Master Growing Dahlias Like a PRO!

[@cafefay]

I have grown dahlias for years and I use upsidedown tomato cages for support. You cut off the legs of the cage and bend them in half making a hook. Place the large top of the cage on the soil surface then push the wire hooks into the soil to keep them in place. It works great and keeps the plant growing upright.

[@dison4190]

Great idea. Thanks.

[@timgora9116]

Going on my 8th year in the garden now! Feels like I just discovered Luke’s channel yesterday!!

[@MIgardener]

Aweee, thank you!!!

[@GardenKatt]

Theew some old potting soil into my swwet potato bed. Just saw yesterday something growing. Yes my dahlia i have been looking for. Its raining too hard to mess with it today but now I am going to have to carefully dig them out to replant somewhere else. Extra work for me.

[@dragonwort]

This just popped up and I laughed immediately. I planted them last night 😢 I needed this yesterday

[@igleamingrace]

Lol

[@bethkaverman1159]

Yes, I would love to see deep watering for all plants. Thank you for all of your information.

[@campinggrandma5571]

Me too!

[@75Bigsistr]

Dahlias are my favorite, too!!! I planted some last week, so beautiful!

[@Mccarthykatie9]

I got so many from my local nursery the other day. Went absolutely wild. I’m so excited

[@Angie-ci1lp]

Me too!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽❤️

[@sarabp6426]

Yes, I would like to hear more about deep watering. I’m always tinkering with my water schedule with drip irrigation. Please do a video on watering ! Thanks!

[@EdensApple80]

Zone 6B here, I pre sprout my dahlias inside in April or plant the tubers outside the First week of June. I prefer the soil temperature to be warm enough to get started (mid 60s). cold and wet for me can cause rotting; especially since they need deep watering.

[@barbarahasenauer2630]

How do you pre sprout your dahlias? I'm also 6b

[@victoriafren4832]

@@barbarahasenauer2630 pot them up with a little bit of soil and wait for them to sprout.When they sprout, they then need exposure to sunlight to continue their growth. I bring my pots then outside daily to expose them to sunlight until I know that my soil is at least 60 degrees and safe to plant them.

[@Avram1919]

Thank you soo much for all your videos Luke. My first garden is doing amazing.

[@undertheblood31]

Congratulations!!! Being a gardener is wonderful!

[@atimnile2401]

@@undertheblood31; I. Agree 😀😀; All Gardeners are often delighted @ the first sight of Spring !!! It’s so satisfying to grow your own Veggies & beautiful flowers !!! & The luckiest gardeners are those that have warm temperate weather throughout the Year💯💯!!!

[@miggy7165]

Could you do a video on how to grow a cutting garden? It would be nice to be able to grow my own flowers throughout the spring, summer and fall that I can cut and put in vases. If you've done such a video previously, could you post the link? Thanks!

[@albanymountainhomestead]

You can follow flower farmers since I don't think Luke is planning to run a flower farm

[@marysalholm2276]

Yes to deep watering tutorials. Also interested in what type of irrigation nozzles you prefer for various plants.

[@Angie-ci1lp]

I just purchased 4 more packages of dahlias! Happy dance😆😆😆😆

[@yoruichi8907]

Thanks for the continued wealth of information!

[@fizzypop1858]

Perfect timing on this video, Luke. I have dahlias that I've been putting off planting out of fear of doing it wrong. This video has given me exactly the information I need to get those things planted, today! Thank you so much for all you do to teach us how to grow big!

