Banner Flower Farm

ahlia tubers should be planted in the spring, after the danger of frost has passed. The soil temperature should be 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit (140-149 Celsius). The last frost date here in Zone 5/6 Michigan is May 15. However, we do start planting the dahlia tubers in the field the first week in May. We use a V-plow attached to the back of our Ford 8N to make trenches. The American Dahlia Society recommends planting tubers six inches deep; however, our trenches are sometimes likely to be one foot deep. Therefore, it takes the dahlia shoots a couple of weeks to grow and make their way through the loose soil that has been raked back over the trench. We recommend using well composted soil around the tubers after they have been placed in the trench. The remaining soil that has been pushed to the sides of the trench can then be raked and shaped over the dahlia bed. A good rule of thumb for growers in our zone is to plant the dahlia tubers when lilacs are in full bloom.

Dahlias on our farm are planted in full sun. The tubers are planted horizontally, eyes pointing up, and the crowns all facing in the same direction. This prevents the growing plants from shooting out into the walkway, and keeps them evenly spaced apart.

The following is a documented bloom date list of early blooming dahlias on our farm: