Sarah Raven - How to grow dahlias | Good Housekeeping UK

Although originally a native of Mexico, dahlias have become a British classic. A few years ago though, they fell out of favour with gardeners who thought of them as an old fashioned, gaudy and time consuming plant their great granddads grew on their allotments.

Fortunately after decades in the doldrums, they are enjoying a revival due to their vast colour range and fantastic flower power – those with single blooms are also a magnet to bees and butterflies. This has made them a real crowd pleaser and popular garden plant.

We visited Sarah Raven's cutting garden in east Sussex where she grows an incredible range of dahlias.

[shanlynwebb]

I still have my grandmothers dahlias .. they are decades old and fantastic

[Thedairy]

I love listening to Sarah as she is so articulate. Her description of the flowers is so rich that if I couldn’t see them I would have a vivid image of what they look like in my mind.

[taravaotahiti]

How blessed you are to be surrounded with such splendid beauty.

[katipohl]

Molly Raven is really supreme. Waltzing Mathilda will move to my garden too together with Sarah Raven. .

[karenhart]

Sarah your garden is absolutely gorgeous ! Thank you 🧤👒🐨🦘🇦🇺🙌

[AJsGreenThumbLLC]

Thank you for the wealth of knowledge on a fast becoming favorite flower of mine!! I have dived head first into dahlias and am now nursing 50+ for the upcoming summer season. Thanks for all the inspiration.

[ulricawalfridsson]

Molly Raven is my absolute favourite Dahlia. Early blooming and with sooo beautiful color and dark stems! Love it! 🤩

[SimplySueLee]

I’m starting my first cut flower garden and this was so informative. Dahlias are so beautiful.

[INDAYMJTV]

Beautiful garden with diffirent kinds of flowers love thier colors

[RoseTorn]

Thank you for these very informative videos on Dahlias. I live in zone 7b and bought my first Dahlias and learning all I can for my first spring with them.

[odettendayi]

I love love your garden 🎉. Thank you so much 💕

[MercylifeintheUk]

Hi Sarah, I just planted today dahlia bulbs and to my surprise seen this video, very nice flowers, thanks for sharing. I am from the Philippines but living here in UK. I subscribe to your channel cos I want to learn more about planting flowers.

[johnkulcsar]

Fabulous video & informational too. Thank you Sarah for sharing.

[flexwinggpipi]

Just had 10 small plants from you. They look really healthy. Just potted them on can't wait to get them in the ground

[ninelaivz]

I planted some dahlias tubers in a border that was bordered by grass. When the tubers produced stems and leaves at 8 inches high I noticed that one of the dahlias was decimated whilst the others were untouched. I threw down pellets and beer traps but caught nothing. I few days later I decided to trim the grass edge as it had overgrown in length and was covering the border. I lifted the grass up to cut it, underneath right by the decimated dahlia I found 20 slugs and a few more next to the next dahlia along. I scissored them in half and learnt my lesson. That dahlia which was left with denuded stems made a comeback and it's buds are about to open 6 weeks late. I couldn't believe it and I'm happy I left it there as I figured I'll use its tubers next year.

[radha]

Dahlias are my fav flowers thank you💐🌹🏵️

[Katya-zjni]

I’ve just bought a couple of your Molly Ravens, it’s exquisite, I can’t wait to introduce them to their dahlia friends, I think they’ll be perfect amongst Cafe au Lait.

[vincentbynumbers]

Lovely video! Thanks for the information! <3

[veronicavinci]

L’unica cosa che mi dispiace è non poter acquistare queste meraviglie da te.😔 sono in Italia, ma presto verrò a trovarti e visitare il tuo meraviglioso giardino, se sarà possibile. Nel frattempo continuerò a seguire i tuoi preziosi consigli😏

[alancarlyon]

Hi Sarah, I have just taken over the chores needing done in our gardens due to my wife's illness! I see my neighbours gardens full of these glorious colourful flowers which I would like to grow and show in my gardens! When is the best time to plant Dahlias seeds and holy hock seeds? I live in Scotland, so the temperature will differ from down south! Many thanks!