[@jackiehorsley9263]

Luke I love growing Dahlias I grow them every summer I well keep your tips In mind

[@shandysgarden]

Yes! Please have a video on irrigation for beginners. There's so many options out there you never know what to start with. I personally need it broken down by best methods for different sizes of yard. I've got about 1/8 of an acre backyard. And I'm experimenting with all the different growing methods. I love hand-watering but I do have two raised beds where I would like to try my hand at drip tubing or drip tape or soaker hose. And fortunately I have to have a hose right there next to those beds because those were my first beds. The further away I am from my water source the different my watering method May be, etc. I usually use regular city water but it doesn't have any chlorine in it as far as on the test strips you can buy for testing pool water anyway, but I also have buckets of rain water around the garden that I use currently. I put kitchen scraps in those buckets so as those plants break down I'm taking the nutrients from those plants to fertilize. I also have rabbit poo from my indoor pet bunny. So I just do so many things with my water that I don't know what kind of automated watering system would even fit into my original but I want to try something! My waiting room is my classroom right now😊 And by the way I hope to see you at this year's HOA conference in Virginia in October! This is the first time I've had the chance to go and I hope to be lugging everybody's books around so they can be signed😂

[@lorriplatt6864]

Yes, I would appreciate a video on watering. I live in CA zone 9b and run drip to everything. I would love tips on ways to run the same main drip line and timer to plants with different watering needs. Thanks for all you wonderful info!

[@maritzacruzplantingwithsalsa]

Finally someone who broke it down with so much information I now got what I needed that took me many videos to find you so thank you. I have tried so many videos just to answer my watering question on my Dahlias. I could not believe no one would just answer that question to its completeness as you did. Thank you so much!!

[@trishthehomesteader9873]

Thanks Luke! Blessings!💜

[@amitamodzelewski3425]

I wish there was more information and resources about growing native perennials here in michigan.

[@mancal5829]

I love dahlias!

[@susanhenley8240]

We have drip irrigation for all our flower pots, so yes, please, would like a video on that topic. Now I'm going to go back outside and plant the dahlia tubers I saved last year 😊

[@igleamingrace]

Good idea lol

[@kittiew260]

Great video, Luke. I have my Dahlia pre-sprouting inside to get earlier blooms. Starting a lot more cut flowers thanks to Nicole at Flower Hill farm. Would love to see a collaboration with you guys!

[@MIgardener]

That would be cool! I love her channel.

[@eddieslittlestack7919]

You can also grow from seed. I’m not saying they’ll be the same exact plant but you CAN grow from seed. I’ve got 8 right now in 2” pots I started from seed.

[@jov1900]

I have a bunch from seed as well! Im excited to see them grow this season.

[@igleamingrace]

I’m growing gladiolus this year, but I also want to try tulips. So maybe next year I’ll try tulips & dahlias.

[@markm1514]

I'm trying dahlias for the first time this year from seed, red skin mix from baker creek

[@erwinroodt1245]

Thanks for a very informative video.

[@citrusowldesign]

First time growing dahlias in a planter box!!! 🎉 I'd like to have flowers while the dahlias are growing. Are there any companion annuals that work well? I'm in zone 5, planter box is in full sun. Thanks!

[@Thorn99855]

Dahlias are a favorite of mine. I can just get lost looking into one. They seem to exude their own light. And, I have found (at least for me, I know this runs against what everyone says) that when I take good care of them and they are situated in an open space not next to or under anything, that they make stems so thick they don't require staking. I am talking stems as big around as a walking stick or a jam jar for the tall varieties. It's wild. The only thing that can bring them down at that point (not including a physical menace like a dog or an axe) is a storm with high winds.

[@irisveronicamooney7118]

When you plant, do you leave the little nub in the top exposed?

[@bylakali3255]

Yes I would love the deep watering info! Do you water with a hose/watering can? I have a lot of tubers and want to do right by them!

[@kevinfelisberto4204]

Lol! Hey! My wife love Dahlia's so I put the vid on pause to wait for her. When she came in the room she said, "Hey! He looks like the Ken doll with glasses on! 🙂👍 Then she said maybe even Clark Kent! All I could think was, "Man! He's definitely had at least 1 extra cup of cofee! Lol Great vid! Love your channel... I've learned a lot last cpl yrs from you. Thanks!

[@MIgardener]

I can't drink coffee lol. For obvious reasons!

