Skip to main content

Simple Uses for Dahlias

 

When you have a large crop of dahlias from the garden or market, you don't have time to casually include them in complicated recipes or to frantically figure out how to use them up before they go bad without getting sick of them.  You want to make the most of your harvest and to actually enjoy it.


Here at Plant to Plate, we like to keep things simple!  Here are some of my favorite ways to use or preserve dahlias:


  • Sauté or stirfry the petals and tubers with garlic.



  • Cook the tubers with garlic and hot grains such as rice or quinoa.  In other words, the dahlia tubers and garlic are in the pot with the grains while the grains are cooking.

  • Add the petals to egg dishes such as quiches and scrambles.

  • Add the tubers and petals to soups and broths.

  • Add the petals to sandwiches.


  • Add the petals to other salads.

  • Make infused vinegar.  Dahlia petal vinegar can be used as a salad dressing.  Petals can be infused in vinegar alone or with other herbs such as peppermint, echinacea, lemon balm, or garlic.

  • Make infused oil.  Dahlia petals can be infused into oils such as coconut or jojoba oil, which can be further processed into products such as lotions and salves that take advantage of dahlias' emollient properties.  Learn more about herbal oils here.

  • Make a tea.  Dahlia flower petals can be made into an infusion or added to an infusion blend.  Dahlia tubers (roots) can be decocted or added to a decoction blend.

  • Make a tincture with the petals.  The suggested herb:solvent ratio for a dahlia petal tincture is 1:5 in 40% alcohol.





Further Reading

Growing dahlias?  Check out these quick facts like their best growing conditions, companion plants, and expected yields.


Dahlias are also featured in these articles:


Get your free garden planner!

Get the Plan Ahead! Printable Garden Planner (normally $10) absolutely FREE with email signup. You'll also get our latest content and updates sent directly to your inbox for FREE. Plan your next garden better!

    We respect your privacy. We won't sell your data or send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.




    Popular posts from this blog

    Growing Kale: Quick Facts

    Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the patio, or anywhere else, kale is a great addition or re-addition to your plant family.  Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing kale. Jump to: Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading What  Family  Does Kale Belong To? Kale ( Brassica oleracea var. sabellica ) belongs to the Brassicaceae family , also known as the cabbage family . Some of its relatives include cauliflower , radishes , and broccoli . What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Kale? The minimum container depth recommended for kale is 8 inches.   However, a container that is at least 12 inches deep is preferred.  This size is less likely to cramp the roots, so it can result in larger leaves.   A container that is...
    Read more

    Growing Marshmallow: Quick Facts

    Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the patio, or anywhere else, marshmallow is a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing marshmallow. Jump to: Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | When to Harvest | Ingestibility | Further Reading What  Family  Does Marshmallow Belong To? Marshmallow ( Althea officinalis ) belongs to the Malvaceae family , also known as the mallow family . Some of its relatives include okra, hollyhock, and cacao. What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Marshmallow? The minimum container size recommended for marshmallow is 5 gallons. A 5-gallon bucket or container is usually about 12 inches deep.  But the capacity of the container is important because marshmallow needs to spread out in all directions, not just vert...
    Read more

    Growing Marigolds: Quick Facts

    Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the windowsill, or anywhere else, marigolds are a great addition or re-addition to your plant family.  Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing marigolds. Jump to: Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading What Family Do Marigolds Belong To? Marigolds ( Tagetes spp. ) belong to the Asteraceae family , also known as the daisy family . Some of their relatives include lettuce , gaillardia , and chamomile . What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Marigolds? The minimum container depth recommended for marigolds depends on the type and variety. For French marigolds, the minimum depth is 6 inches. For Mexican and African marigolds, the minimum depth is 10 inches. Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Con...
    Read more