Planting flowers in the vegetable garden is not a new idea, it has been done for centuries if not longer. There are a lot of benefits of planting flowers with vegetables, although most people plant them together because their garden is rather small. Instead of growing just vegetables in a small garden, you can actually plant flowers between them as well, especially tall flowers like Dahlias.
Dahlias make excellent companion plants for your vegetable garden. With their wide range of sizes, shapes, and vibrant colors, you can easily find dahlias that complement and enhance the overall beauty of your garden. They not only add visual appeal but also attract pollinators, which can benefit your vegetable plants by aiding in pollination.
Although you can plant Dahlias with vegetables, this is not always a good idea. If you have ever grown vegetables, you already know that pests and diseases can be a massive problem. Dahlias are one of the most sensitive plants, and pests do love them. Growing Dahlias in the vegetable garden is possible but you will have to keep an eye out for the Dahlias and their needs, especially if your garden has snails, slugs, and aphids.
If your vegetables are constantly plagued by powdery mildew, I wouldn’t really recommend planting Dahlias in the same spot. Most vegetables will be able to fight off the powdery mildew, but the Dahlias are less likely to survive. If you want to plant Dahlias in groups then check out my recent article Can You Plant Dahlias In Groups? ( 5 Things To Look Out For ).
Can You Plant Dahlias With Vegetables?
Yes, you can plant dahlias alongside vegetables in your garden. Dahlias are ornamental flowering plants that can add beauty and vibrancy to any garden space, including vegetable gardens. When planting dahlias with vegetables, it’s important to consider a few factors. First, ensure that the vegetables receive adequate sunlight and are not overshadowed by the taller dahlia plants. Provide enough spacing between the dahlias and vegetables to prevent competition for nutrients and water.
Additionally, be mindful of the root systems of both the dahlias and the vegetables to avoid any interference. Regular maintenance practices, such as proper watering, fertilization, and weed control, are essential for the overall health and productivity of both the dahlias and the vegetables.
The Dahlias Will Attract Pests To Your Vegetables
One of the main problems with planting Dahlias in the vegetable garden is that they will attract a lot of pests, the more Dahlias you have the more pests will come and feed on the Dahlias and even on the vegetables. At this point you will have to decide which is more important to you, the Dahlias or the vegetables. Vegetables also have their fair share of pests, which will have no problem feeding on the Dahlias.
If you start seeing new pests showing up in your vegetable garden, then you have to identify them as soon as possible, and if needed get rid of them. If you want to plant Dahlias with roses then check out my recent article Can You Plant Dahlias With Roses? ( Top 15 Combinations ).
Planting Dahlias With Vegetables Is Better For Smaller Gardens
The smaller your vegetable garden is, the easier it will be for you to manage the pests and treat the various diseases that tend to show up. If you have a rather large vegetable garden, and you plant the Dahlias in one of the corners, then you probably won’t notice if the leaves or the stem of the Dahlias got damaged by slugs or even rabbits. After the first year of growing your Dahlias in the vegetable garden, you will have a fairly good idea, of where they will grow better, and if they need any special treatment.
Put Plastic Bottles On The Dahlia Tubers After Planting Them In The Vegetable Garden
Dahlias are the most sensitive when they are sprouting, even a lonely slug can eat the sprouts of several Dahlias in a single day. Usually, Dahlias will be able to sprout several times, but there is a limit on how many times they will be able to sprout as sooner or later the Dahlia tubers will have no more nutrients or energy to do so. Although using slug pellets is a good idea, but the main problem with them is that even after the slugs and snails eat the pellets they still have time to eat the Dahlia sprouts before they kick the bucket.
It is vital that you put a protective barrier between the Dahlias and the pests right after you have planted the tubers. Simply cut in half a plastic bottle, remove the cap, and place it on top of the Dahlia tubers. Once the Dahlias have sprouted, leave the plastic bottle on top of them, until their leaves start touching the plastic bottle, at which point you have to remove the bottles. There are some plants that you should avoid planting with Dahlias, for more information check out my recent article What Not To Plant With Dahlias ( Top 8 Types Of Plants ).
You Will Have To Fertilize The Dahlias In The Vegetable Garden
If you have good soil, with plenty of compost, and organic matter then you can skip this part. On the other hand, if you have always fertilized your vegetables, then you have to do the same with the Dahlias as well. Different vegetables have different needs, and they can simply suck the topsoil dry of nutrients. Dahlias can grow in low nutrient environments but usually, they will be smaller and they also tend to be prone to getting sick.
Not All Vegetable Gardens Are Suitable For Growing Dahlias
As Dahlias tend to be somewhat sensitive plants, they do not grow that well when there is a lot of competition around them. Vegetables tend to be rather hungry and thirsty plants, that will simply outgrow the Dahlias. In addition to this, the pests, and diseases that both the vegetables and the Dahlias attack can make growing them in the vegetable garden rather difficult. Make sure to plant the Dahlias next to vegetables that have deep roots, as these will not compete with the roots of the Dahlias as they are fairly shallow.
Key Takeaways
- Dahlias can be planted with vegetables, although it won’t always work out as you imagine. The main problem with planting Dahlias with vegetables is that the Dahlias tend to be prone to diseases like wilt, powdery mildew, and have their fair share of pests as well that are all too common in vegetable gardens. As long as you keep a close eye on your Dahlias in the vegetable garden, you should have no problems.
- It is extremely important to fertilize your Dahlias in the vegetable garden, as most vegetables are extremely competitive and could starve the Dahlias out.
- If your garden is frequently plagued by powdery mildew, and wilt then I wouldn’t recommend you plant Dahlias next to the vegetables.
