Growing Dahlias In Alaska: Your Complete Guide To Thriving In The

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

Dreaming of a garden bursting with vibrant, dinner-plate-sized dahlias but worried Alaska’s short, cool season will hold you back? It’s a common concern for gardeners in the Last Frontier. We see those gorgeous blooms in magazines and wonder if it’s even possible here.

I’m here to tell you that not only is it possible, but with a few key strategies, you can cultivate a spectacular dahlia display that will be the envy of the neighborhood. Our unique climate actually offers some surprising advantages for these stunning flowers.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about growing dahlias in alaska. We’ll cover choosing the right varieties, starting them indoors to get a crucial head start, protecting them from our unique challenges, and successfully storing your precious tubers for next year. Let’s get growing!

Why Dahlias Thrive in Alaska’s Unique Climate

It might seem counterintuitive, but our northern climate has a secret weapon: the midnight sun. The long daylight hours during our summer months supercharge plant growth, and dahlias absolutely love it. This is one of the key benefits of growing dahlias in alaska.

Our cooler nights also help. Unlike in hotter climates where dahlias can struggle with heat stress, our moderate temperatures allow the plants to recover overnight. This often results in more intense, vibrant bloom colors and stronger, healthier plants.

With the right approach, you’re not just growing dahlias; you’re growing them in an environment that can bring out their absolute best. You just need to know how to work with our season, not against it.

Your Complete Growing Dahlias in Alaska Guide: Getting Started

Success begins long before you put a tuber in the ground. Proper planning and selection are foundational to a beautiful dahlia patch. Think of this as gathering your tools and ingredients before you start cooking—it makes the whole process smoother.

Choosing the Right Dahlia Varieties

While most dahlias can be grown here, varieties with shorter maturity times are your best bet. Look for those that bloom in 70-90 days. This ensures you’ll get a full season of flowers before the first frost arrives.

  • Early Bloomers: Varieties like ‘Cafe au Lait’ (surprisingly!), ‘Kelgai Ann’, and many of the smaller pompon and ball types tend to flower faster.
  • Check Descriptions: When ordering tubers online, look for descriptions that mention “early to bloom” or provide a “days to maturity” number.
  • Local Swaps: Connect with local Alaskan gardening groups! Tubers from fellow local gardeners are already proven to perform well in our climate.

Sourcing Your Tubers

Quality matters. A healthy tuber looks firm and plump, much like a small potato, with at least one visible “eye” or bud. Avoid any that are soft, shriveled, or moldy.

You can find dahlia tubers at local nurseries in the spring, but for the best selection, consider ordering from reputable online suppliers in late winter. This gives you time to receive them before it’s time to wake them up.

Essential Supplies

Before you begin, gather a few key items. Having everything on hand makes the process much more enjoyable.

  1. Gallon-Sized Pots: For starting tubers indoors (pre-sprouting).
  2. Quality Potting Mix: A well-draining mix is crucial to prevent rot.
  3. Plant Labels: Trust me, you will forget which variety is which. Label them immediately!
  4. Stakes or Cages: For supporting taller varieties once they are in the garden.
  5. Organic Compost: To enrich your garden soil before planting.

The Alaskan Dahlia Timeline: From Waking Up to Planting Out

Timing is everything when it comes to how to growing dahlias in alaska. Our short season means we must give our plants a significant head start indoors. This is one of the most important growing dahlias in alaska tips you’ll learn.

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Step 1: Waking Up Your Tubers (4-6 Weeks Before Last Frost)

Your goal is to have a small, sturdy plant ready to go into the ground as soon as the danger of frost has passed (typically early to mid-June for many parts of Alaska). Start this process indoors around late April or early May.

Place each tuber horizontally in a gallon pot filled with damp (not wet!) potting soil. The “eye” of the tuber should be facing up, and the whole tuber should be covered by about 2 inches of soil. Place the pots in a warm, sunny spot. Do not water again until you see green growth emerge from the soil.

Step 2: Preparing Your Garden Bed

While your tubers are waking up inside, prepare their future home. Dahlias are heavy feeders and demand excellent drainage.

  • Location: Choose a spot that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight. This is easy to achieve with our long summer days!
  • Soil: Dahlias prefer slightly acidic, rich, well-draining soil. Amend your garden beds by mixing in a generous amount of compost or well-rotted manure. This is a key part of sustainable growing dahlias in alaska.
  • Drainage: If you have heavy clay soil, consider raised beds to ensure water doesn’t pool around the tubers, which can cause them to rot.

Step 3: Hardening Off and Planting Out

Once the last frost date has passed and your potted dahlias have several sets of leaves, it’s time to move them outside. Don’t just shock them by moving them directly into the garden!

For about a week, “harden them off” by placing the pots outside in a sheltered spot for a few hours each day, gradually increasing their exposure to sun and wind. This acclimatizes them and prevents transplant shock.

