Dahlias can be shipped or picked up locally (see dates and times below).

All orders over $150 will receive a free dahlia tuber! Limit one per client.

Shipping Dahlias:

We will be shipping from mid-April to mid-May. Of Note: Planting in Maine takes place early June after the danger of frost has past.

Dahlia Tuber Pickup Dates:

In Newcastle, Maine at the Veggies to Table farm:

• Friday, May 8th, 4pm - 6pm

• Saturday, May 9th, 10am -12pm

  Address: 27 Bailey Lane, Newcastle, ME. Go straight back ¼ mile and we will be at the house. Knock. We look forward to meeting you! If you need us: 207-253-9803

In Bath, Maine at Solo Pane:

Saturday, May 2nd from 10am - 12pm

• Address: 29 Centre Street, Bath, ME

In Portland, Maine at Coffee By Design:

Sunday, May 3rd from 10am - 12pm

• Address: 1 Diamond St, Portland, ME

In Lexington, Massachusetts at Berman’s Wine and Spirits:

Saturday, May 9th, 10am -1pm

• Address: 55 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA

Contact

info@veggiestotable.org. We will respond to you as soon as possible.

What happens when I receive my dahlia tubers?

When you receive your tubers, immediately open your package and then store your tubers. Please advise us by email within 48 hours to info@veggiestotable.org is anything seems amiss.

Make sure to store your tubers in a suitable medium (peat, vermiculite, chips, sand, newspaper etc.) in a cool (not freezing), dark place until they are planted. It is imperative that they can breathe. Open the Ziploc bag and leave them standing straight up if you choose to leave them in the bag. Veggies to Table will not be held responsible for loss of tubers stored inappropriately. Veggies to Table is not responsible for tubers drying out or rotting in post-shipment storage. If your tubers fail to sprout within 4 weeks of planting, please notify us. We cannot be held responsible for rotting due to weather or pest conditions.

A few dahlia resources:

• Floret Flowers

• American Dahlia Society

YouTube is always a great resource. There is a video and style for all growers. There are many ways to store, grow, divide, and dig dahlias. You will find the one that works best for you! Have fun and send us photos!

Thank you for your support! All funds from the tuber sale will go to feeding more of the many hungry folks in our community. To find out more of our impact you can see our video here.

-All of us at Veggies to Tabletext goes here

Planting Dahlia Tubers

Spacing

Depends on tuber size:

• Small tubers: 12 inches apart

• Medium tubers: 18 inches apart

• Large tubers: 24 inches apart

• Clumps: 24 inches apart or more

Preparing the Hole

• Dig a hole 6 inches deep, OR dig a continuous trench 6 inches deep along a row

• Add a small handful of organic compost and a teaspoon or so of organic amendment (organic Bulb-Tone)

• Mix compost and Bulb-Tone into the soil before planting

Placing the Tuber

• Place the tuber with the eye facing up

• Ensure the eyes are positioned so that all tubers face the same direction and plants grow evenly and spacing remains consistent

If the Tuber Has Sprouted

• If the eye has already sprouted, that is perfectly fine

• Plant the tuber so the tip of the growth remains above the soil line

Long Sprouts

• If the sprout is long, trim it, as it may otherwise break. Leave an inch or so of growth

• Ideally allow the cut to heal for a day before planting

• If a sprout breaks, don’t worry — the plant will grow again, it will just take longer

Covering the Tuber

• Cover up the hole with soil

• Do not pack the soil down

Irrigation

Before Growth

• Set up drip irrigation before planting if you have drip

• Also set up overhead irrigation

• Do not water immediately after planting, especially if rain is expected

• Wait to water until visible growth appears

Early Growth

Use overhead irrigation until plants become too tall for water to get through the leaves.

If there is no rain:

• Water once per week

• Up to 30 minutes per session

• Avoid overwatering — tubers can rot and turn to mush

Established Plants

Once plants are growing well:

• Water 1–2 times per week, depending on heat and dryness

• Approximately 30 minutes per session

Soil should be moist but never soggy.

Plant Care

Pinching

When the first flower bud forms in the center, pinch it out.

This encourages branching and more blooms.
(It’s hard, but do it!)

Pruning

Remove lower leaves as plants grow to improve airflow and plant health.

Pest Management

Gently hand-pick Japanese beetles DAILY and remove them from the plants. Don't be shy… they will damage your blooms. Drop them in a jar of warm soapy water.

Support 

Dahlias can grow quite tall and produce heavy blooms, so providing support keeps stems straight, prevents breakage in wind or rain, and makes harvesting flowers easier. There are several common support methods, and the best one depends on how many plants you have, spacing, and how intensively you grow them.

1. T-Post and Twine System (Best for Rows)

2. Horizontal Netting (Hortonova ) - This is what we use on the farm (see below)

3. Individual Stakes (Best for Small Gardens)

4. Tomato Cages (Best for Large Decorative Dahlias)

For more details on supporting your dahlias you can peek online using any of the keywords above.

Veggies to Table Support Netting - how we support the dahlias that we grow here on the farm in 30' rows

Bed Preparation

We plant our dahlias in 30-inch beds with two rows per bed.

Install T-posts before planting:

• Place posts 10 feet apart

• Posts should face each other across the bed exactly 30 inches apart

• Ensure all posts run in the same direction, with the eyes facing the outside the bed

Install one layer of Hortonova netting:

• Position netting approximately 2 feet above the ground

• Attach securely to the T-posts

• Make sure the netting is tight. This is key to the success of supporting the plants

Of Note: Use one continuous 100-foot piece of netting, do not skimp. This is not the place for it. Do not use multiple small sections.