From tiny seed to extravagant flourish: join self-confessed flower-lover, Alana Trottman, as she discovers the very real joy of growing dahlias.
A garden full of flowers is where you’ll find me, bringing armfuls of blooms into the garden centre. I’m influenced by any plant that can be put in a vase.
However, perhaps strangely, I hadn’t given much thought to growing dahlias.
That was until recently when I met and became friends with some local dahlia growers … the flower was continually coming up in conversations and I felt I was missing something.
I have to admit, I didn’t understand the obsession they had with these flowers, so I decided to give them another go, paying particular attention to their growing requirements – which I had not really considered previously.
This time, I wanted to grow more than I ever had before, so I had set aside a large patch for them in my garden.
I purchased a dozen or so tubers and a large amount of quality seed from our local flower growers.
Dahlia tubers are identical to the parent plant – the same as if you take a cutting, unlike the seed.
Incredibly, not one seed is the same due to the complexity of the plant’s genetics because they have more chromosomes than other varieties of flowers.
And so growing from seed can provide endless varieties. Seeds are also inexpensive compared with tubers, so I felt this was a good place to start without incurring much financial cost.
The seed did not take long to sprout undercover in a warm, well-lit environment (I was using a heat mat).
Before long, when the soil temperatures were warm enough outside, I was planting out a large patch that I had cleared of weeds.
The spot I picked was one next to our old wooden shed, where it had plenty of sun, but was protected from our strong northerly winds. It was the perfect spot.
In order to plant out, a fertile soil with lots of organic matter and good drainage is needed. So, I dug the soil, over-mixing quality compost with aged cow manure and blood and bone.
I watered in a fish emulsion and later fertilised with slow-release Sudden Impact for Roses, because this is high in potassium and phosphorous.
Dahlias need little to no water until you see the shoots above the ground, and after that they require a continuous supply to keep the soil just-moist, and this will vary depending on the weather.
When the shoots reach approximately 20 to 30 centimetres, you can begin to pinch or snip out the centre, which will result in bushier plants with more flower stems.
Mulching will help during the summer heat and knocking in a few stakes will save you from the sight of a beautiful dahlia toppled over from a strong
wind or broken by the weight of its giant impressive flowers.
I had a total of 54 dahlias planted, and I found my walks down to the dahlia patch very exciting – I had new surprises each time.
Week to week I was continually in awe of these amazing flowers. I had been captivated by their beauty and their ability to keep producing an abundance of flowers from summer through to autumn.
In fact, in all the cut flowers I have grown, these were the most hardworking and rewarding, and I now appreciate why all the flower farmers and florists love them so much.
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There is such diversity in the vast range of colours, shapes and sizes that I would not know where to begin in describing them all.
You can be sure to find a favourite with many named cultivars for sale as tubers at the start of the growing season.
Personally, I love growing from seed, the anticipation of the different flower varieties provides an endless surprise.
The dahlia is so versatile, it can be the centre of attention in the summer flower garden while also providing a large volume of blooms for the flower farmer. Rising above other flowers and swaying in the breeze on long, strong stems, it can be hard to resist the urge to pick just one.
You can’t go wrong with arranging a bunch of dahlias together in a vase, knowing that picking them will encourage the plants to produce more flowers.
Originating from Mexico, and now all over the world with more and more cultivars, they have become immensely popular. D
ahlias blend in beautifully with many garden styles and complement other flowers. Also, their added benefit is planting them in the vegetable garden; dahlias attract bees and are entirely edible.
The healthier the tubers and plants, the less susceptible to pests and diseases, but always buy from a reputable dahlia grower or nursery to ensure quality plants.
If snails and slugs are in large numbers, avoid mulches for them to hide in, as you can plant closer together to create a canopy to shade the ground to keep in moisture.
I recommend applying some protection against snails and slugs because they love to munch on the fresh new shoots. If using pellets, the iron-based ones are the safest option for children, pets and wildlife.
Alana Trottman has become a devotee of the dahlia flower and now grows hundreds of flowers in her garden. She says the dahlia plant is incredible in that as they flourish above the ground, they are also flourishing underneath, multiplying their tubers.
The “dahlia show” will come to an end when the days grow short when the cold sets in and the foliage dies down. If your winters are very cold, then you should lift your tubers and store them over the icy months in a cool, dry area.
Where winters are mild you can leave them in the ground.
Because dahlias grow rapidly, I advise digging the tubers up and splitting at least by half – if not more – by the start of the growing season because they will perform better and be less prone to rot, while the flower quality will also be improved.
Another of the many reasons these plants are incredible is that they not only flourish above-the-ground but below as well, giving you more of the beauties to grow and share, passing on to others – giving someone else an opportunity to fall in love with the dahlia.
This article first appeared in the Autumn 2024 issue of SALIFE Gardens & Outdoor Living magazine.
