Everything I have read says to not water until there is green growth above ground. I live in zone 10b and my soil was moist when I planted my tubers in ground on Feb 22, but we haven’t had rain since then and things are getting warm here. Here’s a pic of my soil as a representative part of the bed 4-6” deep. Should I give a good watering? I’m a first timer and so excited but anxious not doing things right
by itsfriccinbats
5 Comments
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No, they don’t. Those instructions are for areas that get a “normal” amount of spring rain and weather temperatures.
You want the soil to be damp but never wet. So if it’s dry you need to add water. It will help the tuber to develop roots and also stop the new growth being burnt in the hot soil.
Here in 9b I had to water a lot more than recommended. I also had my dahlias in pots that dry out quicker then the soil. I ended up watering them everyday and they grew wonderfully for me. They do not like wet soil but in warmer climates keeping it moist is a battle. Had to learn that the hard way because I was trying not to rot them. Water to keep moist but make sure the soil is well draining and not saturated.
The reason that its advised not to water until there is visible growth above the soil is because the tubers cannot take up water until they have roots. An overly wet tuber could rot. That being said, bone dry isn’t good either!
Dahlias need low level humidity so they don’t lose water by osmosis. Bone dry is not the goal. But they don’t need much. A single rainfall won’t usually rot them in well drained soil and a single watering likely will not either. When you put your hand in the planting hole, does it feel completely dry or a bit cool / humid?