Growing Dahlias in Containers: Sarah Raven's Top Tips

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And her tips on liveheading over deadheading

Growing dahlias in containers is easy and rewarding. Despite a popular misconception that tubers must be grown in the ground, dahlias can thrive in pots if cared for properly.

"I'm really into dahlias for containers," celebrity gardener, Sarah Raven, tells Country Living, from her cutting garden at Perch Hill Farm in East Sussex. "They are incredibly generous and productive, giving you so many flowers for so many months. They are so easy to look after. It is just the plant in the world."

Growing dahlias in containers is a great option for small-space gardeners. Before you begin, you'll want to choose a dahlia that is less than 90cm (ideally around 75cm). Sarah says her newest variety, Rosie Raven, is perfect for pots.

Tip 1: "If they're in containers, you do need to store them somewhere cool and dry in the winter. Then plant them again in the spring. You could also put them in the shed."

Tip 2: If you are keeping dahlias in the garden, Sarah recommends covering them with a layer of organic matter: "Just mulch them really deeply under 15cm of compost. That's like an extra tog on your duvet. It'll keep them warm through the winter and they'll survive."

Tip 3: Once the showy heads bloom in springtime, pop them in vases indoors. "Pick, pick, pick, pick, pick! That's the thing. They are cut and come again, so you either have to deadhead or 'livehead' them. What's the point of taking the deadheads? So pick the live heads and take them into the house."

Tip 4: "Finally, they're quite hungry and thirsty. Whether they're in the ground or in pots, make sure the soil you plant them in is really nice and rich. Water them as often as you can. Take a watering can, fill it up with your bathwater and then put that onto your dahlias."

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