[@kevinfelisberto4204]

@@MIgardener Wow! Ok then. Sure wish I was that peppy in the morning.

[@willgranbery3594]

Should dahlias be pruned early in the season before budding to promote more branches and ultimately more flowers?

[@joshuasukhdeo2498]

Flowers are the best

[@kranlaymen8829]

I am in southern canada and we get a frost til end of may but we plant bulbs in jan to may!

[@robertmiller8336]

I think my brother last year or the year before discovered a dahlia farm up near where our Aunt and Uncle lived, actually almost in their back yard. They are both gone now so I am pretty sure the farm was not there when they had the house. Farm is up off Sashabaw RD in the Seymour Lake area.

[@marielyencasa]

Love Dahlias! Can you tell how good they transplant? I’m in zone 9 and I did plant them very close thinking not all were going to sprout 🌱. And suddenly, all sprouted and growing beautiful but close to each other. If I move them to similar areas, how will they react? Thanks 😊 Love your channel

[@meganfreitas7971]

Would also be interested in a video about starting dahlias from seed

[@Youdontknowmeson1324]

Some people use the tubers as a staple crop some kinds grow huge tubers.

[@susanhenley8240]

Have heard about pinching dahlias to make them bushier. We live in a short growing season, zone b, so I cannot imagine doing that. Your opinion, please.

[@michellejames5953]

When they’re a foot tall, snip out 3-4 inches to just above a set of leaves. It will make your plant full and bushier, meaning more stems with flowers. Do not water them until there’s growth showing above ground, they have water inside the tuber and moisture in the soil until then. Watering them before the above ground growth can cause rotting.

[@IAMGiftbearer]

They are beautiful but I don't think I have enough sun in my yard for them, as I have lots of trees and have to plant in spots here and there. I recently planted potatoes and a Better Boy tomato plant and a sweet bell pepper and it took some time to find areas where there was enough hours of sun for those. Georgia has been having monsoon type rain with several days dry in-between, but sun is the problem in my yard. I wish I could grow more flowers. I have some daffodils that grow on the edges of my driveway but that's about it.

[@admirerofcreativity5295]

Perfect timing!!! I needed this!!

[@MIgardener]

Hope it heled! Happy gardening :)

[@JasonTreu]

Do you pre-sprout your tubers?

[@JS-od5sl]

How about planting from seed? How will I know how tall they will get?

[@deidralewandowski2659]

after all the vlogs i have seen on dahlias, i did not get until now that they need to be covered completely to come up, like potatoes, or like some seeds that prefer to be in the dark to germinate. thank you for that as i suspect that may be my issue with getting them to sprout. also, i am voting to get tubers from mi gardener instead of my local farm store, as the amount of tubers i get from your company and the one itty bitty one i get from others...with one dahlia.....just sayin :)

[@spectacularrx52]

I've only ever bought tubers on clearance from Aldi and threw them in the ground, hoping for the best. there's a different way?? 😅

[@Gypsykitty_kat]

I need help. I did something wrong. This is my first year growing. Dahlia and I got some new tubes from them. Some of them were mushy so I was a little weird. I got no flowers just stocks. I’m trying to figure it out so I can fix it for next year. Also, how do I store these in plastic? I’ve seen a bunch of videos all different.

[@ChelseaSchoenfelder]

I've never had issues with aphids but earwigs! Any tips on getting rid of them?

[@MIgardener]

Diatomaceous earth works really well! Also making sure there is no mulch around close to the plants.

[@melloyellochelle]

What about starting Dahlias from seed?

[@goodwifeweaver]

If you plant dahlias in a raised bed with other plants and add sulphur for the dahlias, will it hurt the other plants? Or should they be planted alone? Thanks!

[@MIgardener]

If you give enough space it shouldn’t hurt much.

[@buzzyanderson4131]

Amazing video

[@KLG777]

I just bought a dinner plate Dahlia already 2 ft tall, one huge flower, and buds. I've never seen them for sale like this. So, I just put it in the ground, we see what happens.

