Prepping my growing spot

Everyone loves a good April Fool’s joke and Utah played one this year.  The farm was blanketed in several inches of snow before 10 am, casting a calm on the morning.  But in true spring fashion, the day ended with sunshine and big puffy clouds dotting the sky.  The soil was a deep rich brown color as it was saturated with moisture.  Soil is the topic for the day because it does so much for our plants.  This post will guide you through preparing your soil for dahlias in Utah, with advice tailored to our soil conditions.  

Testing the soil

A common first step in preparing a growing space is testing the soil to learn about the nutrient levels and organic matter but do not let this be a road block for planting. It can be done any time of the year - even if it is more ideal to do it in the spring.  Sometimes you just have to get it in!  Luckily for all of us, Utah State extension has a whole series called “Solutions to Soil Problems.”    In discussions about soil data with USU professor Melanie Stock, the Wasatch Front typically has high salt and phosphorus, and low nitrogen levels.  Nitrogen deficiency in dahlias can cause yellowing leaves and stunted growth.  I do not know specific changes to dahlia plants if the phosphorus is to high but I do know that generally that adding more phosphorus isn’t great for the environment. 

Here are links to local labs that test soil samples: 

USU: https://www.usu.edu/analytical-laboratories/

BYU: https://pws.byu.edu/eal

I have a preference for the USU lab as I attended USU - Go Aggies!

Amending the soil for dahlias: Compost and Nitrogen

I use 2 amendments on the farm.  Compost and nitrogen but I will also touch on a couple of other amendments that are dependent upon where you live, what your plants are doing and results of a soil test.  

Compost

This is my first method - I love it for the organic matter and nutrients it adds but not all compost is the same.  When you are looking for compost, look for a products that is dark in color so it looks and smells earthy.  If you are local I have used compost from 3 places

• Davis landfill - it has a great balance small and large particles and has the earthy smell of finished compost.  The price point can’t be beat - $25 for 1.5 yards!  

• Bountiful landfill-  It was a little too woody for me but still a good product.  

• Central Davis Sewer district - This is more of a mulch than a compost. 

Every year I add about 2 inches of compost to the field (~ 10 yards of compost).  I have Nick from Take It Away Dumpster Rental pile it up on the north side of the farm by the peach tree.  From there friends and neighbors of the farm come over to lay compost.  It is fun to rub shoulders with fellow flower lovers, get some sun and hard work in.    

Some years I till the compost into the lower layers of the existing soil but you may have read about the ‘no-till method.’  This method focuses on preserving  the architecture of the soil.  I have learned a lot from Jennie Love an established grower who has been growing flowers with a no-till method for many years.  Her podcast is ‘The No-Till Flowers Podcast'.’ I agree with many of the principles but in balancing all the things - I am no-till one year and till the next.  

Nitrogen

This amendment is applied within days of planting. I use a shaker to evenly spread the blue crystals of Nitroform nitrogen over the field.  It is easy to apply and over the next 8 weeks, plants will get the nitrogen they need to grow healthy, full plants.   If you want to go real scientific (I am a research by trade), check out this paper by Dr. Stock about nitrogen management.  Because of this article, I apply more nitrogen to my dahlias.  Don’t be afraid to call the fertilizer companies to have them help you figure out the application rate.  If you are adding higher levels of nitrogen, getting a soil test will help you know if you are adding to much.  

Now for the ones I don’t use but may be appropriate for you.  

Leaching your soil

A process of adding significant amounts of water to your soil helps to move, or ‘leach’ salt out of the soil.  Winter snow and rains help to naturally do this.  Salt can affect the health of your plant, often seen by plants with stunted growth.  Some flowers I have grown have been more sensitive to it.  If you are concerned about high salt levels, test your soil and consider testing your water. Leaching works best in soils with good drainage.  

Bone meal

Literature for dahlias promotes the addition of bone meal in the hole you dig for the tuber.  Bone meal breaks down rather quickly so it can supply the growing roots with phosphorus which is important for the development of strong root systems.  However, the soil along the Wasatch Front usually has enough phosphorus.  I do not add bone meal or any other phosphorus amendment and for the past 8 years my phosphorus levels have remained high.  Unlike salt, phosphorus stays in the soil so adding more can cause weak stems, stunted growth and yellowing of plant leaves.  

Soil sample collection tips: 

A soil test is relatively easy to do and can be done in about 10 minutes.  The hardest part for me is getting it to the post office!  

