Planting Dahlias & Begonias

Tips For Planting Dahlias

​

​Dahlias are an outstanding addition to your flower border. Blooming July through fall they make excellent cut flowers.

​

• Plant tubers mid-April - May when the soil is warm and danger of frost has passed.

   

• Choose a sunny location with well-drained soil. An area that receives at least 8 hours of direct sunlight is best.

• If you have heavier soil add in sand or steer manure to lighten and loosen soil texture.

• Protect from strong winds.

• Lay tubers horizontally 4-6” deep. Space tubers 12-24” apart, then cover with soil.

• Add Bone meal to the soil at planting time.

• Do not water tubers until they begin to sprout.

• Apply slug and snail bait to protect new shoots.

• Begin to feed Dahlias with a granular fertilizer high in phosphorous and potash one month after planting. These are the last 2 numbers in a fertilizer. Bulb Food (3-15-6) or Potato food (6-20-20) are excellent choices.  Repeat on a monthly basis.

• Stake tall varieties, keep plants well-watered during warm summer months.

• Remove spent blooms to encourage flowering.

• Lift tubers after frost has killed the leaves. Store tubers in a box, cover with peat or vermiculite and store in a cool, dark frost-free area.

Tips for Planting Begonia Tubers

Begonias are a wonderful addition to hanging baskets and planters alike. Tolerant of part-sun locations they brighten up a shady spot.

• Start Begonias in 4" peat pots filled halfway with starter soil mix

• Nestle the rounded end into the starter mix so that the bottom 1/2 of the tuber is covered in soil

• Water lightly around the tuber, avoiding the tuber itself

• Place pots in a tray and place on a heat mat or even on top of your fridge where it's warm

• Once the tubers have 2-3 leaves, cover the tuber with starter soil mix

• Start to fertilize with Superbloom once every two weeks

• Move sprouted tubers to a spot with bright indirect light

• Plants can be gradually acclimatized for outdoor around May long-weekend

• Once the plants are acclimated, just remove the rim of the peat pot and repot into the new container

• Begonias grow best in the morning sun and afternoon shade