How to Grow Dahlia 'Christie Merlot' from Tuber

By The Diggers Club - Australia's No.1 Gardening Club | Published: 2026-10-25

Category: How-to Guides

Learn how to plant, care for, and store Dahlia 'Christie Merlot' tubers. This guide covers soil prep, watering, staking, and winter storage for rich, moody blooms.

Quick answer

Plant Dahlia 'Christie Merlot' tubers in spring after the last frost, in well-draining soil with full sun, and water deeply once a week. Start tubers indoors in pots for earlier blooms, then transplant after hardening off.

Why choose Dahlia 'Christie Merlot'?

This small decorative dahlia produces rich, moody blooms ranging from dusty red to warm burnt orange and terracotta, with petals that curl beautifully toward the centre. The darker stems add extra contrast, making it a standout in both garden beds and cut flower arrangements. It's a vigorous and prolific variety, so you'll get plenty of blooms from each tuber.

When to plant tubers

Wait until the soil has warmed and all risk of frost has passed—typically mid-spring in most climates. If you want an earlier start, plant tubers in pots indoors 4–6 weeks before your last frost date. This gives the plant a head start and can extend the flowering season by several weeks.

Step-by-step planting guide

Prepare the planting site: Choose a spot with full sun (at least 6 hours daily) and well-draining soil. Dig in compost or well-rotted manure to improve fertility and drainage. If planting in heavy clay, consider raised beds or large pots. Poor drainage is the most common cause of tuber rot—amend heavy soil before planting.
Plant the tuber: Dig a hole about 4–6 inches deep. Place the tuber horizontally with the eye (the small growth bud) facing upward. Cover with soil and water lightly. Space tubers 12–18 inches apart to allow air circulation. Planting too deep delays emergence; too shallow leaves tubers exposed. Stick to 4–6 inches.
Water and stake: Water deeply once a week, more often during dry spells. Avoid overhead watering to prevent mildew. Insert a sturdy stake at planting time to avoid damaging the tuber later. Tie stems loosely as they grow. Staking early prevents root disturbance—waiting until the plant is large risks breaking the tuber.
Fertilise and deadhead: Feed with a balanced, low-nitrogen fertiliser every 4–6 weeks during the growing season. Remove spent blooms regularly (deadhead) to encourage continuous flowering. Stop fertilising by late summer. High nitrogen fertiliser produces lush leaves but fewer flowers—use a bloom-booster formula instead.
Lift and store tubers in autumn: After the first frost kills the foliage, cut stems back to 6 inches. Carefully dig up the tuber clump, shake off soil, and let it dry in a frost-free shed for a few days. Store in a box with dry peat moss or vermiculite at 40–50°F (4–10°C). Do not wash tubers before storage—moisture leads to rot. Check monthly and discard any soft or mouldy ones.

Product facts

Dahlia 'Christie Merlot' Tuber: A vigorous and prolific variety that produces plenty of beautiful blooms, making it a wonderful choice for both the garden and cutting. You can expect a continuous supply of cut flowers from mid-summer through autumn with minimal extra effort.
Dahlia 'Christie Merlot' Tuber