How to Grow Dinner Plate Dahlias

Magnificent dinner plate dahlias command respect in any summer garden. These gargantuan blooms are available in a remarkable variety of colors and shapes. If planted correctly, dahlia flowers can achieve sizes up to 14 inches in diameter.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Organic Compost
• Twist Ties
• clippers
• fertilizer 22-14-14, 0-10-10, 15-30-15
• plant stakes

1. Select tubers from champion plants with large flowers. Tubers can be purchased bare root in the spring. Dahlias should never go into the ground until the soil has warmed to 60 degrees F. In some regions, that may be as late as May or June.
2. Dig a planting hole twice as deep as the length of the dahlia tuber. Add a tablespoon of Superphosphate fertilizer to each planting hole. The fertilizer will provide the nutrients necessary to develop root growth. If you are planting more than one, plant tubers 36 inches apart.
3. Place the tuber in the bottom of the hole and fill in the soil only to the top of the stem. The hole should remain partially filled with just the top of the stem sticking up until you begin to see growth.åÊ
4. Fill in the hole gradually to cover the new growth as the tuber begins to grow. Covering the stem inch by inch as it grows causes the stem to grow strong so that it will support the flowers.
5. Begin watering when the plants are actively growing above-ground. Water deeply to encourage strong roots.
6. Water regularly. The soil should never dry out below a depth of 2 inches. Fast draining soil is the key to success with dahlias.
7. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer mixed at 1/2 strength every two weeks once the foliage emerges from the soil. 22-14-14 is a good choice to get the plants off to a strong start.
8. Switch to a bloom-inducing fertilizer (0-10-10 or 15-30-15) when the plants have reached blooming size - after about 6 weeks.
9. Use sharp, clean clippers to remove all but one bud from each stem to encourage large blooms. Side branches should be removed so that only one flower will grow on each stem.
10. Stake top heavy stems to prevent toppling. Use recycled twist ties to secure the stems to the stake.

Tips & Warnings

• Dahlias make excellent cut flowers - plant plenty!
• Fertilizing is very important for growing show quality flowers. Keep a calendar of your fertilizing schedule.
• Look for dinner plate dahlias online or in specialty nurseries.
• Tomato cages are another good way to keep dahlias from toppling. Install the cages when the plant is young to allow it to grow into the cage.
• Growing for size means that your plants will produce fewer flowers.
• Never allow plants to dry out between watering.
• Dahlia tubers must be dug from the ground and stored in areas where the soil freezes in the winter.

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