Ordering for 2026: a Rainy-Day Reflection
This morning I pressed “send” on our 2026 dahlia order with Fred de Meulder. It’s always a slightly nerve-tingling moment, committing to another year of dahlia growing (and a significant minus in the bank account). The catalogue brims with temptation and, truthfully, I want them all.
But every year the order must be thoughtful and guided by what we’ve learnt in the field, what excites me personally, and where we’re heading as a flower farm and dahlia nursery.
Like any small business owner, I’m acutely aware that every crate I add means more plants to sell next year. Cashflow, space, energy, logistics, these all matter. So, instead of a “go large and worry in spring” approach, I plan carefully, forecasting potential sales at shows, online and for cut stems. (Yes, it involves a very large spreadsheet.)
I got round to doing the order today as it is a very rainy day here on our flower farm and that means I’m inside doing desk work. I cut the last of this week’s orders yesterday as I heard talk of Storm Amy and for me, cutting dahlias in the rain is like trying to bake a cake in a fridge. The ingredients are right but it just doesn’t work out well.
The last trolley to come up yesterday:
So back at my desk, here’s what shaped my order this time round:
1. Our Mission to Become a 100 % British Dahlia Nursery
My goal is that by 2027 every dahlia we produce will be 100 % British-grown, propagated from our own mother stock.
I currently grow about 60 varieties, but that’s not enough to sustain full British production, so this year I’ve ordered around 40 new ones.
Some varieties are perfect for this, they throw strong shoots and root easily. Others, like Carolina Wagemans, are exquisite but hopeless for storing or propagating. A few of the trialled potted varieties simply won’t make the grade.
2. Trials and Tribulations on the Plot
At the end of last season I binned about 15 varieties that were weak or useless for cutting (floppy stems, squat growth). For 2025 I trialled 40 new ones; about 30 proved strong, healthy and prolific. They’ll now join favourites such as Evanah, Sweet Nathalie and Cornel Bronze on our permanent list.
It’s survival of the fittest here. If a variety struggles in our conditions, it goes, no matter how fashionable. Strength and consistency matter more than hype; if they don’t thrive here, they won’t thrive in your gardens.
(Alt text: Rows of trial dahlias in the field labelled with variety names)
3. Upping Our Waterlily Dahlia Stock
I’m often asked my favourite type of dahlia. It’s a tough one, but this year the waterlily dahlias have been the stars. Their layered petals bring softness and elegance, balancing the stronger forms. In the field they catch the light; in a vase, they lend gentle texture.
Our current showstopper waterlily dahlias are White Onesta, Onesta, Mister Frans, Sam Hopkins and Twiggy — all excellent in both border and cutting patch.
For 2026 I’m adding Rancho (a second chance after five years), Bonesta, Yvonne and Yelno Harmony. The waterlilies have also been our best-selling potted dahlias at shows and online.
And excitingly, we have a new home-bred variety – Cotswold Robin S – which looks to be a waterlily type. We’re awaiting formal classification, but it is a beauty and will feature in future diaries.
Six Things to Consider When Choosing Dahlias for your Garden or Cutting Patch
1. Refresh old favourites
Dahlias run out of puff after about 3 years if they are left in the ground because the tubers get massive and there’s no space for new tuber growth, so if you have a favourite, you may want to replenish some stock so you have a 3 year rolling cycle going on. If you lift do split or take cuttings (all covered in future diaries).
2. Know your dahlia categories
Find out what the ones you like are in your garden by category (ball, waterlily, decorative - size is important here) and go in search of more of the same in a different colour. A giant decorative is not the same as a small decorative for obvious reasons.
3. Fill the gaps
Do the above and see if there are any gaps e.g. have you got loads of the decoratives but are missing some amazing ball dahlias like Caitlyn’s Joy, which I think is my favourite ball dahlia of all time and have included a couple of crates of so we can up our production. You may not have come across a waterlily before so you could try one of those.
4. Plan spacing for purpose
If you are going to be planting them for cutting, you can get 6 in a square meter so plan for that. For the border, they need a bit more space as you aren’t chopping into them.
5. Match type to use
Again, if planting for cutting avoid singles which don’t generally last in the vase after pollination. However, these are showstoppers if you simply want to enjoy them in your garden or in pots. I LOVE a riotous, vigorous, bright white or deep red single. Especially the ones with the dark foliage.
6. Watch the 2026 trend: Collerette Dahlias
Anemone and collerette types, again, great for pots and gardens, not so great for cut flowers. Collerettes are probably going to be the biggest dahlia trend of 2026. If you are a fashion forward fella or fellaress, get your hands on a Campus if you can or a Rhubarb and Custard then you’ll be right up there with the best of them. I binned my Teesbrook Audrey four years ago as I couldn’t get it to last in the vase more than 4 days. Gave them all to my mother and am seriously considering seeking into her garden and digging them up to produce rooted cuttings for 2026!
Book recommendation for further reading on dahlias
If you need some inspiration, are just starting out in your dahlia growing journey or fancy a few delicious hours learning more about these amazing flowers, I highly recommend Erin Benzakein’s (Floret on Instagram) book Discovering Dahlias which you can get on Amazon here.
Erin’s guide covers classification, seed saving, cuttings, and arranging, all paired with stunning photography. Many listed varieties aren’t in the UK yet, but you’ll find familiar names to seek out.
Ordering Tips & Final Thoughts
Most importantly of all, have fun and relish in the process of choosing your varieties of next year. Browse those websites of promise but also do keep enjoying your flowers from this year. Look at old gardening books you may have and see what varieties they have in there. I plan on spending a large chunk of the forthcoming rainy weekend searching for 1920’s dahlia catalogues on eBay.
There are 10 varieties that I really wanted from FdeM that are now out of stock. If I’d pulled my finger out and done my order on the way back from my trip there three weeks ago I probably would have them. But I didn’t. However, there is no way on earth that next year I’m going to be standing in the field thinking to myself, amazing dahlias but it’s a totally rubbish season as I don’t have Ariston. It is simply not going to happen. So don’t get panicked by the hype or panic buy tubers because they say limited stock. This could be true, but it also could be because the sellers have too many and want to panic everyone into clearing their warehouses of varieties they don’t think will sell. Cynical, moi?
If there’s a particular variety you are yearning after, do by all means, grab it now. Some sellers don’t open their order books until New Year’s Day - famously Rose Cottage Plants. A few years ago now before I went large and got a Dutch wholesaler, I bedded down at 10pm on NYE and set an alarm for 11:58pm to jump on their website. I loved the experience but don’t need to do it every year (note the spaniel on the sofa behind the ham..! Also note the total in the basket….eeeeek!!)
If all else fails, if the tubers arrive broken, they don’t come up or you are sent the wrong ones, we will have your back come Spring 2026 with our garden ready dahlia plants, tried and tested varieties that I know will thrive in people’s gardens. In the meantime, happy tuber shopping!!
Rachel
