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Tiny Hearts Farm

Organically Grown Flowers in the Hudson Valley

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Dahlia Tubers

Thank you for another great tuber sale! We’re no longer taking dahlia tuber orders but you can still find a few at the Tiny Hearts Flower Shop in Hillsdale, NY thru May 1.

We’re so happy to make our dahlia tubers stock available for sale to pickup at our flower shop and for nationwide shipping! Read on to learn more…

Tiny Hearts dahlias as featured in the June 2019 issue of Martha Stewart Living.
Photo credit: Ngoc Minh Ngo

We’ve been growing on our tuber stock for years, carefully selecting dahlia varieties that are vigorous growers, great cut flowers, resistant to disease, and beautiful in the garden. 

When you purchase tubers from us, you’re buying our own farm-grown stock. Sold as single tubers, each tuber is guaranteed to have a visible eye. When you receive your tubers, open the box, inspect tubers for damage, and store them in their sawdust in a cool, dry place until planting. We recommend planting as soon as weather and soil conditions permit – please see our planting guide for more information. If tubers are received in unsatisfactory condition, please let us know and send a picture of your tubers within 3 days of receiving them, so we can replace them for you. We are not responsible for tubers damaged due to being improperly stored after arrival, or to loss due to weather or growing conditions.    

local pickup available, too:

Note: For local gardeners wishing to save shipping costs and instead pick up at our Hillsdale, NY flower shop, that option is also available at checkout. Order tubers in advance and pickup your tubers on Fridays and Saturdays beginning April 1th. Please find pickup directions to our flower shop here.


Dahlia Tuber Planting Guide

When to Plant

Dahlias are long-season plants, so plant your tubers at the right time to get the longest flowering period possible in the late summer and fall. As a general rule, plant as soon as you’re sure the last frost date has passed and/or soil temperature is around 60 degrees.

Where to Plant

Find a sunny spot – the more sun, the more flowers! Well-drained soil is best (heavy, moist soil can rot tubers) and dahlias tend to like slightly acidic soil. Since tubers have to be planted fairly deep and have room to make nice roots and more tubers, well-worked garden soil makes them happy.  

How to Plant

Plant tubers 6” deep and 18” – 24” apart. We put a scoop of compost or a handful of balanced fertilizer in the planting hole. Place your tuber horizontally in the hole, and cover. If the ground is dry, go ahead and water your newly planted tubers. Go light on the watering (only water if the soil is dry) until sprouts emerge or you could be risking tuber rot.

When Sprouts Emerge

Now is the time to start watering deeply. Dahlias are water hogs and a light spray won’t do the trick. Water has to reach down the full 6” to the tuber. 

When plants start putting on some growth, we foliar feed with fish/kelp emulsion every 10 days or so until buds are initiated. Dahlias prefer low nitrogen – once plants begin flowering, we stop fertilizing. Too much nitrogen leads to big, bushy plants with few flowers.

Trellising

Most varieties of dahlias need trellising. For home gardens, bamboo trellising works nicely, or if you’re growing a larger quantity consider the Florida weave or Hortonova netting. 

Pinching

Pinching does wonders to create bushy plants and long stems. This is a necessity if you’re planning to cut dahlias for the vase. When the plant is 12” or so tall, pinch down to three leaf sets. It can seem harsh, but it works!

Digging and Storing Tubers

In colder climates, tubers must be dug and stored over the winter. Once frost has killed your plant, cut the plant back to about 6”. Using a fork or shovel, loosen the soil around the clump and lift it out of the dirt, being careful not to break off the ends of the tuber clumps. Brush excess soil off the clumps and store them over winter in a cool, dark place that stays around 40 – 45 degrees.

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On Saturday, June 3rd, as part of the @workshopexp On Saturday, June 3rd, as part of the @workshopexperienceweekend, we will be hosting a flower crown workshop and hope you can join us! There are a whole slough of events happening in and around Hillsdale that weekend - link in our bio to see and to sign up for flower crown class!
We’re excited about the dahlia field this year! We’re excited about the dahlia field this year! Making some adjustments to our planting and cultivation methods to try to get a better handle on weeds, easier access for harvest, and more even distribution of water across the beds. Putting my wish out there for good weather and smooth sailing for this crop🙏
Open til 2 on Mother’s Day Sunday @tinyheartsflo Open til 2 on Mother’s Day Sunday @tinyheartsflowershop 💕💕💕
I’m looking forward to spending Mother’s Day w I’m looking forward to spending Mother’s Day with these two tomorrow, but FIRST we’ve got to get all the flowers out to all the moms!! Open @tinyheartsflowershop  today until 4 until and tomorrow from 10 - 2 💕
Last call! Pre-order Mother’s Day bouquets and a Last call! Pre-order Mother’s Day bouquets and arrangements through tonight -we’ll keep making them through tomorrow! We are open tomorrow 10 to 4 and Sunday 10  to 2 - get some flowers for your mom who loves you so much!!
Get those Mother’s Day orders in! Our flower sho Get those Mother’s Day orders in! Our flower shop in lovely Hillsdale is well-stocked with tulips and ranunculus for this busy weekend (even though pre-order bunches on the website are mostly sold out!) Arrangements and mixed bouquets are only available by pre-order - unless you’re a lucky duck and happen to snatch one of the few extras we’ll make. And YES we will be open Sunday as well, from 10 - 2!

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