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hese large dahlias which are the size of a hat are also an attraction in the market stall at the farmers markets. We have sold them as single stems in the past; however, last season we bunched them in five stem monotone bouquets. These seemed to sell better for us than single stems in previous years.

A concern a dahlia grower might have with some of the newer varieties is they may have been bred for blooms, and many times do not have strong, sturdy stalks. However, many of the newly introduced award- winning dahlia tubers are listed by dahlia growers/vendors on the Big List. Be sure to look for those described as having lasting quality in flower and foliage as well as fine form and color, and make your selection from such varieties. 

Dahlias require strong stems to hold the heavier blooms upright, particularly sizes AA (over 10" diameter) and A (8-10" diameter). These are the size dahlias many refer to as "dinner plate;" however, there is no official classification that goes by this name.

If large, attractive blooms are to be produced, disbudding is advisable. The lateral (or side buds) on each terminal branch should be pinched out in order that the middle bud may have every chance to produce a flower of perfect size and substance. This is accomplished by removing all the side buds from the stem, and leaving the terminal (center) bud.  Terminal buds will produce the finest blooms if you have disbudded properly especially if the plant typically is a variety that may have short stalks and stems.

Be sure to go around the plant in a circle keeping the plant from being one-sided.  This procedure should be repeated weekly for a month. Then, a weekly removal is made of the one lateral branch that seems to be the least vigorous.  The most promising bud is selected when it is around the size of a pea. It takes four to five weeks for the bud to come to full size. The fewer buds to a plant, the larger the blooms. It is always uncertain whether these will develop into the perfect, large bloom; however with a bit of experience, the timing can generally be managed. Many experts start to shape up their dahlia plants around mid-July if they plan on having large blooms for market displays or autumn events.

The best time to cut the dahlia blooms is in the cool of the morning or evening when the plant has stored the greatest amount of carbohydrates (sugar). It is usually best to also remove most of the foliage in order to prolong vase life of the bloom.

The best varieties for dinner plates

Three general rules should get you started on choosing your varieties.

1) Strong stems. Without a strong stem, that beautiful large bloom will surely droop by market time.
2) Sizes A and AA. The bigger the starting bloom, the bigger the end-result.
3) Decoratives. The decorative form is the most successful form for dinner plate size, and also lends itself as being a great attention-getter.

Here are some of last year's American Dahlia Society National Exhibition Show award winners in the A and AA sizes to get you started on your journey:

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