Growing guides
Written once, kept current, timed to the dahlia calendar. Each guide cites its sources, and we name no farm negatively, ever.
How to Grow Dahlias from Seed
Why grow dahlias from seed: every seedling is a brand-new variety. How to sow, germinate, and save seed, and why named varieties never come true from seed.
The Dahlia Care Calendar: A Month-by-Month Guide
A month-by-month dahlia calendar, from ordering tubers in winter to lifting and storing after frost. The whole season at a glance, adaptable by zone.
How to Cut Dahlias for the Vase
Dahlias do not open more after cutting, so harvest stage is everything. When to cut, time of day, conditioning, and how to extend a short vase life.
Dahlia Pests and Problems: A Field Guide
The honest field guide to dahlia pests: earwigs, slugs, aphids, thrips, mildew, and tuber rot, plus the organic and conventional controls that work.
How to Plant Dahlia Tubers
When to plant dahlia tubers by soil temperature, how deep, how far apart, whether to sprout indoors, and why you should hold off on watering at planting.
Dahlia Tubers vs. Rooted Cuttings: What to Buy
What you get with a dahlia tuber versus a rooted cutting, why farms sell cuttings, first-season performance, and which suits beginners best.
How to Pinch and Stake Dahlias
Pinch dahlias at 8 to 12 inches for more blooms, then stake or net them so the stems stay upright. Plus disbudding for bigger flowers.
Dahlia Viruses: What "Virus-Free" Really Means
Dahlia viruses are common, even in healthy-looking plants. What the science says, how they spread, and why 'virus-free' really means 'virus-tested.'
How to Divide Dahlia Tubers
Learn dahlia tuber anatomy, when to divide in fall or spring, how to find viable eyes, and how to make clean cuts that callus and store well.
How to Store Dahlia Tubers Over Winter
Dig, cure, and store dahlia tubers through winter. Storage media, temperature and humidity targets, the plastic wrap method, and monthly checks.