The stores are beginning to display boxes of imported dahlia clumps, and the local dahlia clubs will be holding tuber and plant sales. With each passing month more and more tubers and plants will be available at club sales. Check the
ADS listing for sales in your area. Right now, my soil is cold and soggy. Try not to walk on it. The soil temperature at 4” should be close to 60 degrees. Soil thermometers are inexpensive at garden shops, or you can “borrow” a kitchen thermometer. Be sure to clean them when you are finished!
While it is too soon to put tubers in soggy soil, you can pot them up temporarily in a small pot with potting mix. Once shoots begin to show, move the pots to a well-lit location. Dahlias feed from their tuber at this stage of growth. But a little sprinkle once a week will be helpful.
Make sure you keep a plant tag with each pot. Visitors will ask the names of attractive plants all summer. I also make a list of the dahlias that will become a map when I plant them out. Tags do disappear.
Dahlias are forgiving plants. They will grow in a variety of garden soils. It is useful to periodically take a soil sample and test the composition of your soil. A local Extension Service, lab, or garden center can help you with the testing and provide useful information for whatever you are growing.
If you intend to grow dahlias in containers, start the tubers or plants in a small pot and be prepared to move it to a larger one in a month or two. There are scads of information online about growing dahlias in a container. See some links below.
Think Spring!
Harry Rissetto
