Proper Care of Dinner Plate Dahlias

Till the top 8 to 10 inches of soil with a spade, working in manure and a 5-10-15 fertilizer, following manufacturer's instructions.

Test your garden soil with an at-home kit or contact your county extension for a soil test analysis. Add soil amendments as suggested by the county extension or your own pH tests. Keep in mind that dahlias need higher levels of potassium for proper root development.

Plant the dinner plate dahlia tubers about twice the depth of the overall length of the tuber, about nine to 12 inches apart.

Spray the plants with insecticide every seven to 10 days once the plants are 3 to 6 inches tall. Cover both the upper and lower parts of the leaves with the insecticide. Reapply insecticide after hard rains.

Water the plant until the soil is moist but not saturated. Although dahlias need a lot of water, you shouldn't overwater them. In general, water the plants thoroughly twice a week while the plant is flowering. Let the soil dry out somewhat between waterings.

Apply a layer of mulch or straw around the plant during the hot summer months to keep the soil cool and moisture from evaporating.

Tie the plants with soft twine or string to a stake or tomato cage to keep the large plant from toppling over. Tie the plant loosely to the support so that it can still move and grow normally. Start supporting the dahlias at about 1 foot tall, and tie them at 1-foot increments.

Remove terminal flower buds by hand to increase the growth of your plant. Remove any axillary buds or suckers beneath the flower buds.

Remove the tuber from the ground before the first frost and cut all but 5 to 6 inches off the top. Dust off excess soil or rinse it off with a garden hose. Don't rub the tuber or you may damage some of the "eyes."

Store the tuber in a container of vermiculite until the spring.

Replant healthy tubers -- those without mold or those that haven't shriveled up -- in the spring.