Dahlias in Newton

Place tubers in trays with moist compost, eye-side up, and cover lightly. Keep at 15–20 °C in a bright spot indoors from 18th April - 2nd May. Water sparingly until shoots appear.

Once shoots are 5–10 cm tall, pot each tuber into individual containers with multi-purpose compost from 16th May - 23rd May. Grow on in a bright, frost-free place.

Gradually acclimatise plants to outdoor conditions over 10-14 days from 6th June - 13th June. Place outside during the day and bring in at night, avoiding frost.

Transplant into well-drained, fertile soil in full sun after frosts from 13th June - 27th June. 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 27th June - 4th July.

Water regularly to keep soil moist, especially in dry spells. Feed every 14 days with a high-potash fertiliser from 4th July to boost flowering. Stop feeding by 8th September.

Remove spent flowers weekly from 15th August 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 29th September - 13th October. Dry, label, and store in frost-free conditions in dry compost or sand over winter.