Dahlia Downham Royal

Care Dahlia

• As a dahlia is tender, plant your tubers in Spring and grow on in frost-free conditions or plant straight outside after risk of frost has passed. You can plant as late as the end of May (the saying in Holland is: tulips out, dahlias in).
• Can be grown in borders or containers in a sunny position
• Plant the tubers 20cm/8″ deep
• Space the tubers about 45cm/18″ apart
• Plant with the new shoots or ‘eyes’ facing upwards and just beneath the surface
• If in containers use a good size and a quality multipurpose compost
• Water-in after planting and keep moist while in the growing season
• To get a bushy plant initially remove some of the weedy shoots and leave about 5 of the strongest ones
• Depending on the varieties hight, staking from the start can be helpful as not to damage the tuber at a later stage
• Once in flower regular dead heading encourages new flower growth
• At the end of the growing season lift the dahlia tuber and store clean, and in dry frost free environment
• Dividing: tubers can be divided every few years to maintain plant health and vigor. This is typically done in the spring before planting, using a sharp knife to separate the tubers with viable eyes