Or what are these ugly little pots?
We often call them Pot Roots, but they are Pot Tubers in the UK. And for what it’s worth, the British call our dug-and-divided, single dahlia tubers “chicken legs.” I don’t think they mean any disrespect. Pot Tubers are small dahlia clumps that spent last summer outside in 4 inch pot. Pot tubers have a complete dahlia root system packed into the pot. Size varies a bit with some not much larger than a say a peach with others bursting the plastic pot. In the fall we we cut the tops after the first frost and store them along with the tubers from the field grown dahlias.
It is these little pots that we ship to you in the spring. They are grown in a soil free potting mix that drains well and that allows us to ship to all states.
The Pot Root’s finished root system will range from small to bursting-the-pot, depending on the variety. Regardless of finished size, once planted, a pot root with its entire root system grows rapidly, often with several stalks. Some folks manage to get a couple of divisions from these. With some, it can be done, but generally speaking, the tubers are quite tight and hard to divide. We don’t recommend this.
Planting and Care
When you get your pot roots, water them and place them in a warm, well-lit spot. You won’t have to wait long for sprouts. Let the plant grow to eight inches or so and then pinch the center out of the top of the sprout(s) so the plant will spread out a bit. It is worth noting that different varieties wake up at different times just like a single tuber.
After your last frost date, you can plant your pot root dahlia. First, you must remove the plastic pot. We simply cut the pot off with shears. This is better than trying to pull the pot off. Don’t fret if you pull a few roots off in the process; they are tough. Make sure that all of the old potting mix is well covered when you place your pot root dahlia in the ground.
We always give our Dahlias plenty of room, leaving 30-36” between plants. there is a lot of debate about how close to plant. If you want the best blooms, give them room to breathe. We also add a stake when we plant. When the plant is about 18” tall, we tie a string around the stake so that it loops loosely around the plant. This helps to prevent breaks from high wind or stems with heavy, wet blooms. We tie often as the plants get taller, typically at least three ties on a grown plant, sometimes more.
Your dahlias will need at least 6 hours in full sun., preferably more. Make sure you keep them watered, especially on hot days. Mulching cuts down on water needs and weeds too.
Dahlias need a low-nitrogen fertilizer. Too much nitrogen promotes leafy growth, not blooms. We compare a dahlia’s fertilizer requirements to tomatoes.
For strong stems and better blooms, limit the number of flower buds on the plant. There are three buds in every bud cluster. Remove the outside two, leaving just one in the center.
Don’t forget to do regular deadheading by removing spent blooms. These steps will all help you grow prize-winning blooms. We hope you’ll share photos with us on Facebook at River Road Flower Farm!
River Road Flower Farm
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