If you're a proud grower of dahlias, you may be a little concerned that they've not yet shown any sign of flowering. However, this garden expert says it's not quite time to start panicking just yet.
There's a reason learning to grow dahlias is such a popular choice for gardeners; they've got mesmerising petal patterns and introduce such bold colours to your garden. These beloved blooms are well worth the wait, but once it hits mid-summer, it's quite common to be a little worried when they're still not showing blousy flowers.
Whether you've grown your dahlias from seed or tubers, here's a bit of expert advice to help you ensure your dahlias continue thriving and provide those long-awaited flowers soon.
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While completing your July gardening jobs, you may have noticed your dahlias have yet to flower. Don't feel discouraged just yet; there's plenty of time for them to bloom.
"So here we are in July, and if you planted your dahlias way back in the spring, and you're a bit concerned that nothing's happened yet, why aren't they flowering? Actually, now is when they start to really come into their own," says Tom, Head of Horticulture at Perchhill Farm, @sarahravensgarden on Instagram.
"I grow dahlias in pots because my gardening space is quite tiny and they're brilliant for that. So I've got quite a big pot here; it's about 40cm high by 40cm diameter. And this pot just needs one tuber to get this kind of result," he adds.
Dahlias make exceptional patio container plants, and if you don't want to dig them out, there are ways you can keep dahlias alive in pots over winter.
"This variety is 'Tom's Choice', which is obviously one of my favourites, and it's a brilliant performer for pots. It's naturally well branched, and the secret now is just to keep it well watered and fed about every ten days or so," recommends Tom.
It's important to know which plant foods work for which plants, so you can give them the appropriate nutrients for them to thrive through the seasons.
"And you'll find the blooms will continue now right up until the first frost. So when lots of things have already happened, your dahlias are just starting to give the best show of their life really," he adds.
"So from now, July through August, September, October and into November, you'll have a pot full of blooms," finishes Tom.
Then all you'll need to worry about is overwintering your dahlias once the frost does arrive.
As your dahlias begin to flower, you'll need to master how to prune them for more blooms. This will help extend their flowering period by encouraging them to produce more.
