Dahlias in Penifiler

Place tubers in trays with moist compost, eye-side up, and cover lightly. Keep at 15–20 °C in a bright spot indoors from 24th March - 7th April. Water sparingly until shoots appear.

Once shoots are 5–10 cm tall, pot each tuber into individual containers with multi-purpose compost from 21st April - 28th April. Grow on in a bright, frost-free place.

Gradually acclimatise plants to outdoor conditions over 10-14 days from 12th May - 19th May. 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 May - 2nd 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 2nd June - 9th June.

Water regularly to keep soil moist, especially in dry spells. Feed every 14 days with a high-potash fertiliser from 9th June to boost flowering. Stop feeding by 15th October.

Remove spent flowers weekly from 21st July 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 5th November - 19th November. Dry, label, and store in frost-free conditions in dry compost or sand over winter.