supported the moment it starts growing.

Not many people know this, but dahlias were originally grown as a food crop, so they have edible tubers. That said, they also belong to the Asteraceae (Aster) family along with daisies and sunflowers. According to some online sources, they were first notes as growing in the wild by 16th-century Spanish botanists. The paintings and illustrations suggest that native civilisations had been cultivating and breeding them much earlier, so we can’t be too specific on a timeframe. What we do know is they’ve now been loved by many generations throughout Europe and we’re blessed to be able to grow such a fine plant here in the UK. Just make sure you put in the work to give them the best chance of flourishing. It’s said that some cultivars have flowers that reach beyond dinner plate size at 35cm across, so that just goes to show what can be achieved here in the UK, but you will of course have to take care of them and combat the poor weather conditions.

Posted in Gardening