Give dahlias a head start

For longer-blooming, stronger, healthier plants, it’s a good idea to start your dahlia tubers off early. If you don’t have any in winter storage, see what garden centres have to offer, or buy online.

Start them off in pots or deep seed trays of multipurpose compost with the crown just above the compost. At this time of year, they need to be kept indoors or in a greenhouse. Water well and keep the compost moist. Once they’re in leaf, after the frosts, plant out in a sunny spot. Or, hold off until late May and plant tubers straight into the ground.