Calhoun County, AL – You cannot neglect a dahlia; she is a diva, and will not perform if neglected. If the dahlia neck breaks off the tuber you lose the eye/eyes, which keeps the tuber from producing stems. The body is the battery energy of the tuber (see photo). The body batteries store nutrients so the tuber can grow to 5-6 foot tall in some species. DO NOT water the tuber when you plant the tuber, wait until the tuber grows a small 1-2 inch stem to start watering. The body batteries store water/nutrients. Do not plant a tuber during a rainy week. Plant tubers when you plant tomatoes. If you water too early the tuber will rot in the ground before it produces stems to become plants. Large plants can require 2 gallons daily of water. Each plant produces 2-5 blooms weekly. Spray Neem oil weekly to control mildew. Dahlia have a four-month growing season, and plants need to be tied or staked. At 12 inches high, cut/prune the top two leaves and leave 3 sets of leaves, which creates strong stems and double blooms).
Betty Clark is a contributing writer. She is an organic gardener since 1998. Signature flower she grows are Dahlias. She has a straw bale garden, raised bed garden, and in ground garden. Both her surnames are agricultural farming families (8 generations). Her hobbies includeancestry research, antiques, continued education classes, and workshops. She also has a background in marketing & promotions including expos.
