Plant your Dahlia tubers during the spring in flower pots, planters or along a border. Dahlias are sensitive to frost, so plant them after the frost period. A good time to plant your Dahlias in the ground would be between late April and mid-May. Prepare a suitable hole in the ground and fill with loose fertile soil. Plant the tubers carefully into the hole spaced about 30 cm from each other, cover them with 3-5 cm of soil. Press the soil gently and water immediately. Dahlias will bloom best in complete sunshine.

Large-Flowered Dahlia 'Blue Bell' is great for the border

Dahlia 'Blue Bell' is a favourite plant for several gardeners. Its purple-blue flowers are real eye-catchers in the border. You can combine them with beautiful Gladiolus Callianthus 'Murielae' and Phlox 'White Admiral'.

Fertilize your Dahlias on a monthly basis throughout the flowering period until the first frost. Deadhead the faded flowers to prolong the flowering period. Prevent the soil from drying out during dry periods. This dahlia is quite tall, as a result, it is sometimes necessary to provide a support for its flower stems.

Overwintering dahlias

Dahlia tubers can easily be overwintered. If you want to do this, dig up the plants after the first night frost. Then cut all stems off 15 cm above the tuber. Attach a label with the name of the dahlia to remind yourself for the next year. Shake the soil from the dahlia tubers and place in a box with peat dust or sharp sand. Store the dahlia tubers in a frost free area such as a garden shed or greenhouse. Next spring you can plant the dahlia tubers again and they will reward you with their wonderful flowers!

If you want your plants to flower earlier you can 'withdraw' them. Place them in a shallow tray in moist compost at 15-20˚ C during the month of April. When shoots begin to appear, plant them in potting compost. By the beginning of May, they will get used to the outdoor temperature and you can plant them from mid-May onwards in either your garden or in a pot.