Supplies: 

• Bucket

• Big shovel 

• Small shovel

• Sandwich size zipper baggie

• Submission Form: USU  BYU

Instructions

1. Dig a hole that is about 10 inches deep with a large shovel

2. Remove some soil from the bottom of the whole with a small shovel and put it in your bucket.  

3. Repeat several times in your growing space.   I will dig 10 holes In my growing space (80 ft by 100 ft divided in half like a triangle)

4. Fill the holes in - otherwise twisted ankles and theories about a new rodent will abound.  Feel free to learn from my experience!

5. Mix all the samples together by using your shovel as a stirring utensil. 

6. Break up any chunks. Remove enough soil to mostly fill your sandwich size zipper baggie.  

7. Fill out your submission form and select the test you want - I like the Complete Test at USU.  

8. Use a flat rate shipper to send your sample in.  

What questions can I answer about soil preparation for dahlias?  Ask me in the comments.

Happy gardening!

Lindsey

My Favorite Dahlias: A Guide to My Curated Collections

Let’s dive into the heart of the dahlia collections available this year.  Each collection has a few of my long standing favorites plus a few of my new favorites.  

Garden Centerpiece:

Sometime you just can’t cut the flowers!  If you are saying an ‘Amen to that’ this collection is for you (and my Mama!). Each variety was curated for its unique attributes.  

Jowey Winnie - Selected for its prolific bloom and large bloom size on strong stems the Jowey Winnie dahlia is a favorite of many.  Oddly, one of my favorite points in the bloom cycle of this flower is just before it opens into its mesmerizing bloom. It has a lush bloom head that slowly raises to show a beautiful raspberry color tucked into the folds of the petals.  Once it opens, the petals continue wrapping around the stem until it is an exceptional globe.  

Who Me - Since the beginning I have said this would be a number one choice for landscaping - especially for a statement piece in the back.  The foliage is about 4 ft tall but the 6 to 8 inch blooms extend on the strongest stems to be a garden sentinel.  The blooms are white with lavender and as the flower reaches its peak bloom they get a buttery quality about them.  

Bahama Mama - There are zones in my garden where I plant different colors, shapes and textures.  I always have a section that include bright pinks, usually in a sunny location so all of the feels are upbeat.  The addition of Bahama Mama with its petals that reach out into a twist, its large blooms and tropical colors is perfect. 

Nicholas - Equally selected for its layered waterlily form and rich warm hues, the petals of this flower look as if they have been painted on as the colors transition to the center of the flower.  It is a little later to bloom (think first of September) but when other flowers begin to fade this one stands out.  Sturdy stems elevate these 5 inch peachy orange blooms. 

Thank you for reading this in depth description of the Garden Centerpiece Dahlia collection.  There are two other collections this year: 

Timeless:

These varieties have proven themselves year after year, earning themselves a permanent place on our farm.  Their color qualities will always be in demand with their romantic hues and whimsical petal shapes.  

Tables Best Friend:

Ball form dahlias last the longest after they have been cut.  Combining longevity, beautiful colors and productive makes this collection one of my favorites.   

Explore the collections further in the Dahlia Tuber Shop. Which collection are you planning to add to your flower garden on April 1st?

Lindsey

Dahlias: Tubers vs Seeds - What you need to know. Plus a planting pro-tip

Dahlias can seem a bit intimidating, right?  Especially when you hear ‘tuber’ instead of ‘seed.’  Let’s break it down, starting with why they are so different from. Your familiar zinnia.  A dahlia  tuber is similar to a potato.  If you grew up in Idaho like me, we know that in the fall, potatoes need to be harvested because they will freeze and die if left in the ground over winter (and because who doesn’t love French fries).  In some places, tubers can be left in the ground no problem but, in my zone (7b) they need some protection but typically don’t leave them in ground. With all of this, it can feel overwhelming so I will share a few thoughts.  

What is a dahlia tuber?

Above I mentioned that a tuber is like a potato and  when you purchase a tuber from the dahlia tuber shop you are essentially getting a seed potato - a little potato with lots of eyes- you know that part where the plant starts growing when you leave it too long in a pantry.  Unlike potatoes, a tuber from my dahlia tuber shop with likely only have one eye but from that single eye, a big beautiful plant will grow.  

Recently people have been asking me if the plant will only get one bloom- like a sunflower.  It is pretty much the opposite!  A dahlia is actually a cut and come again plant.  That means if you cut off the flowers it will grow a new one in its place.  Dahlias plants have different shapes and sizes but they are all bushy and can use 18 to 24 inches of space between plants.  (I plant mine closer together but that is a topic for another day).

