Dahlias are beautiful flowers that delight with a variety of colors, long flowering for several months. Growing dahlias and caring for them is not difficult. To do this, you need to know the basic rules for planting, care and storage of tubers.
Instructions
Step 1
Plant dahlia tubers in mid-May in a well-lit area, take into account the weather conditions in the region and the presence of frost. Dahlia stems and leaves do not tolerate them, so you need to plant them a week or two before the possible last frost. Having dug up or simply loosened the soil, dig holes not half a meter apart, fill them with water. It is advisable to dilute fertilizer in this water - organic or mineral. When the water is absorbed, plant the tubers horizontally - this way more roots are formed, the bush will be more resilient. If the varieties are tall, immediately dig in a peg with the tubers for further garter, so that they do not damage them later. For undersized varieties, there is no need for a peg, but it is imperative to outline the place where the bush is planted - this will facilitate the first weeding.
Step 2
Weed or flatten the soil as soon as the first weeds appear, without affecting the very place where the bush will grow. Shoots may already appear in the ground, which can be inadvertently cut off. When the main area is clear of weeds, it will not be difficult to pull out a small amount of them inside the bush by hand, when the first sprouts of dahlias appear. When the dahlias reach a height of 10-15 centimeters, spud them. Tall varieties can be pinned up to a height of 30 centimeters and above. In this case, there will not be many flowers, but they will grow to a large size. Stunted varieties do not need to be pinned. If you want to achieve a lush and long flowering of the whole bush, cut the first flower.
Step 3
Dahlias bloom from mid-summer until the first frost. All this time, they need to be watered in drought, and after the rains, loosen the soil around the bushes. Cut off any dead buds, as seed formation takes away the strength of the bush, and the view becomes cleaner. During the flowering period, dahlias do not require any special care, they just bloom and delight. The most difficult thing to preserve in the winter is the planting material - the tubers themselves.
Step 4
The ideal time to dig up tubers is after the first severe frost, but if you cannot go to the country just for the sake of dahlias, dig them up earlier, when it is convenient. Do this with a shovel, sticking it vertically into the ground 20 centimeters from the base of the bush, after cutting off the stems at a height of 30 centimeters from the neck. Prying the bush from three sides, take it out along with a lump of earth and shake it off slightly, then rinse off the remaining soil with water, dry it a little. Divide the bush right away for reproduction next year. You can do this in the spring by selecting the healthiest tubers for planting.
Step 5
Place the tubers in a net or in small boxes, place them for the winter where they will not freeze. Storing dahlias is very similar to storing potatoes - there should be no frost, strong heat, not very dry indoors. Suitable places are cellars, verandas and even closed balconies of apartments. In the spring, take out the tubers 1-2 weeks before planting, sort out and germinate a little in the warmth, and then plant again, take care and wait for beautiful flowers.
