DibbleGrowing dahlias: from seed to harvest
Plant tubers once the soil has warmed and nights stay mild. Where winters freeze hard, lift and store them before the ground freezes. In very hot climates give them afternoon shade, which keeps the blooms coming.
Planting dates for dahlias by zone
| Zone | Start seeds indoors | Sow or transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | not needed | May 28 | August 26 |
| Zone 4 | not needed | May 21 | August 19 |
| Zone 5 | not needed | May 13 | August 10 |
| Zone 6 | not needed | May 6 | August 6 |
| Zone 7 | not needed | April 24 | July 18 |
| Zone 8 | not needed | July 17 | June 29 |
| Zone 9 | not needed | February 25 | May 26 |
| Zone 10 | not needed | July 22 | May 20 |
| Zone 11 | not needed | August 31 | April 1 |
Each date is the start of the best window from the same climate engine the Dibble app uses, run at typical places in each zone. Dibble tunes them to your garden's own location and lets you adjust frost dates for your own yard.
Companion plants
Good neighbors for Dahlia:
Family and rotation
Dahlia is in the asters family. Lettuce and many flowers. Marigolds and zinnias are excellent companions throughout the garden. Learn about crop rotation.
Related crops
Lettuce
When to plantZinnia
When to plantSunflower
When to plantMarigold
When to plantCosmos
When to plantCalendula
When to plant
Questions
When should I plant dahlias?
It depends on your zone. Dahlia is a tender crop, so the timing follows your last spring frost. Look up your zone in the table below for exact start, sow, and harvest dates, or open Dibble and set where your garden is to get your own calendar.
How long does it take to grow dahlias?
About 90 days from planting to the first harvest, with a picking window of roughly 70 days after that.
What grows well with dahlias?
Good companions include Zinnia, Marigold.
Plant at the right time this season
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