Dahlia Storage and growing How To's

 

How to Grow Your Dahlia Tuber

So glad you’re growing dahlias with us! Here’s everything you need to know to get your tuber safely from unboxing to garden bloom.

1. Storing Your Dahlia Tuber

Dahlias are very sensitive to frost, so if you’re not ready to plant straight away, keep your dahlia tuber cool, dry, with a little moisture so as not to dehydrate the tuber, and out of direct sunlight. A paper bag or open box in a dark spot like the garage works well. Avoid sealed containers—dahlias like a bit of airflow.

2. Checking Your Tuber in Storage

Every couple of weeks, give your tuber a gentle once-over:

  • If it looks wrinkled or dried out, remove it from the mixture, place the mixture which consists of peat moss, wood chipping (animal bedding from bunnings) and mushroom compost into a tub and spritz with water, just enough so when squeezed there are no drips but still feels damp, tuck the tuber back in to the mix to help retain a little moisture.
  • If you see any soft spots or mould, cut away affected areas with a clean knife (leave only firm, healthy tissue). If it’s severely soft, it may not sprout.

3. Prepping Your Site or Pot

Dahlias love sun—choose a spot that gets at least 10 hours a day.
For garden beds: loosen the soil, making sure it drains well (heavy clay isn’t their friend).
For pots: pick something at least 30cm wide, fill with quality potting mix.
Add a handful of compost or slow-release fertiliser to get them started. Have a stake handy to support your plant as it grows. Dahlias are hungry and thirsty during their growing season.

4. Planting and Care

Plant your tuber horizontally about 10cm deep, with the eye (where shoots appear) facing up. Water lightly after planting—don’t soak.
Once shoots pop up, keep soil just moist, not soggy.
Pinch out growth tips at 30cm tall for bushier plants and more blooms.
Feed every few weeks with a gentle liquid fertiliser, and tie stems to a stake as they grow.
Keep an eye out for snails and slugs—young dahlias are tasty!

With a little love, your dahlia will take off from midsummer and just keep flowering through to frost.

Happy growing!
If you have any questions, reach out via website