Dahlia Tuber Timing - Musings on Process and Approach - April 2026

A box of dahlia tubers just arrived via UPS from Longfield Gardens a few days ago.  

In this box are Great Silence, Jowey Winnie, Burlesca, Creme de Cognac, Kelsey Annie Joy.  I ordered from a few other dahlia farms, but those tubers haven't arrived just yet.  But, I'm expecting them soon.  

That box showing up has now FORCED me to start thinking about the timing and process for the tubers this year.  When? What? How? Where?  

Eeek.  The time has come to sort things out.  And, there's no better way I know how to sort out the order-of-operations for something like this than just writing out my musings.  What is rattling around in my head on this project.  By going thru the when/what/how/wheres.  

Let's start with: "When?"  When do I bring them in from the garage?  Does that help 'wake them up'?  Do I plant them directly from the saran wrap packages in the garage into nursery pots?  When do I pot them up?  Last year, I potted up the tubers right around May 1st.   It didn't take long to see some signs of growth. 

This year?  I'm thinking of going sooner.  

The other part of 'When?' is the timing on planting in the ground.  Last year, they went in the ground in mid-June.  Can I move that up a little bit?  Here's hoping.  

In addition to the stored dahlias from 2025 and these new ones from Longfield Gardens, I also have some tubers that I bought retail this Spring.  I am expecting close to 60 (sixty) nursery pots of starting dahlias this year.  Which will take some time to get potted-up.  

Which brings me to:  What?  

What do I start with?  The new ones?  The stored ones?  Do I divide the old ones now that I can better 'see' the eyes?  I'm thinking the answer to the division question is: yes.  The next question is containers.  I have a number on hand from last year and I bought some new ones.  Do I have enough?  Not sure just yet.  

As for "how", last year, after I potted them up, I left them alone until they grew up to about 12" tall.  Then, I topped them off.  See this Reel for an explanation.  I'll plan on doing that again, in an attempt to get 'bushier' plants.  

The other part of 'how' is my plan for hardening them off.  This also answers part of "Where?"  Last year, I started them in our basement window wells.  Once they had some new growth (and the temperatures continued to climb, I moved them out to our screened porch.  They stayed there for a few weeks and I eventually moved them outside for short periods of time, increasing both the time and the sun exposure every day over a week-or-so.  

The other part of "Where?" is the final planting locations.  I'm going to give my Mom and sisters some tubers, but I'll have to find homes for the rest.  And, create a support system for each of them - per #7 on my 2026 to-do list.  

Suddenly...it sure feels like the season is here.