Bits & Blooms Flower Farm
Molly Raven Dahlia Tuber
Molly Raven Dahlia Tuber
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Variety Details:
Bloom Form: Formal Decorative
Color: Raspberry
Bloom Size: 5" in. - 6" in.
Plant Height: 4' ft. tall
Light Needs: Full sun
Days to Maturity: 80 - 100 days
Bred by English gardener Sarah Raven and named for her youngest daughter, Molly Raven has a soft coffee-pink base streaked with raspberry, like marbled paper. We grew these first-year tubers ourselves at Bits & Blooms Flower Farm in Franklinville, NJ, and the dark stems and foliage made every bloom pop. It’s easy to grow and a standout in South Jersey cutting gardens.
What You'll Receive
What You'll Receive
One divided dahlia tuber with at least one visible eye and an intact neck, grown and stored on our farm. Each tuber is labeled with its variety name.
Pickup Info
Pickup Info
Local pickup only at Bits & Blooms Flower Farm, 47 Shea Ave, Franklinville, NJ. After you order, we'll email your pickup window. Tubers are not shipped.
Storing Until Spring
Storing Until Spring
- Keep tubers somewhere cool, dark and frost-free, ideally 40 to 50°F (a basement or unheated garage that doesn't freeze)
- Store them in a box or paper bag with wood shavings, peat or vermiculite so they don't dry out
- Check once a month: toss any soft or moldy tubers, and lightly mist any that look shriveled
Planting in Spring (South Jersey, 7a)
Planting in Spring (South Jersey, 7a)
- Plant after your last frost, once the soil has warmed, usually early to mid May here
- Lay the tuber on its side 4 to 6 inches deep, eye pointing up, in full sun
- Don't water until green shoots appear; wet, cold soil can rot a tuber
- Pinch the center shoot at about 12 to 16 inches tall for more stems, and stake taller varieties
Dahia Tuber FAQs
Our Tuber Promise
We only sell tubers with an intact neck and at least one visible eye. If you have any issues with the condition of your tubers on arrival please contact us within 3 days.
We cannot guarantee that they’ll grow for you because that depends on the growing conditions and care you provide them. However, we do guarantee that your dahlia will be true to variety; if not we'll replace it for you.
What should I do when my tubers arrive?
Open the package immediately and inspect your tubers for damage. Keep them in the bag and do not let them dry out. Store in a location that is at least 40°F degrees. You can also pot them and let them grow indoors for a month before they go in the ground if you'd like a jump start on the growing season.
When should I plant my tubers outside?
Plant outdoors in Spring, after all danger of frost is over and the soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees (note this is different than air temperatures). For South Jersey, this is typically late-April / early May.
Do not plant if the forecast predicts a prolonged period of wet weather as tubers can rot in cold, saturated soil.
What do you do to mitigate dahlia diseases?
We use sanitation methods between harvesting both blooms and tubers, to avoid spreading dahlia virus and other diseases transmitted from plant to plant. We randomly test our plants each year and pull and compost any with signs of disease.
Do you ship tubers?
Not this year. All tubers are local pickup at the farm in Franklinville, NJ.
When do I pickup my tubers?
After you order, we'll email you a pickup window. Pickups start in November and you'll be emailed a specific window once your order is ready to be picked up.
What's an "eye"?
The eye is the small bump near the stem where next year's sprout grows. A tuber without one won't grow, so we check every tuber before it's listed.
Will my dahlia tuber bloom the first year?
Yes. Plant in May and most varieties start blooming in mid to late summer, then keep going until frost.
It is important to do soil testing and to properly fertilize your dahlias once they have put on foliage and are about 12" inches tall. Proper nutrients in the soil are the key to healthy plants that bloom prolifically for you (not just put on bushy foliage).
Do I really have to store my tubers all Winter?
Yes. Dahlias can't go in the ground until the soil warms in Spring. Our storage card makes it simple, and it takes about five minutes a month.
Store in a location that is at least 40°F degrees.
You can also pot them and let them grow indoors for a month before they go in the ground if you'd like a jump start on the growing season.
Can I grow these in a pot or grow bag?
Absolutely! Shorter varieties do well in a large container, at least 12 to 14 inches wide. Check the plant height on each listing.
Is there a limit per customer?
Yes, 1 tuber per variety per customer. Quantities are small so more people get a chance to grow them.