My Dahlia Timeline

Last year I experimented with an April start for some Dahlias inside and others directly in the soil once reliable weather arrived in May.  I wanted to see if the extra effort of starting the tubers early would yield significant early blooms. ​

Here’s my timeline and results.

• April 16 – Potted the tubers that were stored overwinter under the stairwell wrapped in newspapers.  Overall they were in healthy conditions with a few sprouts emerging. 
• April 25-27 – All sprouts emerged after potting even one that was a bit sickly.
• Early May – Pinched off about 1/3 of the plant growth when about 12” tall to promote more stalks.
• May 18 – Planted in raised bed all except for one newly purchased tuber that went into the ground.  Soil temperature was 60°.   We had very warm weather last spring.
• May 26 – Newly purchased tubers sprouted that had been directly sown in raised bed
• May 26-29 – Very cool weather, covered all with a row cover to protect from cold air.  There was a freeze warning on 5/27, our temp was a low of 36.
• May 30- Tuber planted in ground (not raised bed) sprouted

 
Now waiting to see if these different methods yield flowers at different times.  That, after all was the whole point of this experiment.

• June 28 - Buds on 2 of 4 tubers started in April.
• June 29 – First blooms (three of them!) cut for the vase.
• July 20 – All 4 of the plants started in April are producing blooms.  No buds yet on the rest that were directly planted in either the raised beds or ground.
• July 25 – Buds on 4 planted in raised bed.
• July 30 – All plants except one are producing blooms.   That one never did bloom and I did not overwinter it for 2022 planting. 

Conclusion:  Yes, the Dahlias that were started in April inside produced blooms almost a full month before those directly planted later.  They continued to produce blooms until frost ended their season.   I conclude it is worth the effort to start these inside ahead of the season. 

My Dahlia Collection

This PDF file outlines the Dahlias that I grow along with growing notes.
​
A wonderful resource for growing Dahlias:  Discovering Dahlias by Erin Benzakein