Hello all I’m after some advice on growing dahlias in pots. I’ve never grown them before and was wondering what size pot to use and how many tubers to plant per pot? Any advice gratefully received. Thanks 😊
Well it all depends on the ultimate size of the dahlia. I grow some about 90 cm tall in glazed pots about 35cm wide one dahlia fills the pot and takes lots of watering. Even smaller height dahlias are about 30 cm wide. Hope this helps.
Hello Lucy, Bilge here. Yes one large dahlia in a large pot, those tubers are big as I've had them years, . I plant mine with about 20cm /4" of soil over the tuber in early March, pot against a house wall or fence for a bit of protection. I'm inNE England. Once through keep an eye onweather and cover if frost protection needed. I add slow release fertiliser to a mix of Multi Purpose and John Ines 2 compost and feed with liquid tomato fertiliser from July. If the tubers are small i.e. newly purchased pot them in a smaller pot and pot on, when I do that I protect them in a cold frame,or even the bedroom window sill but don't tell anyone.
One dahlia tuber per pot here too. The pots are approx 20 - 30 cm wide at the top by 30 cm tall. I say a tuber and they usually come as a collection of tubers growing together. Very tall Dahlias are better in a flower bed where they can be staked and other tall surrounding plants will help to shelter them in strong winds.
Pots worked well for me last year. Bought a load of large terracotta ones, spent a fortune but then you can use them for mass tulip displays in the spring. Having fairly large pots does lift a garden as well IMO. I went (and will always go with) one per pot-
Do you start yours off in smaller pots in the coming weeks? I did that last year but will need to be mindful not to overwater, managed to lose a few tubers that turned to mush.
Think I'll pot them up this year and only start watering once there are clear signs of growth.
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If the tubers are small i.e. newly purchased pot them in a smaller pot and pot on, when I do that I protect them in a cold frame,or even the bedroom window sill but don't tell anyone.
Do you start yours off in smaller pots in the coming weeks? I did that last year but will need to be mindful not to overwater, managed to lose a few tubers that turned to mush.
Think I'll pot them up this year and only start watering once there are clear signs of growth.