Dahlia Basics: The Bungalow Blooms tuber collection launches January 1 - learn what a tuber is, and how to plant it for spring and fall blooms in 2025!
DECEMBER 17, 2024
01. Tubers 101
Dahlias grow from tubers that come in all shapes and sizes, they oftentimes look like elongated potatoes.
You can plant a single tuber or a tuber “clump” - several tubers attached.
In order to create a sprout a tuber must have an “eye” - a growth point that develops into a sprout.
02. Planting Details
Once you have your tubers, planting is quite simple - dig a hole big enough for the tuber or clump. The tuber eye should be 3-4" below the surface and facing towards the sky, so ensure your hole is both wide and deep enough. Your tuber may be laying on its side to position the eye correctly. However, if you can't identify the eye, the tuber will send its sprout towards light and warmth!
Tubers can grow in lots of circumstances - well amended native soil, raised beds, and even large pots!
There will be a mini course about growing dahlias in Houston launching in February, click below if you'd like to be on the waitlist!
03. Timing, Spacing, and Other Notes
Timing, Spacing, and More
Outside of well draining soil, planting at the correct time is the secret to success.
In Houston, we plant from mid-February through early March. No matter where you are, you want all chances of frost to be past and the soil to have warmed slightly.
These tubers will grow large plants - give them a minimum of 12-18" between plants.
Additionally, make sure you have a support plan in place - cages, twine, or netting are all options. Considering these plants will grow to be three to five feet tall, placing support early in the growth cycle is important.
Finally, pinching out the growth tip, when the plant is 12" tall will encourage branching, giving your more blooms and a more manageable stem size.
04. Bloom Cycle
Spring planted tubers should bloom in May and June, but will go dormant in the heat of summer.
A late summer pruning will encourage the plant to put on fresh growth in the fall.
Fall is also another planting window for dahlias - whether tubers, cuttings, or started from seed indoors.
The Cut Flower Confidence Calendar goes live this weekend, and the waitlist miiiiiight be getting a discount.
I'm SO excited to get dahlia tubers into the hands of Houston gardeners this February - I've struggled to find tubers in time for an early spring planting for years and solving that problem for flower lovers like myself is thrilling!
I hope you'll shop the collection, or take something away from this email that brings you success growing flowers this upcoming year!
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