In our climate zone, dahlias are perennials that do not winter in the ground; so after the vegetation is over, they have to be dug out. The ones we know today are hybrids originally derived from two species: Dahlia pinnata and Dahlia coccinea.It is estimated that there are over 2,000 varieties available, and their number is constantly growing …So everyone will find something for themselves.
Dahlia leaves are composed of three triangular dark green leaves with a slightly serrated edge. The underground part, the so-called granary, takes the form of thickened, fleshy roots. We professionally call them carp and it is there that the plant stores spare substances for the winter.
Dahlias, depending on the variety, can grow up to almost 2 m.Dwarf varieties are perfect for containers, balcony boxes and a rebate front.Medium-tall varieties can be combined with other summer perennials, such as delphiniums, eagles, ornamental grasses, or create plantings composed only of dahlias. The tallest ones should be displayed individually on the background of the lawn, create sheltering lines or plant flowerbeds at the back.
In horticulture, the most important division is used in terms of the structure of flowers. There are dahlias with single, double and full flowers.However, also within these groups characteristic subgroups are distinguished.And this is how we distinguish pompom dahlias (with flowers like balls), single anemones (resembling anemones flowers). Orchid dahlias are similar to them. Cactus plants have long narrow petals, and peonies have huge, full flowers, like those of water lilies.
The most important groups of dahlias
There are a few more groups that differ in the details of the structure of the petals and the filling of the inflorescence basket. But what is interesting, in single and double varieties there are lingual and tubular flowers, and in full varieties only ligaments. These are the wonders of nature …Even picky plant lovers will choose something for themselves, because the range of dahlias colors is unlimited.Pure blue and black varieties have not yet been bred, although there are dahlias with a very similar shade.
Flowers can be single, double and multi-colored in virtually any color combination. You could say that their only drawback is the lack of smell, which they make up for with the unusual shapes of flowers and expressive colors.They are perfect for a vase and perfectly match bouquets with various wild flowers.
To fully enjoy the beauty of dahlias, we must meet their expectations. They are not excessive, but when we provide them with the right conditions for growth, they will certainly thank us with a whole lot of flowers.Dahlias are "voracious" plants, so the soil for their cultivation must be fertile.When planting, it is best to enrich it with decomposed manure or compost to a depth of 30 cm.The emerging fleshy shoots are very sensitive to frosts, so the safest planting date will be mid-May, after the so-called cold gardeners.
Planting carp
When planting a carp, be careful not to damage it; the apical bud should be about 3 cm below the ground level. When we have heavy, clay soil, it is worth loosening it and digging it with the addition of coarse sand.Dahlias like permanently wet positions, but they rot on wet soils and with a high level of groundwater.In such cases, we plant them on a platform, forming an earth embankment or a mound. Spring planting is a great opportunity to propagate valuable varieties. We divide the carp carefully so that each part has at least one sleeping bud. Cover the wounds with charcoal.
Short varieties are planted every 20 cm, the taller ones every 40 cm, and the giants every 80 cm. Thanks to this, each copy will have enough space for free growth. In summer, especially tall varieties, require the use of supports; otherwise they will break out at the first strong wind.Throughout the growing season, we use multi-component fertilization, e.g. with florovit or fertilizer for flowering plants, or with granulated manure, to ensure good growth and abundant flowering.Avoid fertilizers with a high nitrogen content, which increases the production of leaves and new shoots at the expense of flowering.
Dahlias bloom in mid-July and continue until the first frost. By picking up the blooming flowers, we stimulate the plants to produce new ones. Aphids can become a problem, as they not only weaken the plant, but also transmit viral diseases such as cucumber mosaic, most often manifested by stunted growth and deformed leaves covered with yellow spots.Such copies cannot be saved.They should be burned so that the disease does not spread to others in the next season.
How to overwinter carp
In the fall, when the first frosts weigh down the dahlia shoots, they need to be dug up. We do it gently, using the forks.The roots are very susceptible to damage and susceptible to infestation by pathogenic fungiAfter digging out the carp, place them in a ventilated place for 10 days to dry. The aboveground part is shortened with a secateurs to 5 cm. After this time, gently shake off the excess soil, soak the carps in a fungicide solution for a few minutes and place them in boxes, sprinkling them with peat or sawdust to prevent them from drying out.
They must spend the winter in a frost-free room up to 5 ° C. We supervise and check their condition once a month.When they start to wrinkle, gently sprinkle them and throw away the sick and infected.If we have a greenhouse, we can plant the dahlias in pots at the beginning of April and plant the overgrown dahlias into the ground in mid-May.In the event of predicted night temperature drops, we cover them, for example, with a non-woven fabric. Dahlias are resistant, they do not get sick. You just need to be careful with aphids, and in wet, rainy summers they can be infected with gray mold.
