Growing Dahlias from Tubers

Dahlias are a lot of fun to grow! I'll start with the most straightforward method of planting and then go into some alternate methods that take more time and planning but can yield even better results depending on your situation. 

Dahlia Tubers can be planted in the garden when the ground is around 60°F (if you have lilac bushes, some people say that the ground is warm enough to plant the tubers when the lilacs bloom). The soil should be well draining and moist but not wet. Dig a hole 4 to 6 inches deep. At some point you may want to get a soil test done to determine exactly how to optimize your soil nutrients, but until then you can put about a tablespoon of bulb food in the hole and mix into the bottom later of dirt before you put in the tuber. Lay the tuber in the hole horizontally. If the tuber does not yet have any leafy growth and if your soil is not too heavy you can fill the hole up with the soil. If you have heavy clay soil or if there is already leafy growth you will probably want to cover with a shallow layer of soil first (just barely covering the leafy growth) and then add more when the plant grows above the surface of the surrounding soil. Some people will say not to water until the plant emerges above the surface, but that depends on your conditions. If your soil is extremely well draining (such as sand) or if you live in a very dry climate, you may need to water once or twice. You just don't want the tuber to be sitting in wet soil, because that could make it more prone to rot, particularly before it has good root growth. Timing of the growth can vary depending on the variety and growing conditions, but you will often see growth emerging in around two weeks.

(Article still in progress; should be more details soon)