Dahlias in Penhale

Place tubers in trays with moist compost, eye-side up, and cover lightly. Keep at 15–20 °C in a bright spot indoors from 2nd March - 16th March. Water sparingly until shoots appear.

Once shoots are 5–10 cm tall, pot each tuber into individual containers with multi-purpose compost from 30th March - 6th April. Grow on in a bright, frost-free place.

Gradually acclimatise plants to outdoor conditions over 10-14 days from 20th April - 27th 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 27th April - 11th 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 11th May - 18th May.

Water regularly to keep soil moist, especially in dry spells. Feed every 14 days with a high-potash fertiliser from 18th May to boost flowering. Stop feeding by 3rd November.

Remove spent flowers weekly from 29th 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 24th November - 8th December. Dry, label, and store in frost-free conditions in dry compost or sand over winter.