Dig a hole a little larger than the pot, gently place the plant inside (soil and all), and backfill. The crown of the plant (where the stalk meets the tubers) should be just below the soil surface. If you’re planting a tall variety, now is the best time to put your support stake in, just a few inches from the stalk, to avoid damaging the tubers later.

Growing Dahlias in Alaska Care Guide

Once your dahlias are in the ground, the real fun begins! With our intense growing season, you’ll see progress almost daily. Following these growing dahlias in alaska best practices will ensure a healthy, bloom-filled summer.

Watering Wisely

Dahlias are thirsty, but they hate “wet feet.” Water them deeply 2-3 times a week, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. A good, long soak is better than a light daily sprinkle. During rainy spells, you may not need to water at all.

Feeding for Flowers

To support vigorous growth and abundant blooms, dahlias need the right nutrients. Use a low-nitrogen fertilizer (like a 5-10-10 or 10-20-20 formula) after the plants are established and about a foot tall. High nitrogen creates beautiful, bushy green plants but very few flowers!

Feed them every 3-4 weeks until early August. An eco-friendly growing dahlias in alaska approach is to use organic options like bone meal, fish emulsion, or other bloom-booster formulas.

To Pinch or Not to Pinch?

This is a scary step for beginners, but it’s a game-changer! When your plant is about 12-16 inches tall and has 3-4 sets of leaves, “pinch” or snip off the top central shoot. It feels wrong, but I promise it works!

This encourages the plant to branch out from the lower leaf nodes, resulting in a much bushier plant with significantly more, albeit slightly smaller, blooms. For giant “dinner-plate” varieties, you might skip this step if you want to focus the plant’s energy on one massive flower.

Common Problems with Growing Dahlias in Alaska (and How to Solve Them)

Even with the best care, you might encounter a few challenges. Don’t worry! Here’s a look at the most common problems with growing dahlias in alaska and how to handle them.

Slugs and Snails

Our damp climate is a paradise for slugs. They can decimate a young dahlia plant overnight. Use pet-safe slug bait, beer traps, or copper tape around your beds to deter them. A morning patrol to hand-pick them is also surprisingly effective.

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Powdery Mildew

This white, dusty-looking fungus can appear on leaves during cool, damp weather. Ensure good air circulation by giving your plants enough space. If you spot it, you can treat it with a neem oil spray or a commercial fungicide.

Weak Stems and Toppling Plants

This is why we stake early! Dahlia blooms, especially the large ones, are heavy and can easily snap stems in the wind or rain. Provide support with stakes, tomato cages, or a netting system before the plant needs it.

The Grand Finale: Harvesting and Overwintering Your Tubers

As the season winds down and the first frost threatens, it’s time to prepare for winter. The most critical part of growing dahlias in Alaska is successfully digging and storing the tubers.

Wait for the first hard frost to kill the foliage. The plant will turn black. This signals the tubers to go dormant for winter. Cut the stalks down to about 6 inches. Carefully dig around the plant with a pitchfork or shovel, giving it a wide berth to avoid spearing the tubers. Gently lift the entire clump from the ground.

Rinse the soil off the tubers and let them dry in a cool, protected place (like a garage) for a few days. Once dry, you can divide the clumps if you wish—making sure each individual tuber has a piece of the old stalk and a visible eye. Pack them in a cardboard box or plastic bin with a medium like peat moss, wood shavings, or vermiculite. Store them in a cool, dark place that stays around 40-50°F all winter. Check on them periodically to ensure they aren’t shriveling or molding.

Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Dahlias in Alaska

When should I plant my dahlias in Alaska?

You should start your dahlia tubers indoors in pots about 4-6 weeks before your last expected frost date. Plant the sprouted dahlias out into the garden in early to mid-June, once all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up.

Do I have to dig up my dahlia tubers in the fall?

Yes, absolutely. Dahlia tubers are not winter-hardy and will freeze and rot if left in the ground over an Alaskan winter. Digging them up after the first killing frost is essential for growing them again next year.

What are the best dahlia varieties for Alaska’s short season?

Look for varieties that are labeled as “early blooming” or have a shorter days-to-maturity (under 90 days is ideal). Smaller flowering types like ball, pompon, and collarette dahlias often perform very well and bloom prolifically in our climate.

Why are my dahlias all leaves and no flowers?

This is a classic sign of too much nitrogen. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, especially once the plant is established. Switch to a “bloom booster” formula that is higher in phosphorus and potassium to encourage flower production instead of leafy growth.

Go Forth and Grow!

Growing dahlias in Alaska is more than just possible—it’s incredibly rewarding. The sight of those magnificent, colorful blooms against a backdrop of mountains and endless summer skies is something truly special.

Don’t be intimidated by our short season. By giving your plants a head start, providing them with rich soil and support, and faithfully saving your tubers each fall, you can create a stunning dahlia garden year after year.

You have the knowledge, you have the tips, and now all that’s left is to try. Happy gardening!

Rimon Chowdhury
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