Good Earth Dahlia Tubers

Good Earth: Cactus Dahlia Tubers

If you want to evoke the spirit of the competitive dahlia growers of past times, you'll grow no better than Good Earth. A medium cactus variety with large spiky flowers, up to 15cm across, in a mixture of vibrant pink shades. The centres are a deep fuchsia pink and the petals become paler, almost white, as they reach the tips. There's a hint of yellow at the centres of flowers that have just opened, providing a lovely contrast to their deep pink.

The fully double blooms have pointed petals with a slight incurve towards the centres. This shape is typical of cactus-flowered dahlias, which are among the most dramatic of all British garden flowers. Browse our other Cactus Dahlias or our full range of Dahlias here.

It makes an excellent cut flower and looks stunning in a vase with its retro good looks, but we would not recommend it for growing in containers.

Features

• Colour: Shades of pink with white tips
• Foliage: Dark green divided leaves
• Flower Size: Up to 15cm
• Type: Cactus Dahlia
• Cutting: Yes
• Height/Spread: 1m x 50cm
• Flowering: July to November
• Outdoor Planting Months: March to July

Growing Good Earth Dahlias

All dahlias do best in deep rich soil with good drainage in a sunny spot. If it is windy they will need staking. They are greedy, thirsty plants so will need watering in dry spells, and they will always flower that little bit better if there is a bit of soluble food in the watering can once every couple of weeks.

It is generally more convenient to put support stakes in at planting time, rather than leaving it until there is foliage in the way.

Planting Companions for Good Earth

Use it in the middle or towards the back of mixed borders where it works as well in pastel coloured planting schemes as in ones designed to catch the eye a little more.

Did You Know?

Introduced in 1952, this Dutch variety was one of the go-to dahlias for the traditional exhibition growers of decades past, and is still sometimes grown today for exhibition in the cactus class at autumn flower shows.

There is not really an official definition of an heirloom variety plant, but a common rule of thumb is "older than 1951", making this one of the very first non-heirloom dahlias.

If you ignore seed, Dahlias can be planted at three stages: as tubers, rooted cuttings and pot-grown plants.

Tubers can be planted at any time from March onwards. The hole should be at least double the diameter of the tuber laid out on the ground. Incorporate about 25% well rotted compost and if drainage is in any way doubtful then add plenty of horticultural grit as well. Plant one tuber per hole, leaving 60-80 cms between plants (depending on final size) and make sure the tuber is covered with 10-12 cms (4-5") of soil. This is important as it will insulate the tuber against frosts in March-May as they will take a couple of months to show.

Rooted cuttings, which are available from early April onwards, will need to be potted up and kept in a sunny and frost free place until they are ready to be planted out in mid May. Their treatment then is the same as for tubers except they are planted level with rather than 10 cms below the surrounding soil level.

Pot grown plants are not delivered until June, and are then planted out immediately in the same way as an established rooted cutting.

The more you deadhead, the more flowers you'll get.