Experimenting with a new plant in your garden is exciting, especially if you’re an avid gardener. However, certain plants, such as the dahlia tuber, require a bit of extra care, particularly when it comes to planting. So, what’s the big secret? As it turns out, you should never place your dahlia tubers in the ground vertically, one TikToker who goes by the username @blossomandbranchfarm reveals. This is one of the biggest mistakes when planting dahlias. Not only could this have a negative impact on your plant by increasing the chances of rotting, but it could also cost you money if you end up having to purchase more. Of course, you likely want to avoid these troubles as best as possible.
So, if you can’t plant them vertically, what should you do exactly? Thankfully, the solution is simple. All you need to do is grab your tubers and some gardening gloves, and you should be good to go. Below, we’ll break down what you should do instead to prevent this pesky problem from potentially arising. After all, you don’t want to end up having to toss your hard work away!
Decrease chances of rot by planting horizontally
@blossomandbranchfarm
I honestly didn’t know this when we started flower farming, and with our heavy clay soil, we lost a fair amount of tubers our first year! Oops! To help prevent you from making a similar mistake, here’s a quick tutorial! Planting horizontally helps minimize losses to rot, especially if you’re in a heavier clay soil like myself. If you’re in a sandier soil, you may be able to get away with planting deeper than we do! Also, bear in mind that the tuber contains the moisture and needs to get started, so hold off on watering until you see sprouts on the first set of leaves on the dahlia, to not risk rotting it! Want to know the most exciting thing? We just posted a video over on our YouTube page today of how we successfully overwintered our dahlias here in zone five! Head over there (link in bio) to see how!! #Dahlias #FlowerGarden #CutFlowerGarden #garden #gardenersworld #DahliaTubers
♬ Time Will Tell – Gregory Alan Isakov
So, what’s the best way to plant tubers? Instead, you should insert them horizontally into the ground, ensuring they’re firmly in place. Not only will this help to decrease the chances of rot, but it should also help your plant to flourish. Dahlia tubers can rot for various reasons, so you should ensure that you continue to be vigilant, even after planting them the correct way. Take care of them as you usually would, ensuring you tend to all their needs. However, while planting them horizontally is preferred, you don’t need to worry if you have already planted them vertically — they will still be able to grow. This is just something to keep in mind during your next planting session.
In addition to horizontal planting, you should also ensure that you start by planting your dahlia tubers in pots. Although you can insert them in the ground, too, pots can help you prepare for eventual transfer if you wish without having to worry about the weather conditions. Ensure you don’t expose them to frost, as this could damage your plant. Of course, protecting your dahlias from the cold weather is key to allowing them to flourish.
