It's Show Time!

Illustration of an old 1912 "Miss Jessie M. Good" catalog cover featuring a bouquet of dahlias.

I’m not sure why we don’t see more annual bulbs, tuber plants and flowers around this area. I admit they’re work to dig up every year but then they do increase and you don’t need to buy each year. They're some of the most tropical, bright and largest flowers and leaves you can have in your garden.

Today, I’m going to focus on the beautiful show stopper from Mexico, the Dahlia (part of the Compositeae family.) Named after Swedish botanist, Anders Dahl, there are thirty-six species and thousands of varieties. They come in most every color and shade except black, green and blue. Blooms are patterned, single, or double, & from 2 ins. to 1 ft. The plant is from 12 in. to 8 ft. tall. The petals come in a variety of shapes.

Dahlia plants are used as food plants for the larvae of the Angle Shades, Common Swift, Ghost Moth and Large Yellow Underwing.

It is said, “If you can grow tomatoes, you can grow Dahlias.” As with tomatoes, plant Dahlias in well drained humus rich loose soil after danger of frost. They prefer full sun. Stake tall varieties.

Dahlias are heavy feeders, especially in pots. A good water-soluble flower fertilizer about a month prior to blooming and each month thereafter should help.

Dahlias bloom from the middle of summer up to frost. For the finest cut flowers, cut them early in the day, when they first open. Cut Dahlias will last from 5-7 days.

Dahlias often become more beautiful as the weather cools. They should be deadheaded to increase blooming. Pinch back when they are one foot tall to prevent them from becoming “leggy”.

Pests: Watch for slugs, snails and Japanese Beetles (pick these off or use an insecticidal soap.)
Gently dig and store after the first frost. Brush (no water) off as much soil as possible then cut stems back to six inches. Set in a cool dry place for a couple of days. Dust with fungicide and pack them away in vermiculite or sand. Check during the winter throw away any that rot.

There are Heirloom Dahlias or new hybrids introduced every year. The “box” stores have them fairly cheap or the more unusual and spectacular ones are more expensive. Either way, it will be Show Time!

“But each spring a gardening instinct, sure as the sap rising in the trees, stirs within us. We look about and decide to tame another little bit of ground.”

-Lewis Gantt