Dahlias in Wootton

Place tubers in trays with moist compost, eye-side up, and cover lightly. Keep at 15–20 °C in a bright spot indoors from 19th December - 2nd January. Water sparingly until shoots appear.

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

Gradually acclimatise plants to outdoor conditions over 10-14 days from 6th February - 13th February. 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 February - 27th February. 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 February - 6th March.

Water regularly to keep soil moist, especially in dry spells. Feed every 14 days with a high-potash fertiliser from 15th November to boost flowering. Stop feeding by 6th March.

Remove spent flowers weekly from 22nd November 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 6th December - 20th December. Dry, label, and store in frost-free conditions in dry compost or sand over winter.