Dahlias of all Types with Tips

Hungry feeders and thirsty plants can repay a bit of support with oodles of colourful flowers.

Cactus or semi-cactus like this Dana, Super (red) or Morley Lass a pale yellow
Single flowered dahlias are open centred flowers up to 4 inches in diameter with a single ring of florets around a central disc. There are self colours or some bicolours.
Collarette similar to singles with a extra ring of shorter florets around the middle
Ball dahlias or the smaller pompon have tight spherical flowerheads
Decorative dahlias are classified for shows in large (over 10 inch blooms), medium, small and miniature sizes
Other miscellaneous dahlias that don’t fall into another category often linked to the flower formations of other plants like Chrysanthemeum, Anemone, Paeony, Orchid or Water-Lily forms.
Annual bedding dahlias from seed

Start tubers into growth in March in a frost free environment
Thin to 3 shoots and stop them if they get to 6 inches. Spare shoots can be rooted as cuttings.
Plant out at the end of May with some bone meal. Dahlias like space of there own and do not want competition for root space.
Stop the plants again to make them bushy and more wind resistant
Stake in proportion to the likely plant size about one 4-5 foot stake for support will do. you don’t want the stakes to show.
Do not damage the root and tie early, the stake can be 6 inches away from the main stem
Dahlias are moisture loving plants so keep well watered
Disbudding will create larger blooms and stimulate new growth, leave the central bud and pinch out the side buds.
Dahlias put on massive growth during the season and so need feeding withÂ fertiliser and mulching with compost .
Tubers can be lifted and stored for the next season. in mild areas plants can stay in the ground but I find they are later to grow and flower.
Leave plants until the foliage blackens with frost and you will get flowers until October

Lady Linda small yellow decorative
Alva’s Supreme a giant yellow needing no special attention
Symbol an orange coloured semi cactus which will grow anywhere (almost)
Klankstad Kerkrade a prolific show winner
Bishop of Landaff a purple leaved and flowered collarette that is a bit trendy at the moment. not as robust and long lived as some varieties
Rothesay superb a strong red ball dahlia.
Golden Leader or other ideas from the dahlia society if you get really interested in dahlias

Gardeners Tips