This is a picture of the anatomy of a dahlia tuber.  

The tuber part is full of genetic information and food to make a new plant - exactly like the one it came from.  That is why when I post a picture of a flower I know it will look the same for you. 

Why Tubers and Not Seeds, For Most Gardeners

Dahlias do produce seeds but their propagation usually only piques the interest of experimenters.   Like many other seeds, dahlia seeds will produce plants but instead of an exact duplication of the genetic code, it is a combination of the varieties the pollinators have been to.  As such, you will not know what the flower looks like until it blooms!  Those who plant dahlia seeds feel like Christmas comes in August when the blooms start to appear.  Some like the thrill of seeing what was created.  Then there are breeders who plant thousands of seedlings to find one that have the qualities we all love about dahlias - uniform shape, appropriate size, productivity - bloom and flower.  To date this has intrigued me but I have not tried it.  However I own a lot of reading material on it!  Check out the ‘Dahlia Breeding’ by Kristine Albrecht or Coseytown Dahlias IG. The chance a dahlia seed will produce a plant that has all the qualities needed to use on a cut flowers farm is low and it takes several years to test this.   Since we are limited in our urban growing space, dahlias are not planted from seeds.   

Pro-tip: Planting Dahlias in Utah

Despite the dahlia originating in the mountainous regions of Central America, a lot of the information about growing dahlias originates from humid, non mountainous regions.  There are different challenges with growing in Utah but one thing we do not have a hard time with is having phosphorus in our soil.  Last year my soil test showed a phosphorus level of 82.9 my/kg which is considered ‘very high.’  This is very common in Utah so we don’t need to add bone meal when planting tubers.  I switch this out with a slow release nitrogen called nitroform from Greenway biotech (39-0-0).  

Dahlias bring so much joy to any garden. I hope this helps you understand them a little better. What are you waiting for? Grab some dahlia tubers and get out there and experience the magic yourself.

Lindsey

A few of our newest varieties on the farm

My dahlia world got whole lot more colorful last year!  Thanks to a nudge from my neighbor, 2024 was bursting with new dahlia delights.  For years, I have been spying the tops of dahlia blooms over my backyard neighbors fence. During the tours of her dahlia collection, I would soak in information about the different size and form details.  It is a different world than than focus on long lasting cut flower varieties that captured me in 2020.    When I decided to formally sell dahlia tubers, adding in the different sizes and forms was a must to share the breadth and depth of the dahlia flower family.

Here are a few varieties that caught my eye because of their color and stateliness, the feeling of joy they sparked, or they are prolific and have a long lasting bloom.  

Bahama Mama:

Bahama Mama brings the lively colors of a tropical garden to your own space.   The petals are a striking combination of bold pink tips and sunburst yellow center that uniquely twist at the end, creating a playful, tropical vibe. These blooms, about 4-5 inches across, bring a burst of joy to any garden.  This variety is an informal decorative dahlia.  

Baron Nicki: 

A single round of petals curl inward to create a flute while the cheery buttons yellow center is flanks with delicate sepals to create the effect of a star shining in the night sky.  The blooms are atop stems that reach to the heavens on a 5.5 ft tall plan.  This variety is an orchette form.  

Cailtins Joy:

The color of the cool colored dahlia is raspberry or maybe smokey purple with a peach undertone compliments it’s long lasting cut flower qualities.  The stems are long and incredibly prolific.  The foliage of this plant stands 4 ft with blooms extending up to 5. 5 feet.  This is a ball form dahlia.  

Platinum Blonde:

Platinum Blonde showcases a soft, creamy yellow center that radiates warmth. What sets this variety apart is its growth habit; the stems possess a gentle, graceful movement, offering a more relaxed feel compared to the rigid stems of many dahlias. The plant reaches a height of 4 feet.  Each bloom, an anemone form, measures approximately 4 inches across, 

Coralie:

This dahlia is a study in soft, romantic hues. Its rounded bloom is composed of tightly arranged petals in a gentle blush-pink. The color deepens subtly towards the center, creating a pleasing gradient. This dahlia's symmetrical shape and delicate color make it a visually appealing focal point in any garden setting or cut flower arrangement. It is a formal decorative form.

Don't miss out! These beauties are sure to sell out quickly when the shop opens on April 1st.

Lindsey