[@teresacruse7882]

Help me to understand the use of vermiculite & perlite? What is sulpher powder?

[@tracycrider7778]

Sulphur acidifies your soil

[@LillibitOfHere]

When is it warm enough? I’m up in GR, MI.

[@MIgardener]

Almost warm enough for you! 2 more weeks.

[@Taoss123KeyholeJourney]

How do you control ants in your raised beds? Mine are plagued with them.

[@MIgardener]

I use borax :)

[@campinggrandma5571]

Awesomeness!🏵🦋🌹🐞🥀

[@Fi0434]

You mention a sulfur powder. I got to thinking what about planting onions or garlic with them. Hmm

[@MIgardener]

Onions have plenty of sulfur compounds, but a little more won't hurt them!

[@FrozEnbyWolf150]

I was considering growing dahlias because the flowers and tubers are edible. However, dahlias are not deer resistant, so it might be hard for me to protect them.

[@MIgardener]

Not all dahlias are edible so be careful!

[@episodefromthegarden]

Hi, thanks for the video. I planted some dahlias in Northern California and it was quite warm. I saw some sprouts but they seem to be turning brown and dying back. I don’t water it much at all. Any ideas what could be happening?

[@selaay17]

Will you be restocking tubers? They’re all sold out at the moment.

[@MIgardener]

They are stocked now! :)

[@valquiriaaparecida2684]

Só mostrar e o mais importante comprar onde vende ? Alguém pode me indicar o site de vendas .

[@photojef]

What about fertilizer?

[@vicwickgardens9174]

I‘ve been thinking about it. I wouldn’t do it. But that’s just me

[@robertfakler8564]

The biggest dahlia pest we have by far are spider mites. And they're difficult to control

[@MIgardener]

Pyrethrum will be your best friend. Spray them down with some of that.

[@Tinyteacher1111]

Who else uses a left hand palm ✋ emoji to show it MI Gardener’s channel? Buhler?

[@joshuahoyer1279]

Our biggest issue with dahlias is actually slugs, not aphids!

[@MIgardener]

Make sure they are planted away from debris that would hold moisture and potentially invite slugs.

[@LarsLarsen77]

I've been trying to grow Dahlias from bulbs for years now and they never come up.

[@raybod1775]

It’s important to get Dahlias started in warm soil. I’ve been starting them for years by planting them inside in pots first with good potting mix. I plant them outside when night time lows will stay above 40 degrees, 10 degrees celsius and stems are at least 6” high. In Chicago, that’s mid to late May. If some nights get too cold, they get covered in plastic. We have clay soil here, so soil needs to be tilled before planting. Slow release fertilizer helps. A sunny spot is great. Stems need to be held up. Good luck!

[@michellejames5953]

Dahlia’s are NOT tropical plants. They’re native to Mexico in the mountains. You do not water them until you get green growth, there’s enough water inside the tuber until then, and moisture already in the soil.

[@alexk3352]

What about fertilization? I don’t believe you’ve touched on that.

[@nonone347]

A pro would not plant that, they would clean up the clump and separate individual viable tubers from the mother tuber and those with broken necks that are liable to rot.

[@virginiabaker2966]

Sold out of Dahlias. Disappointing .

[@lauriedavis4045]

They're all over though; farm stores, box stores, even my grocery store has them in their cut flower dept.

[@willdwyer6782]

Not interested in growing anything I can't eat or smoke. Thanks anyway.

[@igleamingrace]

😂😂

[@StubbsMillingCo.]

Dahlias tubers are edible. Peel them, the skin of them is not enjoyable. They don’t have much flavor, most things in nature doesn’t.

[@Angie-ci1lp]

When I’m full from eating that awesome salad from garden I love to sit on my patio enjoying my beautiful Dahlias 🙋🏽‍♀️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@wonderfulherennow]

The flower petals are edible too

[@fishingwithfilitsa]

Great video

[@MIgardener]

So glad you liked it!