How To Plant Dahlia Bulbs
All the dahlia bulbs lined up ready to plant
When I first ordered some dahlia bulbs on a whim from someone off Instagram (back in 2016) I was kind of shocked when they arrived. It looked like a little potato! I had absolutely no idea what to do or how to plant the dahlia bulb, let alone any details about how long it would take to grow. If I’m honest, I’m not even sure back then I knew what dahlia flowers looked like!
For that reason, and for the newbies like me back in the day, I’ve included 5 very simple tips below about how to plant them that I wish I had known when I received my very first bulbs (or tubers as I also call them). And if you are looking for where to buy these, there are lots of incredible sellers across Australia. I’ve put about 50 of them into a list below!
Some of the dahlia bulbs being planted by my brother Fergus in his Sydney courtyard (left) and some of the tubers/bulbs from my own garden in Brisbane (above right)
How To Plant Dahlia Bulbs | 5 Tips
Plant them anytime from September to December in Australia
Plant them sideways (not vertically) and then cover with dirt
Plant 1 dahlia bulb per pot or 30cm apart in the garden
Plant them with a stake next to them, as they grow over metre high and will need support
If there is a white/red growth starting to develop from the bulb, plant this facing up towards the sky
If you want more info, you might like my Dahlias For Beginners e-guide or my Dahlia For Beginners online workshop.
Dahlia bulbs: where it started
Dahlia flowers: where it ended up - my flowers in my Brisbane backyard
Looking for more information? Check out my take on Dahlia Tubers: A Splitting And Storing Guide or 5 Beautiful Dahlia Books To Read Now.
