Welcome to Firetail Garden - It's Dahlia Season
Open Gardens
Volunteers Welcome
Volunteers Welcome
Come and Enjoy the abundance of Dahlias in 2026.
Open Gardens occur monthly once the dahlias begin to flower.
Dates still to be finalized for January through April 2026.
Posters
Dahlias flower Summer through Autumn.
Dahlias flower Summer through Autumn.
This is a collection of eight posters created in 2023 showcasing 10 years of growing dahlias in Firetail Garden. Most of the dahlia types in the posters are still growing in the garden, but not all are for sale. Some are kept for posterity.
Dahlias flower Summer through Autumn.
Dahlias flower Summer through Autumn.
Dahlias flower Summer through Autumn.
They are frost-tender, so plant them after the frosts have passed.
Plant in full sun, 40-100cm apart, and provide support with netting or stakes. Dahlias prefer moist, well-drained soil with lots of organic matter, pH 6-7.
Place the tuber horizontally, with its eyes facing upwards, 10cm deep. Minimise watering until the first shoots appear. Feed with a balanced fertiliser, such as a 10-10-10 NPK mix, and then treat with extra nutrients for flowers and fruit, such as a high-potassium fertiliser, when flowering.
Protect new growth from snails, slugs, and grazing animals. When 20cm tall, pinch tips out to encourage bushy growth for more flowers.
Harvest regularly to promote more flowering. Pick during the cool time of day, and place the stems in cool water for extended vase life.
How to take Cuttings
Sizing Dahlia Flowers
Sizing Dahlia Flowers
A powerpoint on how to propagate more Dahlias.
Sizing Dahlia Flowers
Sizing Dahlia Flowers
Sizing Dahlia Flowers
This chart to help explain the sizing of Dahlia flowers.
Types of Dahlias
Sizing Dahlia Flowers
Types of Dahlias
A visual way to see the varieties with explanations too
More Posters
Showing Dahlias
Types of Dahlias
Posters showing examples of the different types of Dahlias, Pompons, Anemones, Collerettes, Balls and more to come.
Showing Dahlias
Showing Dahlias
Showing Dahlias
Not sure where to start? Try downloading a copy of the show standards to understand what the judges seek. Page 13 is a good place to start.