Left to Right: * Sellwood Glory * Cafe Au Lait * Maki
* Iceberg * LÁncresse * B-Man
Here is my order from Swan Island Dahlias. I’ve borrowed their photographs because I await some brown, somewhat sweet potato-shaped tubers.
These magnificent blooms are the glory of the late summer cutting garden, but we must be patient while thinking ahead in the dead of winter. Order early to avoid disappointment after you’ve set your heart on a particular flower of your dreams. What visions of dahlias dance in your head?
Planting Directions
Plant your dahlia tubers from mid April to late May in well-drained, soil with a temperature of 60 degrees F. Dahlias prefer full sun. Space 4 to 6-inches deep, 18 to 24-inches apart. Stake when they reach over 2-feet.
Some Growing Tips
Withhold watering until shoots begin to emerge. Then begin deep watering, 2 to 3 times per week.
Feed with compost and a low nitrogen, organic fertilizer.
Pinch back growing tips when plant reaches 18″-inches tall.
Hand-pick off slugs. Ugh, but necessary.
For an earlier show of flowers, start indoors in pots with organic potting soil. Place in your sunniest window.
Harvest after the early morning dew has evaporated. Place stems in hot water and let sit for 1 hour.
Dig up tubers after first killing frost. Brush off the dirt but do not wash. Store in very slightly damp peat moss or wood shavings. Keep at 40 to 50 degrees F and check periodically for rot.
Here is a photo from my post, Late Summer Flowers, with some dahlia’s I grew for Kendra and Eduardo’s wedding in 2015.
Check back here in August and I’ll post some photos of the dahlias of 2017.
– Sheila
