Dahlias in Garlinge

Place tubers in trays with moist compost, eye-side up, and cover lightly. Keep at 15–20 °C in a bright spot indoors from 22nd February - 8th March. Water sparingly until shoots appear.

Once shoots are 5–10 cm tall, pot each tuber into individual containers with multi-purpose compost from 22nd March - 29th March. Grow on in a bright, frost-free place.

Gradually acclimatise plants to outdoor conditions over 10-14 days from 12th April - 19th April. Place outside during the day and bring in at night, avoiding frost.

Transplant into well-drained, fertile soil in full sun after frosts from 19th April - 3rd May. Space plants 60 apart and water in well. Use fleece if cold nights are forecast.

Insert stakes at planting to support tall stems. Pinch out the growing tip when plants reach 30–40 cm to encourage bushiness from 3rd May - 10th May.

Water regularly to keep soil moist, especially in dry spells. Feed every 14 days with a high-potash fertiliser from 10th May to boost flowering. Stop feeding by 6th November.

Remove spent flowers weekly from 21st June to encourage continuous blooms. Cut back to a leaf joint to promote new buds.

After the first frost blackens foliage, cut stems back and carefully lift tubers from 27th November - 11th December. Dry, label, and store in frost-free conditions in dry compost or sand over winter.